Local performers come home for ‘Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations’

L R Jameson Clanton Josiah Travis Kent Rogers Lowes Moore Rudy Foster Bryce Valle from the National Touring Company of Ain t Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations Photo by Joan Marcus Ain t Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations is running for a limited engagement at the Fox Theatre on June - Two local performers are set to make an appearance Reyanna Edwards and Zion Middleton are both in the middle of their national tour debuts living it up to the music of the Temptations in different cities across the country The musical tracks the astronomical rise of the famous Motown trilling group and features hits like My Girl Papa Was a Rollin Stone and Get Ready Edwards who is a part of the ensemble and also plays founding member of the Supremes Mary Wilson and Johnnie Mae Matthews also known as the Godmother of Detroit Soul was born in Brooklyn New York but has called Georgia home for almost years The Covington resident began booking regional shows while she was in college at Kennesaw State University where she graduated last May Her audition process for Ain t Too Proud began while she was still in school It was amazing to be in the same room with a whole bunch of other talented people going after the same thing that I am Edwards announced It doesn t feel like a competition in auditions It just feels like me competing to be the best version of myself Edwards adjusted to the touring lifestyle easier than majority she moved around a lot growing up and she has welcomed the opportunity to visit new cities around the country Her favorite stops have been Detroit which is the birthplace of Motown and Chicago where a special guest attended the show When we opened in Chicago we got to see Otis Williams founder of the Temptations and manager Shelly Berger Edwards reported They came to our show and we got to meet them It was so cool seeing the last Temptation standing Edwards was a huge fan of Motown music before she joined the cast of Ain t Too Proud but welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the Temptations outside of their music One of her favorite moments of the show is when she gets to come on as Johnnie Mae Matthews a musician and record producer who became the first African American woman to own and operate her own record label Northern Recording Company There s only three women on stage in a show full of like to guys Edwards declared I feel special I am representing women in a powerful and strong way on stage Unlike Edwards Middleton didn t consider himself a huge Motown fan before joining the touring cast of Ain t Too Proud But he was hastily proven wrong Once we started rehearsals and I started listening to the soundtrack and going over the music I realized that I ve been hearing these songs my whole life he commented I didn t even realize Middleton is a McDonough native and first became interested in musical theater when his brother was in a production of Annie when Middleton was just or years old He ended up attending Elon University s musical theater initiative and originally auditioned for the first national tour of Ain t Too Proud in the fall of Although he didn t make the cut that time he tried for a second time in May of and succeeded Middleton noted he still can t quite believe that performing is what he gets to do for a living I m gonna perform at the Fox he mentioned It s an absolute dream come true Middleton is a swing in Ain t Too Proud which means he has to learn multiple roles and be prepared to go on stage at the drop of a hat This tour is the first time that Middleton has performed as a swing and he admitted he had a hard time getting used to the responsibility He has to cover the role of Al Bryant which is one of the highest crooning roles in the show as well as Melvin Franklin one of the lowest He also covers the role of Paul Williams one of the show s heaviest dance parts I m really grateful for the experience because I percent will leave this tour so much stronger than when I came in Middleton stated Tickets for Ain t Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations are available at the Fox Theatre s website The post Local performers come home for Ain t Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta