by Cari Lynn Pace *

Broadway comes to the North Bay with the opening of Transcendence Theater Company’s 2026 Broadway Under the Stars season and awakens sleepy Sonoma with ain’t too proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. The outdoor production of blockbuster songs and dancing transplanted from the lights of Broadway runs through June 28. 

Transcendence was founded fifteen years ago by Brad Surosky, Amy Miller, and the departed-for-New-York Stephan Stubbins as a benefit for the Jack London State Historic Park. These visionaries have brought out the stars for each summer season since with shining success, and the delighted audience grew and grew.

A vagabond troupe for a few seasons, today Transcendence has a summer home at last at their aptly named “Field of Dreams” adjacent to Fazio Field, blocks from downtown Sonoma. Their string of award-winning productions brings hundreds of ticket holders each summer to cheer “The best night ever!”

Before ain’t too proud… even begins, it’s clear that Transcendence has used their years of hosting large-scale productions to make the evening run smoothly. Amy Miller, co-founder and current Creative Vision Director, enthuses “We are truly grateful to have a Sonoma community presence. We are thrilled at how we’ve been welcomed here with help and volunteers.” 

The evening started with a picnic option at 5 pm. Directional signs and parking volunteers guided cars to lots where Pushpak electric trikes waited to whisk patrons to the check in. Wristbands noted seat assignments, and the picnic tables were filled with friends and food under sunny umbrellas. Food trucks, beer purveyors, and wineries offered libations. Musicians strummed and sang on a small stage over the happy chatter.

At 7 pm, Sonoma city officials and Visitors Bureau members moved to the large opening night stage to welcome the sold-out crowd. ain’t too proud… is the first show in the Transcendence 2026 summer season and the audience sensed they were in for something special.

Onstage, twenty smooth and superb talents sang, danced, and acted with electric energy that matched Sonoma’s setting sun. To get the right cast for this full-scale show, Surosky and Artistic Director Tony Gonzalez flew to New York to audition over 600 actors, and screened more than 400 video auditions. Director Vasthy Mompoint had to be thrilled with the astounding collection of professionals who made the cut, able to change roles effortlessly as needed.   

ain’t too proud… is the story of The Temptations, Motown’s #1group with too many awards and gold records to count. The book of their life and times is by Dominique Morisseau. Otis Williams, the founding member of the Temptations, and still alive today at age 84, also wrote his book entitled The Temptations. It’s inspiring and at times heartbreaking.

These young men took various journeys to stardom and back, recording dozens of hits that rocked the audience in their seats. As Berry Gordy guided their careers, they interact with fellow legends, including Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and others. The cast channels these luminaries with voices to match their classic moves, choreographed by Donald Jones Jr. Kudos to Designer Jonathan Blue for the sexy superstar costumes and wigs. 

The Temptations’ voices were so spectacular they brought thunderous applause and cheers. A delightful distraction was watching the high energy of Music Director and Conductor Richard Baskin Jr. as he boogied along with his 12-piece band on the side of the stage.

ain’t too proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations was such a musical high, the audience stood and rocked out as the cast took their bows. Sonoma can’t be called sleepy with this show!

Playing through June 28, 2026 in the Field of Dreams, 151 1st Street W, Sonoma.

Click HERE for more information and tickets.

Photos by Ray Mabry

Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers and a voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.