Dreamgirls Begins Previews at the Apollo Theatre Nov. 7
By Adam Hetrick
07 Nov 2009
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Moya Angela, Syesha Mercado and Adrienne Warren
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| photo by Joan Marcus | Dreamgirls, the 1981 Motown musical about a girl group on the rise to stardom, returns to New York in a newly-imagined production which bows at Harlem's Apollo Theatre Nov. 7.
Originally conceived for the stage by the late Michael Bennett, the current production of Dreamgirls features direction and co-choreography by Robert Longbottom (Side Show, Flower Drum Song, Bye Bye Birdie). The Henry Krieger-Tom Eyen musical also boasts new material and co-choreography by Emmy-nominated hip-hop artist Shane Sparks.
Dreamgirls is set to officially open at the Apollo Nov. 22 and will continue through Dec. 6 prior to embarking on a national tour.
The Apollo bow of Dreamgirls brings the story full circle. The opening scene of the musical takes place as the central trio from Chicago enter the Amateur Night talent competition at the famed Harlem venue and get their first break in show business.
The latest stage incarnation of Dreamgirls, which first played a test run in Seoul with an all-Korean cast last winter, includes the 2006 film's song "Listen," but rewritten by Krieger and Willie Reale. In the current production, the song has been reconceived as a duet for Effie and Deena. Krieger and Reale have also penned a new opening song for the second act, entitled "What Love Can Do."
Moya Angela stars as Effie White alongside Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson and Margaret Hoffmaan as Michelle Morris. Principal casting also includes Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James "Thunder" Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White and Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison.
The Dreamgirls ensemble features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Patrice Covington, 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.
Tony Award winner Robin Wagner, who created the scenic designs for the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, renders new designs for the production. The design team also boasts Tony winners William Ivey Long (costume design), Ken Billington (lighting design), Acme Sound Partners (sound design) and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch.
Sam Davis serves as musical director for the production that has orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, and vocal arrangements by David Chase and Cleavant Derricks.
Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tom Eyen (with additional lyrics by Reale). The late Michael Bennett directed and choreographed the original Broadway production; Bennett won a Tony Award for the show's choreography.
Drawing inspiration from Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls follows its central trio's beginnings at an amateur night competition, to their first big break singing back up for a headliner on the road. Their road to success is not without its bumps: when they ultimately nab a headlining deal of their own, one girl's dreams are shattered as she is replaced as the lead of the Dreams.
Dreamgirls turned Tony winner Jennifer Holliday into an overnight star when it debuted in 1981 at the Imperial Theatre. The 2006 film adaptation, featuring a screenplay and direction by Bill Condon, earned Jennifer Hudson a host of awards, including the Best Featured Actress Oscar for her performance as Effie White.
The tour itinerary for Dreamgirls follows:
New York, NY (Nov. 7-Dec. 6 at the Apollo Theatre)
Baltimore, MD (Dec. 16-27 at the Hippodrome Theatre)
Pittsburgh, PA (Dec. 29-Jan. 3, 2010 at Heinz Hall)
Milwaukee, WI (Jan. 5-10, 2010 at the Marcus Center)
Minneapolis, MN (Jan. 12-17, 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre)
Chicago, IL (Jan. 19-31, 2010 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre)
Boston, MA (Feb. 2-14, 2010 at the Colonial Theatre)
Columbus, OH (Feb. 16-21, 2010 at the Palace Theatre)
Los Angeles, CA (Feb. 25-April 4, 2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre)
Seattle, WA (April 6-11, 2010 at the Paramount Theater)
Portland, OR (April 13-18, 2010 at the Keller Auditorium)
Costa Mesa, CA (April 20-May 2, 2010 at the Orange County PAC)
Cincinnati, OH (June 8-20, 2010 at the Aronoff Center)
Philadelphia, PA (June 22-27, 2010 at the Kimmel Center)
Dreamgirls is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions in association with Chunsoo Shin, Jake Productions & Broadway Across America/TBS.
For tickets to the New York engagement, ranging $36-$106, visit TicketmasterApollo, phone (212) 302-0995, or visit the Apollo box office at 253 W. 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Visit DreamgirlsOnStage.
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Dreamgirls stars Adrienne Warren, Syesha Mercado and Moya Angela
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| photo by Joan Marcus |
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