Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS

By: Tyler Peterson Apr. 13, 2016

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present Dreamgirls, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now April 8 - May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The regular performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with no Thursday performances on April 14 with added performances Thursday, May 5, 12 and 19 at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Single tickets may be purchased at porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

"We are excited to see that the audiences' anticipation of this iconic production is as great as ours," said Weber. "Several performances have already sold out and we are adding these performances to meet the demand. The cast, crew and everyone at Porchlight are looking forward to sharing this very special performance with Chicago. Come April all of Chicago will be wanting to experience the drama, the music and the magic of Dreamgirls."

Full of on-stage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls is the story of an up-and-coming 1960s all-female singing group from Chicago and the triumphs and tribulations that come on the road to fame and fortune, and features unforgettable hits including, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen." With a story that lives through the journey of popular music in America, and presented in Porchlight's signature intimate and up-close style, this Tony Award and Academy Award-winning musical will receive an intense and illuminating interpretation by Chicago's leading talents.

Making her Porchlight Music Theatre debut, Donica Lynn stars as "Effie Melody White" with Candace C. Edwards, recently seen in Porchlight's critically acclaimed Far From Heaven, as "Deena Jones," Katherine Thomas, making her Porchlight debut as "Lorrell Robinson" and Evan Tyrone Martin, recently in Porchlight's Chicago premieres of Far From Heaven and Side Show, as "Curtis Taylor Jr."

The full cast of Dreamgirls includes Caleb Baze (Cadillac Boy/Stage Manager), Michelle Bester (Ensemble), Dawn Bless (Ensemble), Kyrie Courter (Ensemble), Gilbert Domally (C.C. White), Jared Grant (Ensemble), Matthew Hunter (Ensemble), Reneisha Jenkins (Ensemble), J. Michael Jones (Marty), Eric Lewis (Jimmy Early), Andrew Malone (Ensemble), Brian Nelson Jr. (Ensemble), Trequon Tate (Ensemble) and Cherise Thomas (Ensemble).

The Dreamgirls production team includes: Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik (assistant director); Chris Carter (associate choreographer); Porchlight Artistic Associate Bill Morey (costume designer); Porchlight Artistic Associate Jeff Kmiec (co-scenic designer); Greg Pinsoneault (co-scenic designer); Denise Karczewski (lighting designer); Kevin Barthel (wig designer); Mealah Heidenreich (properties designer); Robert Hornbostel (sound designer), Sara Gammage (stage manager) and Porchlight Artistic Associate Aaron Shapiro (production manager).

Photos by Kelsey Jorissen

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Cast of Dreamgirls

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Eric Lewis as â€œJimmy Early"

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Eric Lewis â€œJimmy Earlyâ€? Candace C. Edwards â€œDeena Jones,â€? Donica Lynn â€œEffie White,â€? Katherine Thomas, â€œLorrell Robinson," Gilbert Domally, â€œC.C. White,â€? and Evan Tyrone Martin â€œCutis Taylor Jr.â€?

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Donica Lynn â€œEffie White,â€? Candace C. Edwards â€œDeena Jonesâ€? and Katherine Thomas, â€œLorrell Robinsonâ€?

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Evan Tyrone Martin â€œCurtis Taylor Jr.,â€? Candace C. Edwards â€œDeena Jonesâ€? and Donica Lynn â€œEffie Whiteâ€?

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Candace C. Edwards â€œDeena Jonesâ€?

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Katherine Thomas, â€œLorrell Robinsonâ€? and Eric Lewis â€œJimmy Earl"

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Donica Lynn â€œEffie Whiteâ€? and Gilbert Domally, â€œC.C. Whiteâ€?

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Kyrie Courter â€œMichelle Morris," Candace C. Edwards â€œDeena Jones,â€? Donica Lynn â€œEffie Whiteâ€? and Katherine Thomas, â€œLorrell Robinson"

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS Image
Donica Lynn â€œEffie Whiteâ€?

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