EXCLUSIVE: The way we do the things we do has changed so much in recent weeks that a classic Temptations song might be what everyone needs right now. In this video, the cast of Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud got together — remotely, of course — to perform the show’s opening number “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” with the musical’s entire band joining in.
Ain’t Too Proud music director Kenny Seymour came up with the idea and had each of the singers and musicians tape his or her part of the song. Seymour then mixed them all together. The video begins with production stage manager Molly Meg Legal calling places.
The hit 1964 Motown song was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers.
Featured is the current cast of the show, portraying the “Classic Five” Temptations: Nik Walker as Otis Williams, James Harkness as Paul Williams, Jelani Remy as Eddie Kendricks, Jawan M. Jackson as Melvin Franklin and Matt Manuel as David Ruffin.
The singers are accompanied by the entire Ain’t Too Proud orchestra: Kenny Seymour (music director/arranger/key 1), Clayton Craddock (drums), Javier Diaz (percussion 2), Shawn Edmonds (trumpet), Seth Farber (assistant conductor key 3), George Farmer (bass), Andrew Griffin (viola), Mark Gross (reed 1), Rick Hip-Flores (associate music director/key 2), Reiko Kawabata (violin), Dan Levine (trombone), Caryl Paisner (cello), Keith Robinson (guitar 1), Larry Saltzman (guitar 2), Melissa Tong (violin), Eddie Venegas (violin) and Orlando Wells (violin 1/concert master).
Check out the video above whenever you need a mood-lifter — it’s like, you know, sunshine on a cloudy day…