“Aint’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” makes it Detroit premiere Aug. 9 to 28 at the Detroit Opera House. For tickets and more information, go to BroadwayInDetroit.com.
Whether one is seeing a professional Broadway touring company or enthusiastic high school students honing their craft, the magic of theater takes audiences away from the cares of life, sweeping attendees into a story while tugging on emotions and providing joy.
And whether the nominations and awards are Tonys for Broadway shows or recognitions from the Dearborn Area Theatre Association for high school performances, the honors are just as sweet and inspires artists to grow and shine.
‘AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS’ COMES TO THE DETROIT OPERA HOUSE
The magic of Motown comes back to where the group started, as the Broadway musical makes its long-delayed debut in the Motor City, playing Aug. 9 to 28 at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway in Detroit.
The musical, which was nominated for 12 Tonys in 2019, including Best Book by Dominique Morisseau and director Des McAnuff, won a Tony for Best Choreography for Sergio Trujillo.
The musical follows the group’s story from the streets of Detroit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group, with its unique dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, produced 42 top 10 hits, with 14 of those songs reaching the top spot.
The musical tells the group’s story: how they met, and about their friendships and conflicts, revealing a rollercoaster story of brotherhood, loyalty and betrayal.
Their songs are well-known and loved, and most fans have memories associated with them, perhaps from a car’s A.M. radio or a transistor radio during a hot summer day, whether it’s “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Come See About Me” or “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
Others include “Baby Love,” “Get Ready,” “Gloria,” “I Wish it Would Rain,” “In the Still of the Night,” “Shout,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” and “Cloud Nine.”
Performances are 8 p.m. Aug. 9 to 13, 16 to 20 and 23 to 27; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14, 21 and 28; and 2 p.m. Aug. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 matinees.
Tickets start at $35, and are available at the Fisher Theater box office, by phone, at 800-982-2787 and online, at ticketmaster.com and BroadwayInDetroit.com.
The Dearborn Area Theatre Association, which held its awards online July 19, honored Dearborn High School’s production of the musical “Something Rotten” for its costume design, choreography, outstanding feature actor and actress in a musical, and outstanding lead actor in a musical. For a complete list of winners, go to the Dearborn Area Theatre Association Facebook page.
DEARBORN AREA THEATRE ASSOCIATIONS RECOGNIZES HIGH SCHOOL THESPIANS
The Dearborn Area Theatre Association awarded its honors online this year, recognizing theatrical productions from four local high schools – Crestwood, Dearborn, Divine Child and Edsel Ford – with a complete list of nominees and winners for achievements onstage and off posted on the group’s Facebook page.
Scholarships were awarded to five graduating high school seniors: Alina Hazime from Crestwood, Oliver Angel and Alexandra Slanec from Dearborn, Avery McKelvey from Divine Child and Giana Lerini from Edsel Ford.
Crestwood’s productions of “Chicago” and “The Play That Goes Wrong” garnered the most honors, with Dearborn’s “Something Rotten” and “Clue” receiving accolades as well, along with Divine Child’s “Emma.”
Other shows recognized include Divine Child’s “Peter and the Star Catcher” and Edsel Ford High School’s “The Descendants” and “Laughing Stock.”
Outstanding Play and Outstanding Ensemble for a Play honors went to CHS’s “The Play That Goes Wrong,” while Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Ensemble for a Musical honors went to CHS’s “Chicago.” Cayla Kolbusz produced and directed both, and was recognized for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for “Chicago.”
Greg Viscomi was recognized for Outstanding Direction of a Play for DHS’s “Clue.”
DHS’s “Something Rotten” earned awards for Lisa Goddard and Jeanine Katona’s costume design and for Emma Garber’s choreography, as well as Kaeden Bryer for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Rebecca Dear for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and to Oliver Angel and Luke Dobert, who shared Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical honors for a double cast role.
Other acting recognitions include: CHS’s Alina Hazime for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical for “Chicago,” CHS’s Harry Kraftchak for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for “The Play That Goes Wrong,” DHS’s Alexandra Slanec and Nadia Gellani for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for “Clue,” CHS’s Madhi Osseili for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play for “The Play That Goes Wrong,” and CHS’s Jamie Paschke for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
The technical theater awards and recognitions, for work crucial to any successful show, as well as other DATA recognitions, honors and nominees, are on the Dearborn Area Theatre Association Facebook page.