Get ready—’cause the magic of Motown is coming back to San Diego! That unmistakable sound, the groove that makes you want to move, the melodies that stand the test of time—can you hear it? And yes, we at The Chocolate Voice keep singing, “Get ready, ‘cause here I come!” Just one of the many timeless hits by the legendary Temptations. The anthem still gets audiences grooving decades later and guess what? You’ll hear it live when the Tony Award-winning musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of TheTemptations returns to Broadway San Diego from March 28–30.
If you missed it the first time or want to experience the electrifying magic all over again, now’s your chance! Ain’t Too Proud is more than just a musical—it’s a journey through the rise of one of Motown’s most iconic groups, set to a soundtrack of classics that shaped an era. From ”Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” to “My Girl”, ”Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and Gwen’s personal favorite “Just my Imagination,” you’ll be dancing, finger snapping, head bobbing, and singing along as the story unfolds. With 12 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Ain’t too Proud delivers powerhouse performances, dynamic choreography, and an unforgettable look at brotherhood, fame, and the sacrifices along the way.
Making his national tour debut as Otis Williams, Rudy Foster is stepping into the spotlight, in a big way—and trust us, he’s on Cloud Nine (see what we did there?). We caught up with Rudy just before his show in San Francisco, where he’s soaking up every moment of this whirlwind journey.
Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Rudy describes himself as a southern gentleman who got his start singing in church. His path to the stage blossomed and found its groove in middle school when he saw Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway, during a school trip to New York City. After that, he was hooked and went on to study theatre at the University of Chicago. Since then, he’s been performing in theatres all across the country.
A Legacy Like No Other
When the conversation turned to The Temptations, Rudy couldn’t help but reminisce about growing up watching the iconic miniseries. Naturally, we had to ask if anyone had hit him with the famous meme, you know the one—“Ain’t nobody coming to see you, Otis!” He burst out laughing, “Oh, absolutely. My sister said it as soon as I told her I got the role.” But just to set the record straight, Rudy clarified that the legendary line doesn’t actually make an appearance in the musical.
Jokes aside, playing Otis Williams, the group’s founder and last surviving original member, is no small feat. And yes, Rudy has met the man himself. “Otis came to our opening show in Chicago and again in Detroit,” he shared. Did the legend have any words of wisdom? “He just said, ‘Good job, Otis!’ And I said, ‘Thank you, Otis!’” Rudy recounted with a laugh.
The Music That Moves Generations
There’s something about The Temptations’ music—it doesn’t just make you dance, it makes you feel—their music is truly generational. “It’s incredible to see how deeply people connect with their songs.” Rudy reflected. Performing them night after night has given him an even deeper appreciation for the music. And when asked to pick a favorite song? He struggled—because how do you choose? “Just My Imagination hits differently every time. But then there’s Papa Was a Rolling Stone, and of course, Ain’t Too Proud.” The struggle is real with so many hits!
But, bringing Ain’t Too Proud to life isn’t just about the music—it dives a little deeper into Otis Williams’ leadership style as well. Rudy describes him as a man who did the best he knew how to do, “He understood the importance of serving something greater than himself,” he said, “At the time, no Black group had reached that level of fame—it was uncharted territory.” It’s a continued story about resilience, brotherhood, the price of fame and the essence of the group’s legacy. “It’s important that we honor these men who dreamed big and reached for the stars—and made it.” Rudy emphasized.
The Temptations’ Moves? Yeah, They Take Work
Before hitting the stage each night, Rudy and his cast-mates go through a rigorous warm-up routine—30 to 35 minutes of vocal exercises, stretching, and, of course, locking in those signature Temptations moves. Because let’s be real, if you’re playing The Temptations, you’ve got to move like The Temptations. With 120 performances under his belt so far, he knows the demands of the show inside and out.
A unique aspect of this production is the bond amongst the cast, “It’s almost an entirely Black cast, and we’ve built a real sense of community and brotherhood,” Rudy shared, “The talent in this company is unmatched. We even have a little friendly rivalry with The Supremes!” We’re going to need to see that battle play out!
The Message That Stays With You
Beyond the music and the moves, Ain’t Too Proud carries a deeper message—one that still resonates today. Rudy shared a powerful line that his character says,“The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.” He hopes audiences take away a reminder of the strength found in unity. It’s also story that speaks to the progress of Black people as a whole—our resilience, our excellence.”
Rudy’s own personal mantra is, “Let’s Grow and Let’s Glow.” For him, it’s about constant evolution—shining your light and inspiring others to do the same. “When we grow, we shine. And when we shine, we inspire.”
What’s Next?
If Rudy could star in a one-man show, who would he want to compose the music? Without hesitation, he said, “I’m a big musical theatre person—” before naming Jeannine Tesori, composer of Kimberly Akimbo.
For now, he’s exactly where he’s meant to be—bringing Ain’t Too Proud to life, one soul-stirring performance at a time. And lucky for us, he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
So, if you haven’t gotten your tickets for Ain’t Too Proud yet—what are you waiting for? The Broadway San Diego stage is about to light up, and Rudy Foster is more than ready to keep the Motown legacy alive. We’ll see you there!
‘Click here to purchase tickets “Ain’t Too Proud The Life and Times of The Temptations
Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
When: March 28 through March 30.
In a joint effort, Gwen Pierce & Shanda Pierce interviewed Rudy Foster and contributed to this article.