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Wikipedia

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, but closely follows the story of The Supremes as the musical follows the story of a young Black female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who become music superstars. [1]

Dreamgirls
Cover for the second Playbill for Dreamgirls
MusicHenry Krieger
LyricsTom Eyen
BookTom Eyen
Productions
  • 1981 Broadway
  • 1983 US tour
  • 1985 International tour
  • 1987 Broadway revival
  • 1997 US tour
  • 2001 Broadway concert
  • 2009 US tour
  • 2016 West End
2022 UK tour
Awards

Staged with a mostly African-American cast and originally starring Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Obba Babatundé, the musical opened on December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. The musical was then nominated for 13 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 film starred Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith Robinson.

Original Broadway production edit

Background edit

Dreamgirls had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter. Playwright Tom Eyen and conductor Henry Krieger first worked together on the 1975 musical version of Eyen's play The Dirtiest Show in Town. Carter appeared in the musical, and her performance inspired Eyen and Krieger to craft a musical about black back-up singers, which was originally called One Night Only and then given the working title of Project #9.[2] Project #9 was workshopped for Joseph Papp; Nell Carter was joined at this time by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, who were to play her groupmates. The project was shelved after Carter departed to appear in the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1978.

A year later, Project #9 was brought back to the table, after catching the interest of Michael Bennett, then in the midst of his success with A Chorus Line. Ralph and Devine returned, and Bennett had Eyen, who was to direct, begin workshopping Big Dreams, as the musical was now known. Joining the cast at this time were Ben Harney, Obba Babatunde, Cleavant Derricks, and twenty-year-old gospel singer Jennifer Holliday as Carter's replacement (after Carter accepted an offer from NBC to star in Gimme a Break). However, Holliday left the project during the workshopping phase, as she disliked the material and was upset that her character, Effie White, died at the conclusion of the first act. Eyen, Bennett, and Krieger continued to iron out the story and songs. Cheryl Gaines and Phyllis Hyman were both considered as replacements for Holliday.

After two mildly successful workshops which included Jenifer Lewis as Effie, Holliday returned to the project, now known as Dreamgirls. However, she found Effie's role had been reduced significantly in favor of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Deena character, and Holliday eventually quit the project again. After acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co-financiers ABC Entertainment, Metromedia, and the Shubert family, Bennett called Holliday back and agreed to rewrite the show's second act and build up her character.[3] Paradoxically, the show lost at the Tony Awards in the category of Best Musical and Best Score to Nine.

Gender and racial issues are represented in Dreamgirls being a black-cast musical with three female lead roles. Being set in the 1960s, the Black Power Movement was influential on the story line with black artists starting to succeed in the music industry and black music becoming accessible to all audiences, which is a representation of racial boundaries being broken down. The story is based on three women working their way up in the music industry to achieve their dreams while the most powerful people in the industry are men. In the end, the women stand up for their rights and become influential figures.

Broadway edit

Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981, and closed on August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. 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.

Holliday's recording of Effie's solo "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was a #1 single on the Billboard R&B charts in 1982. For the Dreamgirls original cast recording, the producers decided to present the intricately interwoven musical sequences as individual songs, cutting approximately half of the score. The cast recording won two Grammy awards, Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday's "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".

Subsequent productions edit

US tours edit

Bennett took Dreamgirls on an abbreviated national tour in 1983, with Jennifer Holliday remaining as Effie, with Larry Riley, Linda Leilani Brown, Arnetia Walker, Lawrence Clayton, and Cleavant Derricks' twin brother Clinton Derricks-Carroll as her co-stars. The show played extended engagements in three U.S. cities - Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago but was dissolved due to high costs.

A second tour began in 1985, with Sharon Brown as Effie. By 1987, Lillias White, Jennifer Holliday's understudy in the first road production, had taken over the role. The tour ended with a Broadway revival at the Ambassador Theatre, which ran from June 28, 1987, to November 29, 1987, and was nominated for the 1988 Tony Award, Best Revival.[4] By this time, Michael Bennett had fallen ill due to AIDS-related complications, and he died on July 2, 1987.

A US tour began in 1997 with direction and choreography by Tony Stevens, based on the original direction and choreography by Michael Bennett. The tour was set to open on Broadway in July 1998; however, it ultimately closed in Upstate New York while waiting for a Broadway theatre to become available.[citation needed] In 2004, another national tour began starring American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis, who gained praise for her role as Effie and Angela Robinson as Deena.[5]

Another US tour began at the Apollo Theater, New York City in November 2009, with direction and choreography by Robert Longbottom, new scenic design by the original set designer Robin Wagner, and new costume designs by William Ivey Long.[6][7] American Idol alum Syesha Mercado starred as Deena, with Adrienne Warren as Lorrell, Moya Angela as Effie, Chester Gregory as Jimmy, and Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis. This production included a new song for Deena and the Dreams at the top of Act II ("What Love Can Do"), as well as the song "Listen" from the film, which was re-written as a duet between Deena and Effie. In 2011 the creative team took the production to Montecasino, South Africa, with a local cast; however, it closed early.[citation needed]

2001 Actors Fund of America Concert edit

In 2001 a concert performance of the show was staged on Broadway at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts starring Lillias White as Effie, Audra McDonald as Deena, Heather Headley as Lorrelle, Billy Porter as Jimmy, Darius de Haas as C.C., Tamara Tunie as Michelle, and Norm Lewis as Curtis, with appearances by E. Lynn Harris, Adriane Lenox, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, and Patrick Wilson among many others. The concert was in benefit of the Actors Fund of America, and was one of the first major public gatherings to be held in New York City after 9/11. It was recorded and later released in its entirety on CD.

West End edit

In February 2016 it was confirmed that Dreamgirls would have its London premiere at The Savoy Theatre with Amber Riley taking on the role of Effie White.[8] Previews began on November 19, 2016, with an official opening on December 14 of that year.[9] Riley initially performed the role for 7 out of 8 shows per week, but in July 2017 reduced her performances to 6 times a week and then 5 in August, with Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav serving as alternates. Riley left the role and from November 20, 2017, forward, Moya Angela, who played the role of Effie in the 2009 US tour, Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav all shared the role of Effie. The production was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with scenic design by Tim Hatley, costume design by Gregg Barnes, sound design by Richard Brooker and lighting design by Hugh Vanstone.

Prior to Riley's departure, the production made a live cast recording of the show, which was released on May 12, 2017.[10] The production closed on January 12, 2019.[11]

UK tour edit

In December 2021 Dreamgirls began an 15 month tour of the UK. Previews began on December 14[12] at the Liverpool Empire Theatre with its press night on December 21 before visiting 26 more venues. The role of Effie White is performed by Nicole Raquel Dennis.[13] Sharlene Hector is the alternate Effie White, Hector is well known for being a lead vocalist for British band Basement Jaxx. The production retained Nicholaw's direction and all design elements save for Barnes' costumes, which were designed by Hatley.

