Citizendia

This is about the musical. For its musical film adaptation, see Dreamgirls (film). Dreamgirls is a 2006 American Musical film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures
Dreamgirls
The cover for the second Playbill of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Playbill is a Monthly US Magazine for Theatregoers Although there is a Subscription issue available for Home delivery Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The artwork for the original Playbill was also used as the cover of the Dreamgirls Original Broadway Cast album. Dreamgirls Original Broadway Cast Album is the Cast album for the original Broadway production of the musical Dreamgirls, which
MusicHenry Krieger
LyricsTom Eyen
BookTom Eyen
Based uponInspired by the history of Motown Records
Productions1981 Broadway production
1983 National tour
1985 International Tour
1987 Broadway
1994 Atlanta production
1997 Chicago production
1997 National tour
1998 Berlin production
2001 Broadway concert
2002 Atlanta production
2007 Atlanta production
Awards1982 Tony Award for Best Book

Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, which opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre. Henry Krieger (born February 9 1945 in New York City) is an Academy Award -nominated American Composer. Tom Eyen ( August 14 1940 - May 26 1991) was a Tony Award and Grammy Award winning American Playwright Tom Eyen ( August 14 1940 - May 26 1991) was a Tony Award and Grammy Award winning American Playwright "Motown" redirects here For the city see Detroit Michigan. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 For other uses see Imperial Theatre. The Imperial Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 249 West 45th Street Dreamgirls won six Tony Awards in 1982, and closed on August 11, 1985 after four years and 1,522 performances. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar)

Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others,[1] Dreamgirls follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who become music superstars. The Supremes were an American female singing group that first formed as a quartet called The Primettes The Shirelles were an American Girl group in the early 1960s and the first to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr ( June 9, 1934 &ndash January 21, 1984) was an American singer Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. It features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Henry Krieger (born February 9 1945 in New York City) is an Academy Award -nominated American Composer. Tom Eyen ( August 14 1940 - May 26 1991) was a Tony Award and Grammy Award winning American Playwright The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Bennett, produced by Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, and The Shubert Organization, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. Michael Bennett ( April 8, 1943 - July 2, 1987) was an American Musical theater director, Writer Bob Avian ( December 26, 1937, New York City New York) is an American Choreographer and a Theatre producer and director Geffen Records is an American Record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label The Shubert Organization was founded by the Shubert brothers, Sam S See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" Michael Douglas Peters ( August 6 1948 - August 21 1994) was an American Choreographer. The original Broadway production starred Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Obba Babatunde, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Jennifer-Yvette Holliday (born October 19, 1960, Riverside Texas) is a two-time Grammy Award -winning American Singer Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30 1956 in Waterbury Connecticut) is a Tony Award -nominated American Actress and Singer Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is a five-time NAACP Image Awards -winning American actress. Ben Harney ( 29 August 1952, Brooklyn New York) is an American Actor and dancer who was active in his career between 1972 and 1985 Cleavant Derricks Jr (born May 15, 1953) is a Tony Award -winning American Actor and Singer / Songwriter Obba Babatundé (born December 1, 1951) is an American Actor of stage and screen. Vondie Curtis-Hall (born September 30, 1956) is an American Actor and Film director.

The musical was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened on December 15, 2006 (limited) and December 25, 2006 (wide). DreamWorks LLC, also known as DreamWorks Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, or DreamWorks Studios, is a major American Film studio Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The feature film version of Dreamgirls stars, in relation to the original Broadway cast, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Keith Robinson, Sharon Leal, and Danny Glover. Dreamgirls is a 2006 American Musical film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12 1981 is an American actress, singer and model. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4 1981 commonly known as Beyoncé (biːˈɑn Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an Tony -awarding winning American singer and actress Jamie Foxx (born Eric Marlon Bishop; December 13, 1967) is an Academy Award -winning American Actor, Singer Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy (born April 3 1961 is an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe - Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Keith Robinson is an American Actor and R&B singer Biography Early life Robinson was born in Kentucky, grew up in Sharon Leal (born October 17, 1972) is an American actress Biography Career Sharon Leal's career began with the role of Dahlia Crede in the Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22 1946 is an American Actor, Film director, and Political activist.

