TEMPTATIONS ON BROADWAY

[DrTemptation "Doc T"]

Broadway is calling on the Temptations.

Otis Williams, the Motown group’s sole surviving founding member, says a stage musical is in the works based on the 1998 NBC miniseries, “The Temptations,” reports Billboard. Broadway producer Ira Pittleman is working with the group on the project.
“It’s still so popular and loved,” Williams told Billboard.com. “I get calls all the time, like, ‘Man, the miniseries is on!’ and stuff like that. That’s the catalyst, and (Pittleman) is waiting to do the Tempts story. I never would have imagined the possibilities of the Tempts life story going to Broadway, but it’s wonderful.”
However, Williams says the group plans to wait until Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., gets his own Broadway musical, which is reportedly slated to open in April 2012, on the boards.
“Then, after that, the Temptations will get into action. They haven’t even started writing the script, so it’s really early,” says Williams, who will serve as an executive producer.
Williams says he and the Temptations camp have no involvement in the Gordy Motown musical, however.
“That is all under Mr. Gordy’s control,” Williams said. “I definitely will be going to see it. I think we’re in it two or three different times, guys portraying the Temptations, and I’m very happy for Mr. Gordy because he’s had such an illustrious career that should be magnified as much as possible because he’s been a wonderful inspiration to the lot of us.”
While the Temptations’ musical will recall the group’s glory years, Williams and company hope to add to the story by the time it opens. After rolling out a new album, “Still Here,” in 2010, Williams said the group — which this year celebrations the 50th anniversary of its name change from the Elgins to the Temptations — is starting to eyeball its successor.
“Yeah, we will be doing another CD in (2012),” Williams said. “We’d like for there to be some new music by the time the Broadway musical opens. We’ll start putting that together a little later during this year, or the beginning of next year.”

[sybasketball]

wow hope they make truthful changes to script, hope they get quality production and great not okay songs not inside production but great production maybe a new lead

[musicman]

If you think they are going to highlight the negative, you will be disappointed. They will briefly touch on some of the tragedies but a musical is a celebration, ususally of the great music it represents. I believe that is what the focus will be on!

[6ttemptation]

That's sure to be good, I picture it being something like Dreamgirls, a backstage musical that draws lots of crowds. They'll have to cast it just right, whoever will be playing the roles, especially those of Ruffin and Kendricks, has to be on exceptionally good for 8 times a week performances.

One thing I do wonder about is the music rights and rather or not they'll be able to use the Temptations music. A film about Marvin Gaye stalled because the music rights were not obtainable.