Casts of notable productions edit

Character 1981 Broadway 1983 US tour 2001 Concert 2009 US tour 2016 West End 2021 UK tour
Effie Melody White Jennifer Holliday Lillias White Moya Angela Amber Riley Nicole Raquel Dennis
Deena Jones Sheryl Lee Ralph Linda Leilani Brown Audra McDonald Syesha Mercado Liisi Lafontaine Natalie Kassanga
Lorrell Robinson Loretta Devine Arnetia Walker Heather Headley Adrienne Warren Ibinabo Jack Paige Peddie
Curtis Taylor Jr. Ben Harney Larry Riley Norm Lewis Chaz Lamar Shepherd Joe Aaron Reid Dom Hartley-Harris
James "Thunder" Early Cleavant Derricks Clinton Derricks-Carroll Billy Porter Chester Gregory Adam J. Bernard Brandon Lee Sears
C.C. White Obba Babatundé Lawrence Clayton Darius de Haas Trevon Davis Tyrone Huntley Shem Omari James
Michelle Morris Deborah Burrell Tamara Tunie Margaret Hoffman Lily Frazer Brianna Ogunbawo
Marty Madison Vondie Curtis-Hall Weyman Thompson James Stovall Milton Craig Nealy Nicholas Bailey Jo Servi
Wayne Tony Franklin Maurice Felder Bobby Daye Terrance Lemar Thomas Rohan Richards Lukas Hunt

Musical numbers edit

Notes

  • 1 "'Dreams' Medley" was the original Act II opening, a medley reprising the songs "Dreamgirls", "Move", "Love Love You Baby", "Family", "Heavy" and "Cadillac Car", performed by Deena Jones and the Dreams, as well as "Press Conference", performed by the Company. When the musical's national tour began in 1983, the Act II opening was changed to be a reprise of "Dreamgirls". With the new national tour in 2009, a new song, "What Love Can Do", replaced the Act II Opening; Willie Reale, who had co- written a song for the film adaptation, wrote the song's lyrics, with Krieger composing the music.[17] The 2016 West End production replaced the Act II opening with a full-length reprise of "Love Love You Baby" with new lyrics by Reale.[18]
  • 2 Listen, a song originally written for the film adaptation, was modified for and added to the 2009 U.S. tour production of Dreamgirls as an 11 o'clock duet between Deena and Effie,[17] and replaced an unnamed number after "Faith in Myself". "Listen"'s lyrics was revised for the 2016 West End production.[18] Music and lyrics by Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, Beyoncé and Willie Reale.[17]
  • 3 This number is not the finale; the finale is a reprise of "Dreamgirls", which is not listed as a musical number.[15][14]

Plot summary edit

Act I: 1960s edit

In 1962, The Dreamettes, a hopeful teenage Black girl group from Chicago, enter the famous Amateur Night talent competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York ("I'm Looking for Something", "Goin' Downtown", "Takin' the Long Way Home"). The group is composed of full-figured lead singer Effie White and her best friends, Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson. For the contest, the Dreamettes sing "Move (You're Steppin' on My Heart)", a song written by Effie's brother, C.C., who accompanies them to the talent show. Unfortunately, they lose the talent show, but backstage, the girls and C.C. meet Curtis Taylor Jr., a car salesman who becomes the Dreamettes' manager.

Curtis convinces James (Jimmy) "Thunder" Early, a popular R&B star, and his manager, Marty, to hire The Dreamettes as backup singers. Though Jimmy Early and the Dreamettes' first performance together is successful ("Fake Your Way to the Top"), Jimmy is desperate for new material. Curtis convinces Jimmy and Marty that they should venture beyond traditional rhythm and blues and soul audiences and aim for the pop market. C.C. composes "Cadillac Car" for Jimmy and the Dreamettes, who tour ("Cadillac Car (Reprise)") and record the single upon their return ("Cadillac Car (Second Reprise)"). "Cadillac Car" makes its way up the pop charts, but a cover version by white pop singers Dave and the Sweethearts ("Cadillac Car" (Third Reprise)) steals the original recording's thunder. Angered by "Cadillac Car"'s usurpation, Curtis, C.C., and Jimmy's producer, Wayne, resort to payola, bribing DJs across the nation to play Jimmy Early and the Dreamettes' next single, "Steppin' to the Bad Side". As a result, the record becomes a major pop hit. Conflict arises between Marty and Curtis when Curtis moves in on Marty's turf, Jimmy Early. Curtis tries to convince Marty to change Jimmy's image and sound to appeal to the white audience and make Jimmy more successful, and suggests Jimmy play in Miami's Atlantic Hotel, a place that refuses to hire non-white performers; Marty rebuffs and tells Curtis to back off his client. Later, on Lorrell's 18th birthday party, Curtis, referring to himself as Jimmy's manager, calls the Atlantic Hotel's manager to discuss hiring Jimmy Early as a performer; at the same time, Effie and Curtis start a relationship, and Jimmy, a married man, starts an affair with Lorrell. Curtis then succeeds in getting Jimmy to perform in the Atlantic Hotel, which everyone celebrates ("Party, Party").

Strongly determined to make his Black singers household names, Curtis transforms Jimmy Early into a Perry Como-esque pop singer through his performance at the Atlantic Hotel with the Dreamettes ("I Want You Baby"), and later, concentrates on establishing the Dreamettes as their own act, renaming them The Dreams, changing their act to give them a more sophisticated and pop-friendly look and sound. The most crucial of these changes is the establishment of Deena as lead singer, instead of Effie. Effie is resentful of her change in status within the group. C.C. convinces her to go along with Curtis's plan ("Family"). After a fight between Marty and Curtis, Marty quits as Jimmy's manager and Curtis takes over. The Dreams make their club debut in the Crystal Room in Cleveland, singing their first single ("Dreamgirls"). After a triumphant show, the press is eager to meet the newly minted stars ("Press Conference"). Curtis declares to Deena, "I'm going to make you the most famous woman who's ever lived," as the slighted Effie asks "What about me?" ("Only the Beginning"). Over the next few years, the Dreams become a mainstream success with hit singles. As Deena is increasingly feted as a star and Curtis continuously fixates on her, Effie becomes temperamental and unpredictable, suspecting that Curtis and Deena may be having an affair. Effie and Deena quarrel, while Lorrell attempts to keep peace between her bandmates. As Effie continues to disrupt performances and squabble with Deena, Curtis steps in and scolds Effie, warning her to stop. ("Heavy" & "Heavy (Reprise)")

In 1967, the group – now known as "Deena Jones and the Dreams" – is set to make their Las Vegas debut, with Jimmy stopping by to see the girls ("Drivin' Down the Strip"). Jimmy learns from C.C. that Effie had been missing performances; Deena is convinced that she is trying to sabotage the act, while C.C. is convinced that she missed shows because of illness. Curtis replaces Effie with a new singer, Michelle Morris, a change which Effie learns before anyone has a chance to tell her. Effie confronts Curtis, C.C., and the group and tries to tell them that she is pregnant ("It's All Over"), but despite her personal appeal to Curtis ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"), the heartbroken Effie is left behind as Deena Jones and the Dreams forge ahead without her ("Love Love You Baby").

Act II: 1970s edit

By 1972, Deena Jones and the Dreams have become the most successful girl group in the country, with Deena having reached superstardom ("'Dreams' Medley" / "Dreamgirls (Reprise)"). Deena has married Curtis, and C.C. is in love with Michelle. Jimmy has gone years without a hit. Curtis shows little interest in updating or revitalizing Jimmy's act because of Curtis's preoccupation with Deena and because of Jimmy's habit of sneaking funk numbers into his repertoire of pop-friendly songs. Effie is back in Chicago, a single mother to her daughter, Magic, struggling to get another break. Marty, who is now her manager, compels her to rebuild her confidence and give up her "diva behaviors." Once she does, Effie is able to make a show business comeback ("I Am Changing"). In contrast to Effie's struggling return to her musical career, Deena wants to stop singing and become an actress. During a Vogue photo shoot ("One More Picture Please"), Deena informs Curtis of her career plans, but Curtis refuses to let her go ("When I First Saw You"). Deena is not the only one chafing under Curtis's control; C.C. is enraged by Curtis's constant rearrangements of his songs, including an emotional ballad, entitled "One Night Only", which Curtis wants instead recorded to reflect the "new sound" he is inventing.