Contents

Synopsis

Act I

The story begins in 1962, when The Dreamettes, a hopeful girl group from Chicago, enter the famous Amateur Night talent competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York ("I'm Lookin' for Something", "Goin' Downtown", "Takin' the Long Way Home"). Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The three girls include full-figured lead singer Effie White and her groupmates and best friends, Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson. For the talent 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. Backstage, the girls and C. C. meet Curtis Taylor, Jr. , a shady used-car salesman who becomes the Dreamettes' manager.

Curtis convinces James "Thunder" Early, a popular R&B star, and his manager, Marty, to take the Dreamettes on as backup singers. Although Jimmy Early & the Dreamettes' first performance together is successful ("Fake Your Way to the Top"), Jimmy is desperate for new material. The ambitious Curtis convinces Jimmy and Marty that they should venture beyond traditional R&B/soul audiences and aim for the pop market, so C. C. writes the song "Cadillac Car" for Jimmy & the Dreamettes. Jimmy & the Dreamettes go out on tour ("Cadillac Car (On the Road)"), and record the single once they return home ("Cadillac Car (In the Recording Studio)"). "Cadillac Car" makes its way up the pop charts, but a cover version by white pop singers Dave & the Sweethearts ("Cadillac Car (Reprise)") steals the original recording's thunder.

Angered by "Cadillac Car's" failure, Curtis, C. C. , and Jimmy's producer Wayne resort to payola: they bribe DJs across the nation to play Jimmy Early & the Dreamettes' next single, "Steppin' to the Bad Side", and the record becomes a major pop hit. Payola, in the American Music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on Music Conflict arises between Marty and Curtis when Curtis moves in on Marty's turf: Jimmy Early. Things become more complicated when lovesick Effie begins dating Curtis, and Jimmy, a married man, begins an affair with Lorrell ("Party, Party").

Marty eventually quits as Jimmy's manager and Curtis takes over, more power-driven than ever and strongly determined to make his black singers household names in white homes. Curtis begins to transform Jimmy Early into a Perry Como-esque pop singer ("I Want You Baby"), and concentrates on establishing the Dreamettes as their own act, renaming them The Dreams and changing their act to give them a more sophisticated and pop-friendly look and sound. Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como ( May 18 1912 &ndash May 12 2001) was an Italian-American singer and television personality The most crucial of these changes is the establishment of the more pop-friendly (and thinner) Deena as lead singer instead of the gospel-voiced (and heavier) Effie. Effie is resentful of being pushed out of the spotlight, although C. C. is able to convince her to go along with Curtis' plan ("Family").

The Dreams make their club debut in the Crystal Room in Cleveland, Ohio, singing their first single, "Dreamgirls". Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state After a triumphant show, the press is eager to meet the newly minted stars ("Press Conference"). Curtis informs Deena that this is "Only the Beginning": "I'm going to make you the most famous woman who's ever lived," Curtis declares, as the slighted Effie quizzes "What about me?" Over the next few years, the Dreams become a mainstream success with hit singles such as "Heavy. " As Deena is increasingly feted as a star, Effie becomes temperamental and unpredictable, as she suspects Curtis and Deena of having an affair behind her back. Lorrell attempts to keep peace between her bandmates, but the task proves impossible.

In 1967, the group - now known as "Deena Jones & the Dreams - is set to make its Las Vegas debut. The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is an approximately 4 mile (6 However, when Jimmy stops by to visit the girls ("Drivin' Down the Strip"), he learns from the others that Effie has been missing shows because of illness (it is later revealed that she was pregnant with Curtis' child). Curtis and Deena are convinced she is trying to sabotage the act. Curtis replaces Effie with a new singer, Michelle Morris, a change Effie learns about before anyone has a chance to tell her. Effie confronts Curtis, C. C. , and the group ("It's All Over"),(See the It's All Over page) 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 & the Dreams forge ahead without her ("Love Love Me Baby"). " And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going " is a Torch song from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, with lyrics by Tom Eyen and music

Act II

The story moves five years ahead to 1972. Deena Jones & the Dreams have become the most successful girl group in the country ("Act II Opening" 1). Deena has married Curtis, and C. C. is in love with Michelle. Jimmy - still seeing Lorrell behind his wife's back - has gone years without a hit. Curtis shows little interest in updating or revitalizing Jimmy's act, both because of his preoccupation with Deena and because of Jimmy's habit of sneaking funk numbers into his repertoire of stiff, pop-friendly numbers. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Meanwhile, Effie is back in Chicago, a single mother to her daughter Magic, and struggling to get another break. Marty, now her manager, compels her to rebuild her confidence and give up her diva attitude. After she does so, Effie is finally able to make a show business comeback ("I Am Changing"). " I Am Changing " is a song from the second act of the long-running Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

