Today in 1987, the FIRST Broadway revival of Dreamgirls opened at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 177 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. The musical opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre, and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006. The 1987 cast featured Lillias White as 'Effie.'
Last night on 'American Idol' pint-sized powerhouse Jessica Sanchez wowed the judges with her performance of 'And I'm Telling You,' but they weren't the only ones who were impressed. Original 'Effie' Jennifer Holliday wrote on her Twitter page: 'Yes,I was at home watching when Jessica Sang My Song 2Nite.. My Heart was beating fast &I was overwhelmed! So PROUD!'
Before Jennifer Hudson gave Effie White life on the big screen, Jennifer Holliday was playing her on the Broadway stage. This summer, Holliday will return to DREAMGIRLS, playing the role at the Muny in St. Louis. She recently performed the DREAMGIRLS anthem 'And I'm Telling You' at the Apollo Theatre, and you can catch it by clicking below!
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, DREAMGIRLS' original Effie White, Jennifer Holliday, will return to the role for which she won a 1982 Tony Award this summer at the Muny in St. Louis. Take a look back at Holliday channeling DREAMGIRLS - all the way from her stellar 1982 Tony performance through a concert at the Apollo this month - below!
30 years ago today, Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre. The production was directed by Michael Bennett, produced by Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, and The Shubert Organization, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. It starred Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, Jennifer Holliday as Effie White, Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson, Ben Harney as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Cleavant Derricks as James 'Thunder' Early, and Obba Babatundé as C. C. White. Dreamgirls proved to be a star-making vehicle for several of its performers, particularly Holliday, whose performance as Effie received significant praise.
Before Jennifer Hudson gave Effie White life on the big screen, Jennifer Holliday was playing her on the Broadway stage. In the video below, Holliday chats with Wendy Williams about not being included in the film, and perfors 'And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going).'
Actor and performer Israel Cortez is becoming quite the YouTube sensation thanks in part to his solo remix interpretation of the powerhouse song 'It's All Over' from the film version of the musical 'Dreamgirls'. Cortez, a La Palma, California, resident, plays all the parts in the song, which is sung by Jamie Foxx, Keith Robinson, Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose and Sharon Leal as they confront Jennifer Hudson's 'Effie'.
Chester Gregory grabbed a flip camera and wanted to show some of the backstage 'magic' of the show. Stay tuned for more highlights....
The New York Post is presenting a video feature on their web site about the 'Dreamgirls Shuttle' which is taking audiences from midtown up to the Apollo Theater in Harlem to see the show...
Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. are presenting the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls introduces Moya Angela as Effie White and features, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James 'Thunder' Early,Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also featuresTallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness,Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.
Catch this special EXTENDED Video Show Preview of DREAMGIRLS right here on BroadwayWorld.com! Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. are presenting the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls introduces Moya Angela as Effie White and features, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James 'Thunder' Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison
Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. are presenting the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls introduces Moya Angela as Effie White and features, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones
Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will present the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical.
BroadwayWorld.com gave the divine Ms. White a FLIP camera so she could share all the behind the scenes action as she prepared for the concert series. Sit back and watch how a real Broadway legend shapes and creates a musical event!
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