Deena and the Dreams and Jimmy perform at a National Democratic fundraiser, on a bill featuring such groups as The Five Tuxedos ("Got to Be Good Times"). While waiting backstage to go on, Jimmy finds himself arguing with Lorrell regarding the nature of their relationship and whether Jimmy will tell his wife about their affair and marry Lorrell ("Ain't No Party"). Lorrell is in tears as Jimmy takes to the stage to perform, and turns to Deena for support. As Jimmy pleads to Lorrell through his music ("I Meant You No Harm"), Deena tries to help Lorrell resolve her situation, and Michelle convinces the artistically frustrated C.C. to go find his sister and reconcile with her ("Quintette"). Midway through "I Meant You No Harm", Jimmy falls apart and decides that he "can't sing any more sad songs." Desperate to keep his set going, Jimmy launches into a wild, improvised funk number ("The Rap"), dropping his pants during the performance. An embarrassed Curtis fires Jimmy as soon as his set concludes ("Firing of Jimmy"). Lorrell ends her affair with Jimmy as well. The heartbroken Jimmy fades into obscurity, refusing to "beg" for Curtis' help.

Marty arranges for C.C. to meet and reconcile with Effie at a recording studio ("I Miss You, Old Friend"). C.C. apologizes for his role in handicapping her career, and Effie records C.C.'s "One Night Only" in its original ballad format. "One Night Only" begins climbing the charts, causing an enraged Curtis to rush-release Deena and the Dreams' cover version and use massive amounts of payola to push their version up the charts and Effie's version down. Deena and the Dreams' version of the song becomes a hit. Amidst their performance of the song in Los Angeles, Deena, Lorrell, and Michelle each think of their dreams, which diverge from their current status as musical performers, and inwardly express their desire to quit the music industry: Deena wants to become an actress, Lorrell wants to live her own life and move on from Jimmy, while Michelle wants to settle down with C.C. In the end, all three exclaim, "All of us got other things than singing on our minds." After the performance, film executives approach Deena and express their excitement for making Deena's first film; Curtis pulls her aside and refuses her to go through with the film as there is no music. Deena stays insistent, and as Curtis refuses further, Deena begs Curtis to let her star in the film, to which an angered possessive Curtis tells her that she is his wife and that she is not going anywhere without him ("One Night Only (Reprise)"). As Effie's recording of "One Night Only" descends the charts with Deena and the Dreams' version's ascent, Effie, C.C., and Marty discover Curtis's scheme and later, at a Dreams concert, confront him backstage, threatening legal action ("I'm Somebody" & "Faith in Myself"). As Curtis is forced to make arrangements with Effie's lawyer to reverse his wrongdoings, Effie and Deena reconcile, and Deena learns Effie was pregnant with Curtis's child before her firing from the group. Realizing Curtis's true colors, Deena finally finds the courage to leave him and live her own life. Effie's "One Night Only" becomes a number-one hit, as the Dreams break up so that Deena can pursue her movie career. At their farewell concert ("Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love"), Effie rejoins the group on stage for the final number, and all four Dreams sing their signature song one last time.

Awards and honors edit

Original Broadway production edit

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1982 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Tom Eyen Won
Best Original Score Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Ben Harney Won
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Jennifer Holliday Won
Sheryl Lee Ralph Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks Won
Obba Babatundé Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Michael Bennett Nominated
Best Choreography Michael Bennett and Michael Peters Won
Best Scenic Design Robin Wagner Nominated
Best Costume Design Theoni V. Aldredge Nominated
Best Lighting Design Tharon Musser Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Tom Eyen Won
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Jennifer Holliday Won
Sheryl Lee Ralph Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks Won
Ben Harney Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Michael Bennett Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Tom Eyen Nominated
Outstanding Set Design Robin Wagner Won
Outstanding Costume Design Theoni V. Aldredge Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design Tharon Musser Won
1983 Grammy Award Best Cast Show Album Henry Krieger (composer), Tom Eyen (lyricist), David Foster (producer) Won
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Jennifer Holliday
("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going")
Won

Original West End production edit

Film adaptation edit

David Geffen, founder of Geffen Records and one of the play's financiers, leased the Dreamgirls film rights to Warner Bros. in the 1980s through his Geffen Pictures company. Although the film was announced several times, with singers such as Whitney Houston (as Deena), Lauryn Hill (another Deena candidate), and Kelly Price (as Effie) tapped to star, the studio eventually abandoned the project.[22] Geffen eventually began development on the film at DreamWorks SKG, a company he co-founded, in 2004. Warner Bros., which controlled the film rights to Dreamgirls, was also originally announced as a co-financier of the film, but before shooting began, Paramount Pictures stepped in as co-producer after Warner expressed concerns over the film's budget. Laurence Mark served as producer of the DreamWorks/Paramount adaptation of Dreamgirls, written and directed by Bill Condon, who had earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay adaptation of Chicago.

The film adaptation of Dreamgirls stars Jamie Foxx as Curtis, Beyoncé as Deena, Eddie Murphy as Jimmy, Danny Glover as Marty, Jennifer Hudson as Effie, Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell, and Keith Robinson as C.C.. Dreamgirls was first exhibited in special ten-day road show engagements beginning December 25, 2006. Subsequently, the film went into national release on December 25, 2006.[23] Loretta Devine, who originated the Lorrell role, has a cameo role as a jazz singer in the film. Two other alumni of the Broadway production – Hinton Battle (a James "Thunder" Early replacement) and Yvette Cason (Charlene; Effie White understudy) – also appear. While much of the material remains the same as that of the stage musical, some of the stage musical's songs (most notably "Ain't No Party" and the Act II Opener) were removed, and four new songs were added. A number of changes were made to the story as well, including the additions of more overt references to The Supremes and Motown, the death of Jimmy (who is found dead on the road after a heroin overdose), and the relocation of the story's main setting from Chicago to Detroit. The film won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) and Best Sound Mixing.

To give the story more exposure for the upcoming film release, DreamWorks Pictures and the licensee of the original play, The Tams-Witmark Music Library, announced they would pay the licensing fees for all non-professional stage performances of Dreamgirls for the calendar year of 2006. DreamWorks hoped to encourage amateur productions of Dreamgirls, and familiarize a wider audience with the play. As a result, more than fifty high schools, colleges, community theaters, and other non-commercial theater entities staged productions of Dreamgirls in 2006, and DreamWorks spent up to $250,000 subsidizing the licensing.[24]

Similarities to The Supremes' story edit

From the show's opening, Michael Bennett, Henry Krieger, Tom Eyen, and the Dreamgirls producers publicly denied basing the musical's plot on the story of the Supremes. It is widely believed these public denials were made in order to avoid lawsuits from the Supremes, Berry Gordy, and Motown as the similarities in the plot and the Supremes' story were strikingly close. Mary Wilson loved Dreamgirls so much that she named her first autobiography, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme after the musical. Diana Ross publicly denied ever seeing the show despite including "Family" in her 1983 Central Park concert. A Broadway urban myth circled at the time that Ross had seen the show in disguise and stormed out at the end of Act I upset. In an Oprah: Where Are They Now? interview from 2014, Ralph said Michael Bennett instructed her not to portray Deena like Diana Ross or else they would be sued. In the same interview, Ralph recalled encountering Ross in New York shortly after the musical's opening where Ross coldly brushed her off, leading her to speculate that Ross had seen or knew of the show. Tom Eyen denied that he had the Supremes in mind when he wrote the book. He is quoted as saying in 1986: "I didn't grow up with the Supremes...I grew up with the Shirelles. Dreamgirls isn't about any one group. It's a cavalcade of black Motown singers: the Shirelles, the Chiffons, Martha and the Vandellas, Little Richard and Stevie Wonder. All the characters are larger than life."[1] Early in Michael Bennett's career, he was a dancer on the 1960s NBC musical variety series Hullabaloo (TV series) where he danced behind The Supremes on several of their appearances on the show.

