Bryce Valle
Actor Bryce Valle (he/him) has a lot to be proud of at the moment. He’s starring in the musical Ain’t Too Proud -— The Life and Times of The Temptations, but he’s also been gushing with pride for numerous other reasons, too.
And he’ll show that all off when the show opens Thursday, May 1 through Sunday at the Winspear Opera House as part of the Broadway at the Center series.
Valle, hailing from Queens, N.Y., is making his national tour debut with Ain’t Too Proud. He’s been with the show since August, but it’s been a long wait since his auditions for the first tour in 2021. In the show, he plays original Temptations member Paul Williams.
“The big thing with Paul was that he was the choreographer, and I related to that because I’m also the dance captain here,” the 28-year-old said. “He had a joy of performing and doing what he loved, and I got to explore him through myself.” Williams “wanted to do what he did best even when surroundings prevented him from that,” Valle added. “To me, he embodies the artform of the Temptations.”
In his first national tour, Valle is also experiencing his first lead role and, as he said, the dance captain role. So this has been a big learning process.
“I’ve surprised myself because, all at once, I’m being stretched artistically in the best ways possible,” he said.
While Ain’t Too Proudhas no queer undertones, Valle did find at least a parallel to his own experiences as a gay male. He described a scene where Temptations member Otis is confronted by two others serving “street energy.” In a unique way, Valle said, that triggered him.
“I related to that because I’ve been approached by that high level of someone opposed to me who othered me without knowing anything about me,” he explained. “It’s a moment, but I couldn’t help being triggered by it.”
When asked what he’s proud of as an actor, he goes back to that first audition four years ago: “I auditioned with two others, and they ended up getting it. Coming around 2024, Paul was the part I felt closest to, so I only auditioned for that. And it turned out to be my time.
“I’m proud I stayed on the path I was on and didn’t hear that first ‘no’ as forever.”
As a person, though, Valle finds pride in his emotional intelligence to be receptive and find connection. “I’m very open, I’d say. You never know what’s ahead, so I choose to be open to those things coming my way.”
But when it comes down to what he’s really most proud of in the moment, it’s Ain’t Too Proud.
“That we get to share real Black stories of real people in real time is up there,” he said. “There are a lot of changes happening up and down this country, so it’s important to share the stories of people of color because those are always needed to open doors and spark inspiration for others to share their stories.”
For tickets, visit ATTPAC.com. This story originally posted on Feb. 7.