In contrast to Effie's struggling to return to her musical career, Deena wants to stop singing and become an actress. Deena informs Curtis of such during a Vogue photo shoot ("One More Picture Please"), but Curtis refuses to let her go ("When I First Saw You"). Vogue is a Fashion and lifestyle Magazine published in eighteen countries by Condé Nast Publications. Deena is not the only one chafing under Curtis' control: C. C. is enraged by Curtis constantly rearranging his songs, including an emotional ballad entitled "One Night Only" which Curtis wants instead recorded to reflect the "new sound" he is inventing (disco). Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define

Deena Jones & the Dreams and Jimmy Early perform at a National Democratic fund raiser, on a bill alongside groups such as The Five Tuxedos ("Got to Be Good Times"). While waiting backstage to go on, Jimmy finds himself in another argument with Lorrell as to where their relationship is going and when, or if, Jimmy will tell his wife about their affair ("Ain't No Party"). Lorrell is in tears as Jimmy takes to the stage to perform "I Meant You No Harm", and she turns to Deena for support. As Jimmy pleads to Lorrell through his music, Deena tries to help Lorrell figure through her situation, and Michelle convinces the bitter and frustrated C. C. to go find his sister and reconcile with her ("Quintette").

Mid-way 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") and drops his pants during the performance. An embarrassed Curtis fires Jimmy as soon as the set is over, and Lorrell ends her affair with Jimmy as well. The heartbroken Jimmy fades away into obscurity, refusing to "crawl" or "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 " is a song from the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, with lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger. "One Night Only" begins climbing the charts, causing an enraged Curtis to not only rush-release Deena & the Dreams' version, but to use massive amounts of payola to push Deena's version up the charts and Effie's version down ("One Night Only (Disco)"). Effie, C. C. , and Marty discover Curtis' scheme and confront him backstage at a Dreams concert, threatening legal action ("I'm Somebody", "Chicago/Faith in Myself"). As Curtis makes arrangements with Effie's lawyer to reverse his wrongdoings, Effie and Deena reconcile (and Deena learns that Effie's daughter Magic is Curtis' child). Realizing what kind of a man Curtis is, 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 ("Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love"). For the final number of the Dreams' farewell concert, Effie rejoins the group on stage, and all four Dreams sing their signature song - "Dreamgirls" - one last time.

Notes

History

Original Broadway production

Dreamgirls had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter. Nell Carter ( September 13, 1948 – January 23, 2003) was an American singer and film stage and television actress Playwright Tom Eyen and composer 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. Joseph Papp ( June 22 1921 - October 31 1991) was an American Theatrical producer and director. The project was shelved after Carter departed to appear in the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1978. A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. This page is about the television program For the rock band of the same name see Ryan's Hope (band.

A year later, Project #9 was brought back to the table, after catching the interest of successful Broadway director/producer/choreographer Michael Bennett. 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). The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Gimme a Break! is an American Sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981 until May 12, 1987 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. Phyllis Hyman ( July 6, 1949 - June 30, 1995) was an American soul Singer and Tony -nominated

After two mildly successful workshops which included actress Jenifer Lewis as Effie, Holliday returned to the project, now known as Dream Girls. Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an African- American film and television actress. 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. David Geffen (born February 21, 1943) is an American Record executive, Film producer, Theatrical producer and philanthropist The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district in New York City, as the hub of [3]

The original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was staged at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. 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.

Dreamgirls was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and eventually won six: Best Book of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Ben Harney), Best Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Holliday), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Cleavant Derricks), Best Lighting Design (Tharon Musser), and Best Choreography (Michael Bennett & Michael Peters). This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival The Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical is the Tony Awards award given to the actress who was voted as the best actress in a musical, whether a new production This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the' Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical This is a list of the winners of the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a play or musical, first presented in 1970 The Tony award for Choreography has been awarded since 1947 Award winners and nominations 1940s 1947 Agnes de Mille [4] 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 complex musical sequences as individual songs, cutting approximately half of the score. Dreamgirls Original Broadway Cast Album is the Cast album for the original Broadway production of the musical Dreamgirls, which 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".

