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.'
The Archives of La MaMa just launched La MaMa's Digital Collections Website (catalog.lamama.org). Its development was made possible by a generous 'hidden archival collections' grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. The site, which premieres on June 27, 2016 as part of La MaMa's 55th anniversary season, is freely available for use by artists, scholars, educators, and the interested public. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the collection!
Prior to my attendance at Dallas Theater Center's DREAMGIRLS this weekend, my familiarity with the show was based on the 2006 motion picture and the 2001 Actors Fund concert recording (not to mention the Tony Awards clip featuring Jennifer Holliday). Basically knowing only the film, I had often considered how smoothly the stage show could handle the onstage to backstage transitions, given the fast-paced musical score it followed. And, although the DTC production offers a slick, seamless interpretation of the piece, I'm afraid I left the theatre with the impression that the (gasp) movie adaptation was superior to the stage version. That being said, there are still many reasons to head to the Wyly to see this production.
Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Dreamgirls on June 24 at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The production runs through August 7, 2016. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, this megawatt Broadway crowd-pleaser electrifies the stage with Motown dreams and powerhouse voices. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, the story follows the turbo-charged rise to fame of the Dreams.
Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce further casting for the long-awaited UK premiere of Dreamgirls which will have preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November and Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.
A new production of Tom Eyen's THE WHITE WHORE AND THE BIT PLAYER, directed by Christopher Weare and starring Jazzara Jaslyn and Donna Cormack-Thomson, will open at the Alexander Bar tonight.
GLEE's Amber Riley has quite the backup power for her nights off in DREAMGIRLS the West End. THE VOICE UK contestant Ruth Brown and THE X FACTOR's Karen Mav will alternate in the role of 'Effie' on Wednesdays in London, according to the Daily Mail.
The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park presents the Tom Eyen comedy, 'Women Behind Bars', at the Orlando Fringe Festival from May 18-29, 2016, in the RED VENUE
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 through May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld brings you performances from the production below!
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 through May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!
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.
Now playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, the new McCoy/Rigby Entertainment production of the Tony Award-winning 1981 Broadway musical DREAMGIRLS is pretty much a faithful carbon-copy of the recent 2009 national touring production---which happens to also be directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom. La Mirada's offering---which continues through April 17---repurposes almost all of the visual and technical aspects of that tour, from the use of moving LED screens that set up different scenes and environments to William Ivey Long's lavishly exquisite costumes. It even taps that tour's original Effie played by the extraordinary Moya Angela, who has since matured wonderfully into the role. When your lead actress incites a boisterous standing ovation after slaying with an incredible performance of the musical's iconic 'And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)'---even as the show is still in the midst of that act one ending---you know you've got something great here.
Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the extension and additional performances of 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. Previews are Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. with opening night Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. 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.
Sonia Friedman Productions announces today that tickets for the long awaited UK premiere of Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls go on sale this week. The brand new production begins preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November with Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of their 2015-2016 season, an all-new spectacular DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger, musical direction by Dennis Castellano and directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom. DREAMGIRLS will preview on Friday, March 25, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, March 26) and run through Sunday, April 17, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. Additionally, DREAMGIRLS will perform Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8 at Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of their 2015-2016 season, an all-new spectacular DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger, musical direction by Dennis Castellano and directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom. DREAMGIRLS opened on Saturday, March 26 and will run through Sunday, April 17, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
Following last month's big news that GLEE and THE WIZ LIVE!'s Amber Riley will star as 'Effie' in the UK debut of DREAMGIRLS this winter, the star sat down with the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye to discuss her journey to the iconic role.
Es ist wieder Zeit fur ein Roundup die letzten Neuigkeiten aus dem Londoner West End. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei dieses Mal die Olivier Awards, deren Nominierungen bekannt gegeben wurden, sowie Ankundigungen fur eine Großzahl neuer Shows, die demnachst auf den Londoner Buhnen zu sehen sein werden, von Revivals von Klassikern wie Show Boat, West End Premieren von Hits wie Dreamgirls, bis hin zu Transfers von aktuellen Broadway Erfolgsshows wie Finding Neverland. Lest selbst:
Directed with confidence by a young director - Matthew Hayes Hunter, who was a 2013 First Night Most Promising Actor - and performed by an eager and energetic cast (led by a quartet of extraordinary actresses portraying the four Dreams and another First Night MPA [who very nearly steals the entire production right out from under everyone else onstage] in the role of James 'Thunder' Early - CFTA's Dreamgirls delights its audience from the beginning, engaging them with focused performances that come from the heart to inspire and entertain.