Similarities between true life events and the plot of the musical include:

  • Both the Supremes and the Dreams started off with "ettes" in their group's name. The Supremes were originally the Primettes; the Dreams start off as the Dreamettes.
  • Both the Supremes and the Dreams did background vocal work for established recording artists before becoming famous.
  • Diana Ross was chosen as the lead singer of the Supremes because of her distinctive, softer, commercial voice with crossover appeal, just as Deena Jones is chosen as the lead singer of the Dreams due to similar qualities.
  • The storyline of the love affair between Deena Jones and Curtis Taylor Jr. mirrors Diana Ross and Berry Gordy Jr.'s love affair and the emphasis of Diana's/Deena's success over the group's.
  • The storyline of Lorrell Robinson and James "Thunder" Early's relationship resembles Mary Wilson's relationships with fellow Motown artists as well as Welsh singer Tom Jones.
  • Deena Jones is coached to be the spokesperson for the group during press conferences, just as Diana Ross was for the Supremes.
  • The press was instructed to refer to Diana Ross as "Miss Ross." In Dreamgirls, the press is instructed to refer to Deena Jones as "Miss Jones."
  • As Diana Ross was pushed forward as the star of the Supremes, Florence Ballard became difficult to work with when she was forced into the background. Effie White reacts in the same manner when Deena Jones is pushed forward as the star of the Dreams.
  • Florence Ballard and the character Effie White missed performances, recording sessions, allegedly illnesses, and gained weight, which resulted in them being fired from their groups in Las Vegas in 1967.
  • Cindy Birdsong went on to perform with the Supremes the same night Florence Ballard was fired, just as Michelle Morris goes on to perform with the Dreams the same night Effie White is fired.
  • The Supremes became "Diana Ross & the Supremes" in 1967 while in Las Vegas. The Dreams became "Deena Jones & the Dreams" in 1967 while in Las Vegas.
  • After Diana Ross left the Supremes in 1970 to pursue other projects such as film work, in 1972 she starred in her first motion picture, the Motown-produced Lady Sings the Blues. The character of Deena Jones leaves the Dreams in 1972 to pursue a career as an actress.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Grossberg, Michael . " 'Dreamgirls' continues to spark questions about its Motown inspiration". The Columbus Dispatch, March 6, 2015
  2. ^ One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story, by Kevin Kelly, Doubleday, 1990
  3. ^ Hill, Jeremy. "Pre-Broadway. Dreamgirls: Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical.
  4. ^ " 'Dreamgirls' 1987" ibdb.com, retrieved October 3, 2017
  5. ^ Harvey, Dennis (January 25, 2004). "Dreamgirls: "American Idol" outcast Frenchie Davis, in the role that made Jennifer Holliday a star, provides the marquee value -- but not the only reason to see this sturdy revival". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Dodds, Richard. 2010. "Master of the Silhouettes: "Dreamgirls" Costume Designer William Ivey Long," Bay Area Reporter ("Arts & Entertainment" section), Vol. 40. No. 33 (August 19, 2010), pp. 21, 32.
  7. ^ Jones, Kenneth."'Not Going' So Fast: Dreamgirls Extends by a Week at NYC's Apollo". November 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, November 17, 2009.
  8. ^ Snetiker, Marc. "Dreamgirls: Amber Riley to play Effie in West End production". Entertainment Weekly, February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "New London Production of Dreamgirls Opens Tonight".
  10. ^ Khullar, Asmita (2017-05-12). "DREAMGIRLS ORIGINAL LONDON CAST RECORDING STARRING AMBER RILEY IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE TODAY!". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  11. ^ "Dreamgirls sets closing date in the West End". 6 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Dreamgirls (Closed January 01, 2022) | Liverpool | reviews, cast and info | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  13. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Cast Announced For DREAMGIRLS UK Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  14. ^ a b c "Dreamgirls (Broadway, Imperial Theatre, 1981)", Playbill, pp. 5–6, 1981, retrieved June 26, 2023
  15. ^ a b c Dietz, Dan (2016). The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442260924.
  16. ^ a b Peterson, Bernard L. Jr. (1993). A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313064548.
  17. ^ a b c Hetrick, Adam; Jones, Kenneth (September 1, 2009). "Dreamgirls Tour to Feature Duet Version of 'Listen' and New Act II Opener". Playbill. Playbill, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "HENRY KRIEGER INTERVIEW". November 30, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  19. ^ "Olivier Winners 2017". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  20. ^ Dex, Robert (2017-11-17). "Here's the shortlist for the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  21. ^ Thompson, Jessie (2017-12-04). "These are the winners of the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  22. ^ Hill, Jeremy. "Film Version (2006): History". Dreamgirls: Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical.
  23. ^ McClintock, Pamela (November 6, 2006). "D'Works takes 'Girls' on road", Daily Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2006.
  24. ^ Olsen, Mark (December 12, 2006). "One stage of film's marketing is on stage", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2006.

References edit

  • Hill, Jeremy. Dreamgirls: Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical 2008-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
  • Ksharrity. Final Essay on Dreamgirls. Retrieved May 22, 2017.

