On Saturday mornings when she was growing up, Brittny Smith and her mom would listen to the music of Motown as they were cleaning the house.
“My mom is a child of the Motown era. I grew up with that vocabulary,” says Smith, who is starring as both Johnnie Mae and Mary Wilson in Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, playing Altria Theater July 11 through July 16.
Nominated for twelve Tony Awards, the Broadway musical follows The Temptations’ journey from the streets of Detroit to the chambers of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Known for their signature dance moves and smooth harmonies, The Temptations rose to the top of the charts with forty-two top ten hits, fourteen of which went to number one.
The show tells the story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal, as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America.
The story of this legendary quintet is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including My Girl, Just My Imagination, Get Ready, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, and many others.
Smith Shines in Roles of Powerful Black Women
Smith was somewhat familiar with Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations when she auditioned, but she learned more about the group when she began delving into the script.
“They have a tremendous story,” she says of The Temptations. “I love the fact they are still touring.”
She really likes the way the group’s hit song My Girl – the group’s signature song and first number one single –is introduced in the musical, she adds. “It’s grand. The audience goes wild when they hear the first notes.”
Performing in the show never gets old, she says. “It’s amazing and nostalgic. It’s like opening night every night.”
Smith was eager to audition for the show when she found out they were mounting a national tour. “I get to hear and sing the music of The Temptations every night.”
During each performance, Smith gets to shift her energy from Johnnie Mae, the first manager of the group and the first Black woman to own and operate her own record label, to Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of The Supremes.
“Johnnie was very no nonsense and knowledgeable. In my research, I found out so many things about her,” Smith says. “She understood both sides of the industry. I try to depict that in my portrayal of her. During that time period, it wasn’t usual for a Black woman to be a leader.”
Born for the Stage
Smith was only seven when she landed her first national television commercial and her parents recognized their daughter was “a drama queen,” Smith says.
It took about two years for her to realize that performing was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Her mom, a proponent of the arts, was Smith’s biggest supporter. “She showed me the movie Sparkle [about three sisters who form a girl group and become Motown phenoms] and that’s when I said I am going to sing, dance, and be a performer,” Smith says. “I said to myself This is not just a hobby! That was a pivotal moment.”
A former singer and musician, Smith’s mom signed her young daughter up for piano lessons. Smith wasn’t a fan of the instrument in the beginning.
“I remember hating it at first. I just wanted to be a kid. I wanted to play. Piano was boring for me because I was an active kid, and I liked to play outside,” she says.
As an adult, Smith has fallen in love with the guitar, an instrument she started playing during the pandemic. “I taught myself to play acoustic guitar,” she says.
A native of Houston, Smith has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in education from Texas Southern University. While she was back at home during the pandemic, Smith taught virtually.
“I’ve always been a performer, but I taught for a while on and off,” she says. “I started teaching in between shows. I love it. I still have private voice and acting students virtually. Also, I have toured over thirty countries in my career and I teach master classes and workshops.”
Perks of Performing
Smith toured the world with Step Afrika, which promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people. As part of the group, Smith performed at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama. She is also part of the Step Afrika interactive stepping exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
After leaving Step Afrika, Smith appeared in several national and international tours, including The Donna Summer Musical and Dreamgirls. Her regional credits include The Color Purple and Chicago.
She’s learned to love touring. “It’s an acquired taste,” she says. “Like anything, it has its challenges. You tend to give up things in your personal life. You may miss birthdays, weddings, births, etc. You really have to shift your lifestyle and perspective.”
Presented by Broadway in Richmond, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is playing at Altria Theater July 11 through July 16. For showtimes and tickets, visit BroadwayInRichmond.com