Phylicia Rashad (then known as Phylicia Ayers-Allen), later famous as Bill Cosby's TV wife on The Cosby Show, was a member of the musical's company. Phylicia Rashād (born Phylicia Ayers-Allen on June 19, 1948) is a Tony Award -winning American actress, perhaps best known William Henry Cosby Jr (born July 12 1937 is an American Comedian, Actor, Author, Television producer and Activist. The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 Rashad was also Sheryl Lee Ralph's understudy; but when Ralph left the production, Rashad was not offered her role, and subsequently left the cast.

Dreamgirls "On the Road" and Broadway revival

Michael Bennett took Dreamgirls on an abbreviated national tour in 1983, with Jennifer Holliday remaining as Effie, but with Larry Riley, Linda Leilani Brown, Arnetia Walker, Lawrence Clayton, and Cleavant Derricks' twin brother Clinton Derricks-Carroll as her co-stars. Larry Riley, who has 21 years of experience in the NBA, begins his third season as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors in 2007-08 Arnetia Walker (born 1956 is an American actress whose most famous roles are as Nurse Annie Roland in the NBC Sitcom Nurses and Ms Clinton Derricks-Carroll (born May 15, 1953 in Knoxville Tennessee) is an American Actor and Musician. Because of high costs, only three cities were played before the road production was dissolved. A second tour began in 1985, with Sharon Brown as Effie. By 1987, Lillias White, Jennifer Holliday's original understudy, had taken over the role, and the tour ended with a Broadway revival at the Ambassador Theatre. Lillias White (born July 21, 1951) is an award-winning American Singer and actress. The Ambassador Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 219 West 49th Street in midtown- Manhattan. By this time, Michael Bennett had fallen ill due to AIDS-related complications, and he died on July 2, 1987. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar)

After its success on Broadway, Dreamgirls has been frequently produced and presented. A 2001 Broadway concert performance starring Lillias White, Audra McDonald, Heather Headley, Billy Porter and Norm Lewis was recorded and released in its entirety on CD. Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American four-time Tony Award -winning Actress and Singer. Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Trinidadian R&B and soul Singer, Songwriter, Record producers Norm Lewis (born June 2, 1963 in Eatonville Florida) is an African-American Broadway actor formerly enrolled with the "revival" of During the early 2000s, American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis gained praise for her role as Effie in several productions of Dreamgirls. American Idol, with the full title American Idol The Search for a Superstar for the first season only is an American reality-competition Franchelle "Frenchie" Davis (born May 7, 1979 in Washington DC) is a former American Idol contestant (season 2 who In late 2005 and early 2006, the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia produced a critically acclaimed revival of the show which extended for over three months. The production team included director Richard Parison, music director Jesse Vargas, and choreographer Mercedes Ellington. The production was courted by several Broadway and commercial producers. Composer Henry Krieger was said to have praised the revival as the most authentic since the original Broadway production.

The Dreams and The Supremes

The basic plot of Dreamgirls is derived from the history of The Supremes, a girl-group from Detroit, Michigan, which was Motown's most successful group act during the 1960s. "Motown" redirects here For the city see Detroit Michigan. [5] Effie White is based on Florence Ballard, original lead singer of the Supremes; the character's vocal stylings and personality are based upon Aretha Franklin and Etta James. Florence Glenda Ballard Chapman, nicknamed "Flo" or "Blondie" ( June 30 1943 – February 22 1976 Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25 1942 Franklin has had a total of twenty number-one singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, two of which became #1 hits on the Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American Blues, soul, R&B, Rock & roll Diana Ross, who became the central focus of the Supremes and later left the group to pursue a solo career and a brief venture into films, is here adapted into the character of Deena Jones. Diana Ross (born March 261944 is an American twelve-time Grammy and Oscar -nominated singer Record producer and actress whose musical repertoire Supremes member Mary Wilson is represented by Lorrell Robinson. Mary Wilson (born March 6, 1944) is an American Singer best known as a member of the Motown soul and pop Curtis Taylor, Jr. , represents Berry Gordy, Jr., the founder of Motown, who pushed the Supremes towards pop success and became romantically involved with Ross. Berry Gordy Jr (born November 28, 1929, Detroit Michigan) is an American Record producer, and the founder of the Motown James "Thunder" Early is depicted as a representative of soul singers such as James Brown, Little Richard, Marvin Gaye, and Jackie Wilson. Rev Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5 1932 better known by the Stage name Little Richard, is an American Singer, Songwriter Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter C. C. White is a collective representative for The Supremes' songwriters, who included the Holland-Dozier-Holland team and Smokey Robinson. William "Smokey" Robinson Jr (born February 19 1940 is an American R&B and soul Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Michelle Morris is representative of Cindy Birdsong, Florence Ballard's replacement in The Supremes, which was renamed "Diana Ross & the Supremes" at the time of that line-up change. Cynthia Ann Birdsong (December 15 1939 better known by her stage name Cindy Birdsong is an Grammy -nominated American R&B / soul