External links edit

dreamgirls, film, film, other, uses, dream, girl, disambiguation, broadway, musical, with, music, henry, krieger, lyrics, book, eyen, based, show, business, aspirations, successes, acts, such, shirelles, james, brown, jackie, wilson, others, closely, follows, . For the film see Dreamgirls film For other uses see Dream Girl disambiguation Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R amp B acts such as The Shirelles James Brown Jackie Wilson and others but closely follows the story of The Supremes as the musical follows the story of a young Black female singing trio from Chicago Illinois called The Dreams who become music superstars 1 DreamgirlsCover for the second Playbill for DreamgirlsMusicHenry KriegerLyricsTom EyenBookTom EyenProductions1981 Broadway 1983 US tour 1985 International tour 1987 Broadway revival 1997 US tour 2001 Broadway concert 2009 US tour 2016 West End 2022 UK tourAwardsTony Award for Best Book Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a MusicalStaged with a mostly African American cast and originally starring Jennifer Holliday Sheryl Lee Ralph Loretta Devine Ben Harney Cleavant Derricks Vondie Curtis Hall and Obba Babatunde the musical opened on December 20 1981 at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway The musical was then nominated for 13 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 film starred Jamie Foxx Beyonce Eddie Murphy Jennifer Hudson Danny Glover Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson Contents 1 Original Broadway production 1 1 Background 1 2 Broadway 2 Subsequent productions 2 1 US tours 2 2 2001 Actors Fund of America Concert 2 3 West End 2 4 UK tour 3 Casts of notable productions 4 Musical numbers 5 Plot summary 5 1 Act I 1960s 5 2 Act II 1970s 6 Awards and honors 6 1 Original Broadway production 6 2 Original West End production 7 Film adaptation 8 Similarities to The Supremes story 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 External linksOriginal Broadway production editBackground edit Dreamgirls had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter Playwright Tom Eyen and conductor Henry Krieger first worked together on the 1975 musical version of Eyen s play The Dirtiest Show in Town Carter appeared in the musical and her performance inspired Eyen and Krieger to craft a musical about black back up singers which was originally called One Night Only and then given the working title of Project 9 2 Project 9 was workshopped for Joseph Papp Nell Carter was joined at this time by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine who were to play her groupmates The project was shelved after Carter departed to appear in the soap opera Ryan s Hope in 1978 A year later Project 9 was brought back to the table after catching the interest of Michael Bennett then in the midst of his success with A Chorus Line Ralph and Devine returned and Bennett had Eyen who was to direct begin workshopping Big Dreams as the musical was now known Joining the cast at this time were Ben Harney Obba Babatunde Cleavant Derricks and twenty year old gospel singer Jennifer Holliday as Carter s replacement after Carter accepted an offer from NBC to star in Gimme a Break However Holliday left the project during the workshopping phase as she disliked the material and was upset that her character Effie White died at the conclusion of the first act Eyen Bennett and Krieger continued to iron out the story and songs Cheryl Gaines and Phyllis Hyman were both considered as replacements for Holliday After two mildly successful workshops which included Jenifer Lewis as Effie Holliday returned to the project now known as Dreamgirls However she found Effie s role had been reduced significantly in favor of Sheryl Lee Ralph s Deena character and Holliday eventually quit the project again After acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co financiers ABC Entertainment Metromedia and the Shubert family Bennett called Holliday back and agreed to rewrite the show s second act and build up her character 3 Paradoxically the show lost at the Tony Awards in the category of Best Musical and Best Score to Nine Gender and racial issues are represented in Dreamgirls being a black cast musical with three female lead roles Being set in the 1960s the Black Power Movement was influential on the story line with black artists starting to succeed in the music industry and black music becoming accessible to all audiences which is a representation of racial boundaries being broken down The story is based on three women working their way up in the music industry to achieve their dreams while the most powerful people in the industry are men In the end the women stand up for their rights and become influential figures Broadway edit Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on December 20 1981 and closed on August 11 1985 after 1 521 performances 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 Babatunde 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 Holliday s recording of Effie s solo And I Am Telling You I m Not Going was a 1 single on the Billboard R amp B charts in 1982 For the Dreamgirls original cast recording the producers decided to present the intricately interwoven musical sequences as individual songs cutting approximately half of the score The cast recording won two Grammy awards Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday s And I Am Telling You I m Not Going Subsequent productions editUS tours edit Bennett took Dreamgirls on an abbreviated national tour in 1983 with Jennifer Holliday remaining as Effie with Larry Riley Linda Leilani Brown Arnetia Walker Lawrence Clayton and Cleavant Derricks twin brother Clinton Derricks Carroll as her co stars The show played extended engagements in three U S cities Los Angeles San Francisco and Chicago but was dissolved due to high costs A second tour began in 1985 with Sharon Brown as Effie By 1987 Lillias White Jennifer Holliday s understudy in the first road production had taken over the role The tour ended with a Broadway revival at the Ambassador Theatre which ran from June 28 1987 to November 29 1987 and was nominated for the 1988 Tony Award Best Revival 4 By this time Michael Bennett had fallen ill due to AIDS related complications and he died on July 2 1987 A US tour began in 1997 with direction and choreography by Tony Stevens based on the original direction and choreography by Michael Bennett The tour was set to open on Broadway in July 1998 however it ultimately closed in Upstate New York while waiting for a Broadway theatre to become available citation needed In 2004 another national tour began starring American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis who gained praise for her role as Effie and Angela Robinson as Deena 5 Another US tour began at the Apollo Theater New York City in November 2009 with direction and choreography by Robert Longbottom new scenic design by the original set designer Robin Wagner and new costume designs by William Ivey Long 6 7 American Idol alum Syesha Mercado starred as Deena with Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Moya Angela as Effie Chester Gregory as Jimmy and Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis This production included a new song for Deena and the Dreams at the top of Act II What Love Can Do as well as the song Listen from the film which was re written as a duet between Deena and Effie In 2011 the creative team took the production to Montecasino South Africa with a local cast however it closed early citation needed 2001 Actors Fund of America Concert edit In 2001 a concert performance of the show was staged on Broadway at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts starring Lillias White as Effie Audra McDonald as Deena Heather Headley as Lorrelle Billy Porter as Jimmy Darius de Haas as C C Tamara Tunie as Michelle and Norm Lewis as Curtis with appearances by E Lynn Harris Adriane Lenox Brian Stokes Mitchell Alice Ripley Emily Skinner and Patrick Wilson among many others The concert was in benefit of the Actors Fund of America and was one of the first major public gatherings to be held in New York City after 9 11 It was recorded and later released in its entirety on CD West End edit In February 2016 it was confirmed that Dreamgirls would have its London premiere at The Savoy Theatre with Amber Riley taking on the role of Effie White 8 Previews began on November 19 2016 with an official opening on December 14 of that year 9 Riley initially performed the role for 7 out of 8 shows per week but in July 2017 reduced her performances to 6 times a week and then 5 in August with Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav serving as alternates Riley left the role and from November 20 2017 forward Moya Angela who played the role of Effie in the 2009 US tour Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav all shared the role of Effie The production was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw with scenic design by Tim Hatley costume design by Gregg Barnes sound design by Richard Brooker and lighting design by Hugh Vanstone Prior to Riley s departure the production made a live cast recording of the show which was released on May 12 2017 10 The production closed on January 12 2019 11 UK tour edit In December 2021 Dreamgirls began an 15 month tour of the UK Previews began on December 14 12 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre with its press night on December 21 before visiting 26 more venues The role of Effie White is performed by Nicole Raquel Dennis 13 Sharlene Hector is the alternate Effie White Hector is well known for being a lead vocalist for British band Basement Jaxx The production retained Nicholaw s direction and all design elements save for Barnes costumes which were designed by Hatley Casts of notable productions editCharacter 1981 Broadway 1983 US tour 2001 Concert 2009 US tour 2016 West End 2021 UK tourEffie Melody White Jennifer Holliday Lillias White Moya Angela Amber Riley Nicole Raquel DennisDeena Jones Sheryl Lee Ralph Linda Leilani Brown Audra McDonald Syesha Mercado Liisi Lafontaine Natalie KassangaLorrell Robinson Loretta Devine Arnetia Walker Heather Headley Adrienne Warren Ibinabo Jack Paige PeddieCurtis Taylor Jr Ben Harney Larry Riley Norm Lewis Chaz Lamar Shepherd Joe Aaron Reid Dom Hartley HarrisJames Thunder Early Cleavant Derricks Clinton Derricks Carroll Billy Porter Chester Gregory Adam J Bernard Brandon Lee SearsC C White Obba Babatunde Lawrence Clayton Darius de Haas Trevon Davis Tyrone Huntley Shem Omari JamesMichelle Morris Deborah Burrell Tamara Tunie Margaret Hoffman Lily Frazer Brianna OgunbawoMarty Madison Vondie Curtis Hall Weyman Thompson James Stovall Milton Craig Nealy Nicholas Bailey Jo ServiWayne Tony Franklin Maurice Felder Bobby Daye Terrance Lemar Thomas Rohan Richards Lukas HuntMusical numbers editAct I 14 15 16 Scene 1 The Apollo Theater I m Looking for Something The Stepp Sisters Goin Downtown Little Albert and the Tru Tones Takin the Long Way Home Tiny Joe Dixon Move You re Steppin on My Heart The Dreamettes Fake Your Way to the Top Jimmy Early The Jimmy Early Band and the Dreamettes Cadillac Car Curtis Jimmy C C Marty and the CompanyScene 2 On the Road Cadillac Car Reprise The CompanyScene 3 A Recording Studio Cadillac Car Second Reprise The CompanyScene 4 Limbo Cadillac Car Third Reprise Dave and the Sweethearts Steppin to the Bad Side Curtis C C Jimmy Wayne the Dreamettes and the CompanyScene 5 A Hotel in St Louis Party Party The CompanyScene 6 Miami I Want You Baby Jimmy and the DreamettesScene 7 Dressing Room in the Atlantic Hotel Family C C Curtis Jimmy Deena and LorrellScene 8 Cleveland Dreamgirls The Dreams Press Conference The Company Only the Beginning Curtis Deena and EffieScene 9 A TV Studio Heavy The DreamsScene 10 San Francisco Heavy Reprise The Dreams and CurtisScene 11 Las Vegas Backstage Drivin Down the Strip Jimmy It s All Over Curtis Effie Deena Lorrell C C Michelle and Jimmy And I Am Telling You I m Not Going EffieScene 12 Las Vegas On Stage Love Love You Baby The Dreams Act II 14 15 16 Scene 1 Las Vegas Hilton Dreams Medley 1 Deena Jones and the Dreams and the CompanyScene 2 Chicago Nightclub I Am Changing EffieScene 3 Vogue Magazine Photo Call One More Picture Please The Company When I First Saw You Curtis and DeenaScene 4 National Democratic Fundraiser Got to Be Good Times The Five Tuxedos Ain t No Party Lorrell and Jimmy I Meant You No Harm Jimmy Quintette Deena Lorrell C C and Michelle The Rap Jimmy C C Marty Curtis Frank Lorrell and the CompanyScene 5 A Chicago Recording Studio I Miss You Old Friend Effie Marty C C and Les Style One Night Only EffieScene 6 Los Angeles One Night Only Reprise Deena Jones and the Dreams and the CompanyScene 7 Chicago I m Somebody Deena Jones and the Dreams Faith in Myself 2 EffieScene 8 New York Hard to Say Goodbye My Love 3 Deena Jones and the Dreams Notes 1 Dreams Medley was the original Act II opening a medley reprising the songs Dreamgirls Move Love Love You Baby Family Heavy and Cadillac Car performed by Deena Jones and the Dreams as well as Press Conference performed by the Company When the musical s national tour began in 1983 the Act II opening was changed to be a reprise of Dreamgirls With the new national tour in 2009 a new song What Love Can Do replaced the Act II Opening Willie Reale who had co written a song for the film adaptation wrote the song s lyrics with Krieger composing the music 17 The 2016 West End production replaced the Act II opening with a full length reprise of Love Love You Baby with new lyrics by Reale 18 2 Listen a song originally written for the film adaptation was modified for and added to the 2009 U S tour production of Dreamgirls as an 11 o clock duet between Deena and Effie 17 and replaced an unnamed number after Faith in Myself Listen s lyrics was revised for the 2016 West End production 18 Music and lyrics by Henry Krieger Scott Cutler Anne Preven Beyonce and Willie Reale 17 3 This number is not the finale the finale is a reprise of Dreamgirls which is not listed as a musical number 15 14 Plot summary editAct I 1960s edit In 1962 The Dreamettes a hopeful teenage Black girl group from Chicago enter the famous Amateur Night talent competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem New York I m Looking for Something Goin Downtown Takin the Long Way Home The group is composed of full figured lead singer Effie White and her best friends Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson For the contest the Dreamettes sing Move You re Steppin on My Heart a song written by Effie s brother C C who accompanies them to the talent show Unfortunately they lose the talent show but backstage the girls and C C meet Curtis Taylor Jr a car salesman who becomes the Dreamettes manager Curtis convinces James Jimmy Thunder Early a popular R amp B star and his manager Marty to hire The Dreamettes as backup singers Though Jimmy Early and the Dreamettes first performance together is successful Fake Your Way to the Top Jimmy is desperate for new material Curtis convinces Jimmy and Marty that they should venture beyond traditional rhythm and blues and soul audiences and aim for the pop market C C composes Cadillac Car for Jimmy and the Dreamettes who tour Cadillac Car Reprise and record the single upon their return Cadillac Car Second Reprise Cadillac Car makes its way up the pop charts but a cover version by white pop singers Dave and the Sweethearts Cadillac Car Third Reprise steals the original recording s thunder Angered by Cadillac Car s usurpation Curtis C C and Jimmy s producer Wayne resort to payola bribing DJs across the nation to play Jimmy Early and the Dreamettes next single Steppin to the Bad Side As a result the record becomes a major pop hit Conflict arises between Marty and Curtis when Curtis moves in on Marty s turf Jimmy Early Curtis tries to convince Marty to change Jimmy s image and sound to appeal to the white audience and make Jimmy more successful and suggests Jimmy play in Miami s Atlantic Hotel a place that refuses to hire non white performers Marty rebuffs and tells Curtis to back off his client Later on Lorrell s 18th birthday party Curtis referring to himself as Jimmy s manager calls the Atlantic Hotel s manager to discuss hiring Jimmy Early as a performer at the same time Effie and Curtis start a relationship and Jimmy a married man starts an affair with Lorrell Curtis then succeeds in getting Jimmy to perform in the Atlantic Hotel which everyone celebrates Party Party Strongly determined to make his Black singers household names Curtis transforms Jimmy Early into a Perry Como esque pop singer through his performance at the Atlantic Hotel with the Dreamettes I Want You Baby and later concentrates on establishing the Dreamettes as their own act renaming them The Dreams changing their act to give them a more sophisticated and pop friendly look and sound The most crucial of these changes is the establishment of Deena as lead singer instead of Effie Effie is resentful of her change in status within the group C C convinces her to go along with Curtis s plan Family After a fight between Marty and Curtis Marty quits as Jimmy s manager and Curtis takes over The Dreams make their club debut in the Crystal Room in Cleveland singing their first single Dreamgirls After a triumphant show the press is eager to meet the newly minted stars Press Conference Curtis declares to Deena I m going to make you the most famous woman who s ever lived as the slighted Effie asks What about me Only the Beginning Over the next few years the Dreams become a mainstream success with hit singles As Deena is increasingly feted as a star and Curtis continuously fixates on her Effie becomes temperamental and unpredictable