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Temptations Broadway Musical in the Works, Says Lead Singer

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   June 28, 2011 3:00 EDT
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The Temptations

The Temptations have been many places during the Motown group's 50-or-so years together. Now Broadway beckons.

Otis Williams, the Tempts' leader and sole surviving founding member, tells Billboard.com that the group is working with Broadway producer Ira Pittleman on a stage musical based on the 1998 NBC mini-series about the group's history. "It's still so popular and loved," Williams says. "I get calls all the time, like, 'Man, the mini-series 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 of 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.

 

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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 notes. "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 be adding to the story by the time it opens. After rolling out a new album, "Still Here," in 2010, Williams says 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 promises. "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."

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