The stars of “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” the Broadway musical now playing at the Durham Performing Arts Center, have a tradition as they take that show on the road. They visit places that have a connection to Black history in the cities where they perform.
ABC11 caught up with them as they toured “Confronting Change,” the Black History Month exhibit that documents the segregation policies enforced at Durham’s Carolina Theatre and the pushback that ultimately opened the theatre to everyone, regardless of race.
The men who portray the legendary “classic five” lineup of the Temptations are keenly aware of the group’s heyday in the 1960s, and how Motown’s popularity encouraged cooperation between the races that fueled the growth of diverse communities like Durham.
“We actually previewed the show here. So this was our very first audience, very first crowd,” said Harrell Holmes, Jr., who portrays Melvin Franklin in the musical. “So Durham holds a special place in the heart for me because it was my very first theater experience.”