suspecting that Curtis and Deena may be having an affair Effie and Deena quarrel while Lorrell attempts to keep peace between her bandmates As Effie continues to disrupt performances and squabble with Deena Curtis steps in and scolds Effie warning her to stop Heavy amp Heavy Reprise In 1967 the group now known as Deena Jones and the Dreams is set to make their Las Vegas debut with Jimmy stopping by to see the girls Drivin Down the Strip Jimmy learns from C C that Effie had been missing performances Deena is convinced that she is trying to sabotage the act while C C is convinced that she missed shows because of illness Curtis replaces Effie with a new singer Michelle Morris a change which Effie learns before anyone has a chance to tell her Effie confronts Curtis C C and the group and tries to tell them that she is pregnant It s All Over but despite her personal appeal to Curtis And I Am Telling You I m Not Going the heartbroken Effie is left behind as Deena Jones and the Dreams forge ahead without her Love Love You Baby Act II 1970s edit By 1972 Deena Jones and the Dreams have become the most successful girl group in the country with Deena having reached superstardom Dreams Medley Dreamgirls Reprise Deena has married Curtis and C C is in love with Michelle Jimmy has gone years without a hit Curtis shows little interest in updating or revitalizing Jimmy s act because of Curtis s preoccupation with Deena and because of Jimmy s habit of sneaking funk numbers into his repertoire of pop friendly songs Effie is back in Chicago a single mother to her daughter Magic struggling to get another break Marty who is now her manager compels her to rebuild her confidence and give up her diva behaviors Once she does Effie is able to make a show business comeback I Am Changing In contrast to Effie s struggling return to her musical career Deena wants to stop singing and become an actress During a Vogue photo shoot One More Picture Please Deena informs Curtis of her career plans but Curtis refuses to let her go When I First Saw You Deena is not the only one chafing under Curtis s control C C is enraged by Curtis s constant rearrangements of his songs including an emotional ballad entitled One Night Only which Curtis wants instead recorded to reflect the new sound he is inventing Deena and the Dreams and Jimmy perform at a National Democratic fundraiser on a bill featuring such groups as The Five Tuxedos Got to Be Good Times While waiting backstage to go on Jimmy finds himself arguing with Lorrell regarding the nature of their relationship and whether Jimmy will tell his wife about their affair and marry Lorrell Ain t No Party Lorrell is in tears as Jimmy takes to the stage to perform and turns to Deena for support As Jimmy pleads to Lorrell through his music I Meant You No Harm Deena tries to help Lorrell resolve her situation and Michelle convinces the artistically frustrated C C to go find his sister and reconcile with her Quintette Midway through I Meant You No Harm Jimmy falls apart and decides that he can t sing any more sad songs Desperate to keep his set going Jimmy launches into a wild improvised funk number The Rap dropping his pants during the performance An embarrassed Curtis fires Jimmy as soon as his set concludes Firing of Jimmy Lorrell ends her affair with Jimmy as well The heartbroken Jimmy fades into obscurity refusing to beg for Curtis help Marty arranges for C C to meet and reconcile with Effie at a recording studio I Miss You Old Friend C C apologizes for his role in handicapping her career and Effie records C C s One Night Only in its original ballad format One Night Only begins climbing the charts causing an enraged Curtis to rush release Deena and the Dreams cover version and use massive amounts of payola to push their version up the charts and Effie s version down Deena and the Dreams version of the song becomes a hit Amidst their performance of the song in Los Angeles Deena Lorrell and Michelle each think of their dreams which diverge from their current status as musical performers and inwardly express their desire to quit the music industry Deena wants to become an actress Lorrell wants to live her own life and move on from Jimmy while Michelle wants to settle down with C C In the end all three exclaim All of us got other things than singing on our minds After the performance film executives approach Deena and express their excitement for making Deena s first film Curtis pulls her aside and refuses her to go through with the film as there is no music Deena stays insistent and as Curtis refuses further Deena begs Curtis to let her star in the film to which an angered possessive Curtis tells her that she is his wife and that she is not going anywhere without him One Night Only Reprise As Effie s recording of One Night Only descends the charts with Deena and the Dreams version s ascent Effie C C and Marty discover Curtis s scheme and later at a Dreams concert confront him backstage threatening legal action I m Somebody amp Faith in Myself As Curtis is forced to make arrangements with Effie s lawyer to reverse his wrongdoings Effie and Deena reconcile and Deena learns Effie was pregnant with Curtis s child before her firing from the group Realizing Curtis s true colors Deena finally finds the courage to leave him and live her own life Effie s One Night Only becomes a number one hit as the Dreams break up so that Deena can pursue her movie career At their farewell concert Hard to Say Goodbye My Love Effie rejoins the group on stage for the final number and all four Dreams sing their signature song one last time Awards and honors editOriginal Broadway production edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1982 Tony Award Best Musical NominatedBest Book of a Musical Tom Eyen WonBest Original Score Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Ben Harney WonBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Jennifer Holliday WonSheryl Lee Ralph NominatedBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks WonObba Babatunde NominatedBest Direction of a Musical Michael Bennett NominatedBest Choreography Michael Bennett and Michael Peters WonBest Scenic Design Robin Wagner NominatedBest Costume Design Theoni V Aldredge NominatedBest Lighting Design Tharon Musser WonDrama Desk Award Outstanding Musical NominatedOutstanding Book of a Musical Tom Eyen WonOutstanding Actress in a Musical Jennifer Holliday WonSheryl Lee Ralph NominatedOutstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Cleavant Derricks WonBen Harney NominatedOutstanding Director of a Musical Michael Bennett NominatedOutstanding Lyrics Tom Eyen NominatedOutstanding Set Design Robin Wagner WonOutstanding Costume Design Theoni V Aldredge NominatedOutstanding Lighting Design Tharon Musser Won1983 Grammy Award Best Cast Show Album Henry Krieger composer Tom Eyen lyricist David Foster producer WonBest Female R amp B Vocal Performance Jennifer Holliday And I Am Telling You I m Not Going WonOriginal West End production edit Year Award Category Nominee Result2017 Laurence Olivier Award 19 Best New Musical NominatedBest Actress in a Musical Amber Riley WonBest Supporting Actor in a Musical Adam J Bernard WonBest Costume Design Greg Barnes NominatedOutstanding Achievement in Music Henry Krieger NominatedEvening Standard Theatre Award 20 21 Best Musical NominatedBest Musical Performance Amber Riley WonFilm adaptation editMain article Dreamgirls film David Geffen founder of Geffen Records and one of the play s financiers leased the Dreamgirls film rights to Warner Bros in the 1980s through his Geffen Pictures company Although the film was announced several times with singers such as Whitney Houston as Deena Lauryn Hill another Deena candidate and Kelly Price as Effie tapped to star the studio eventually abandoned the project 22 Geffen eventually began development on the film at DreamWorks SKG a company he co founded in 2004 Warner Bros which controlled the film rights to Dreamgirls was also originally announced as a co financier of the film but before shooting began Paramount Pictures stepped in as co producer after Warner expressed concerns over the film s budget Laurence Mark served as producer of the DreamWorks Paramount adaptation of Dreamgirls written and directed by Bill Condon who had earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay adaptation of Chicago The film adaptation of Dreamgirls stars Jamie Foxx as Curtis Beyonce as Deena Eddie Murphy as Jimmy Danny Glover as Marty Jennifer Hudson as Effie Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell and Keith Robinson as C C Dreamgirls was first exhibited in special ten day road show engagements beginning December 25 2006 Subsequently the film went into national release on December 25 2006 23 Loretta Devine who originated the Lorrell role has a cameo role as a jazz singer in the film Two other alumni of the Broadway production Hinton Battle a James Thunder Early replacement and Yvette Cason Charlene Effie White understudy also appear While much of the material remains the same as that of the stage musical some of the stage musical s songs most notably Ain t No Party and the Act II Opener were removed and four new songs were added A number of changes were made to the story as well including the additions of more overt references to The Supremes and Motown the death of Jimmy who is found dead on the road after a heroin overdose and the relocation of the story s main setting from Chicago to Detroit The film won two Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Hudson and Best Sound Mixing To give the story more exposure for the upcoming film release DreamWorks Pictures and the licensee of the original play The Tams Witmark Music Library announced they would pay the licensing fees for all non professional stage performances of Dreamgirls for the calendar year of 2006 DreamWorks hoped to encourage amateur productions of Dreamgirls and familiarize a wider audience with the play As a result more than fifty high schools colleges community theaters and other non commercial theater entities staged productions of Dreamgirls in 2006 and DreamWorks spent up to 250 000 subsidizing the licensing 24 Similarities to The Supremes story editFrom the show s opening Michael Bennett Henry Krieger Tom Eyen and the Dreamgirls producers publicly denied basing the musical s plot on the story of the Supremes It is widely believed these public denials were made in order to avoid lawsuits from the Supremes Berry Gordy and Motown as the similarities in the plot and the Supremes story were strikingly close Mary Wilson loved Dreamgirls so much that she named her first autobiography Dreamgirl My Life as a Supreme after the musical Diana Ross publicly denied ever seeing the show despite including Family in her 1983 Central Park concert A Broadway urban myth circled at the time that Ross had seen the show in disguise and stormed out at the end of Act I upset In an Oprah Where Are They Now interview from 2014 Ralph said Michael Bennett instructed her not to portray Deena like Diana Ross or else they would be sued In the same interview Ralph recalled encountering Ross in New York shortly after the musical s opening where Ross coldly brushed her off leading her to speculate that Ross had seen or knew of the show Tom Eyen denied that he had the Supremes in mind when he wrote the book He is quoted as saying in 1986 I didn t grow up with the Supremes I grew up with the Shirelles Dreamgirls isn t about any one group It s a cavalcade of black Motown singers the Shirelles the Chiffons Martha and the Vandellas Little Richard and Stevie Wonder All the characters are larger than life 1 Early in Michael Bennett s career he was a dancer on the 1960s NBC musical variety series Hullabaloo TV series where he danced behind The Supremes on several of their appearances on the show Similarities between true life events and the plot of the musical include Both the Supremes and the Dreams started off with ettes in their group s name The Supremes were originally the Primettes the Dreams start off as the Dreamettes Both the Supremes and the Dreams did background vocal work for established recording artists before becoming famous Diana Ross was chosen as the lead singer of the Supremes because of her distinctive softer commercial voice with crossover appeal just as Deena Jones is chosen as the lead singer of the Dreams due to similar qualities The storyline of the love affair between Deena Jones and Curtis Taylor Jr mirrors Diana Ross and Berry Gordy Jr s love affair and the emphasis of Diana s Deena s success over the group s The storyline of Lorrell Robinson and James Thunder Early s relationship resembles Mary Wilson s relationships with fellow Motown artists as well as Welsh singer Tom Jones Deena Jones is coached to be the spokesperson for the group during press conferences just as Diana Ross was for the Supremes The press was instructed to refer to Diana Ross as Miss Ross In Dreamgirls the press is instructed to refer to Deena Jones as Miss Jones As Diana Ross was pushed forward as the star of the Supremes Florence Ballard became difficult to work with when she was forced into the background Effie White reacts in the same manner when Deena Jones is pushed forward as the star of the Dreams Florence Ballard and the character Effie White missed performances recording sessions allegedly illnesses and gained weight which resulted in them being fired from their groups in Las Vegas in 1967 Cindy Birdsong went on to perform with the Supremes the same night Florence Ballard was fired just as Michelle Morris goes on to perform with the Dreams the same night Effie White is fired The Supremes became Diana Ross amp the Supremes in 1967 while in Las Vegas The Dreams became Deena Jones amp the Dreams in 1967 while in Las Vegas After Diana Ross left the Supremes in 1970 to pursue other projects such as film work in 1972 she starred in her first motion picture the Motown produced Lady Sings the Blues The character of Deena Jones leaves the Dreams in 1972 to pursue a career as an actress See also editDreamgirls Original Broadway Cast Album Dreamgirls Music from the Motion Picture Dreamgirl My Life As a Supreme the 1986 autobiography of former Supremes member Mary WilsonNotes edit a b Grossberg Michael Dreamgirls continues to spark questions about its Motown inspiration The Columbus Dispatch March 6 2015 One Singular Sensation The Michael Bennett Story by Kevin Kelly Doubleday 1990 Hill Jeremy Pre Broadway Dreamgirls Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical Dreamgirls 1987 ibdb com retrieved October 3 2017 Harvey Dennis January 25 2004 Dreamgirls American Idol outcast Frenchie Davis in the role that made Jennifer Holliday a star provides the marquee value but not the only reason to see this sturdy revival Variety Retrieved January 25 2024 Dodds Richard 2010 Master of the Silhouettes Dreamgirls Costume Designer William Ivey Long Bay Area Reporter Arts amp Entertainment section Vol 40 No 33 August 19 2010 pp 21 32 Jones Kenneth Not Going So Fast Dreamgirls Extends by a Week at NYC s Apollo Archived November 20 2009 at the Wayback Machine playbill com November 17 2009 Snetiker Marc Dreamgirls Amber Riley to play Effie in West End production Entertainment Weekly February 4 2016 New London Production of Dreamgirls Opens Tonight Khullar Asmita 2017 05 12 DREAMGIRLS ORIGINAL LONDON CAST RECORDING STARRING AMBER RILEY IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE TODAY The Official Masterworks Broadway Site Retrieved 2023 09 08 Dreamgirls sets closing date in the West End 6 June 2018 Dreamgirls Closed January 01 2022 Liverpool reviews cast and info WhatsOnStage www whatsonstage com Retrieved 2022 05 11 Wild Stephi Cast Announced For DREAMGIRLS UK Tour BroadwayWorld com Retrieved 2022 05 11 a b c Dreamgirls Broadway Imperial Theatre 1981 Playbill pp 5 6 1981 retrieved June 26 2023 a b c Dietz Dan 2016 The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals Rowman amp Littlefield ISBN 9781442260924 a b Peterson Bernard L Jr 1993 A Century of Musicals in Black and White An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By About or Involving African Americans ABC CLIO ISBN 9780313064548 a b c Hetrick Adam Jones Kenneth September 1 2009 Dreamgirls Tour to Feature Duet Version of Listen and New Act II Opener Playbill Playbill Inc Retrieved February 1 2015 a b HENRY KRIEGER INTERVIEW November 30 2016 Retrieved September 8 2017 Olivier Winners 2017 Olivier Awards Retrieved 2021 03 30 Dex Robert 2017 11 17 Here s the shortlist for the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards www standard co uk Retrieved 2021 03 30 Thompson Jessie 2017 12 04 These are the winners of the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards www standard co uk Retrieved 2021 03 30 Hill Jeremy Film Version 2006 History Dreamgirls Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical McClintock Pamela November 6 2006 D Works takes Girls on road Daily Variety Retrieved November 11 2006 Olsen Mark December 12 2006 One stage of film s marketing is on stage Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 25 2006 References editHill Jeremy Dreamgirls Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical Archived 2008 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 10 2006 Ksharrity Final Essay on Dreamgirls Retrieved May 22 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dreamgirls musical Dreamgirls at the Internet Broadway Database Dreamgirls audition advice amp show information from MusicalTheatreAudition net Dreamgirls study guide from TUTS Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dreamgirls amp oldid 1211161221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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