Dreamgirls is most dissimilar from The Supremes' story in its second act, which ends with Effie finding success as a solo performer. In real life, Florence Ballard's solo career was unsuccessful and the singer sank into poverty, depression, and alcoholism, dying of cardiac arrest at the age of thirty-two in 1976, just after her career had been revived. The play also shows inspiration from the 1976 feature film Sparkle, which itself was inspired by The Supremes' story. Sparkle is a 1976 American film directed by Sam O'Steen and released by Warner Bros

Michael Bennett, Henry Krieger, Tom Eyen, and the Dreamgirls producers denied and downplayed the connections between the musical's plot and the Supremes' life stories, hoping to avoid legal issues from Motown Records and Diana Ross. Mary Wilson loved Dreamgirls, and even named her first autobiography, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme, after it. An autobiography, from the Greek αὐτός autos "self" βίος bios "life" and γράφειν graphein "to write" Dreamgirl My Life as a Supreme is the name of a 1986 Autobiography that features the Memoirs of Mary Wilson, one of the founding members Diana Ross, however, was reportedly angered by the musical, and expressed her dislike of it in the media. Though the Deena character mirrors Diana Ross, Sheryl Lee Ralph stands to the fact that she was not trying to imitate Ross, but portrayed Deena in a similar yet distinct style.

Film adaptation

Main 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. Dreamgirls is a 2006 American Musical film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and The Geffen Film Company (well known by many as The Geffen Company and later Geffen Pictures) was a Film distributor and Production company founded 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. Whitney Elizabeth Houston' (born August 9 1963 is an American Singer-songwriter, Actress, Film producer, Arranger and former Lauryn Noel Hill is a Grammy Award -winning American Singer, Rapper, Musician, Songwriter, producer, and Kelly Price (born April 4 1973) is an American R&B and soul singer formerly the flagship female artist on the Def Soul [6] Geffen eventually leased the rights to DreamWorks SKG, a company he co-founded, and Paramount Pictures in 2004. DreamWorks LLC, also known as DreamWorks Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, or DreamWorks Studios, is a major American Film studio 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. Laurence Mark, born November 22 1949 and educated at Eaglebrook Hotchkiss School and Wesleyan University in 1971 produced Dreamgirls, starring Jamie Foxx Beyonce Knowles William "Bill" Condon (born October 22, 1955) is an Academy Award -winning American Screenwriter and director. Chicago is a Musical film adaptation of the satirical stage musical Chicago, the film explores the themes of

The film adaptation of Dreamgirls stars Jamie Foxx as Curtis, Beyoncé Knowles as Deena, Eddie Murphy as Jimmy, Danny Glover as Marty, Jennifer Hudson as Effie, Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell, Keith Robinson as C. C. , Sharon Leal as Michelle, and Hinton Battle as Wayne. Sharon Leal (born October 17, 1972) is an American actress Biography Career Sharon Leal's career began with the role of Dahlia Crede in the Hinton G Battle (born 29 November 1956) is an American Actor, Dancer, and dance instructor Dreamgirls was first exhibited in special ten-day road show engagements beginning December 15, 2006. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Subsequently, the film went into national release on December 25, 2006. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [7] 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. Yvette Cason is an American television and film actress a former Miss Black America from Washington D 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") 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, and the relocation of the story's main setting from Chicago to Detroit. The film won two Academy Awards. One for Best Sound Editing and the other for Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Hudson. It was nominated for six others including Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actor for Eddie Murphy and Best Original Song three times for "Listen", "Love You I Do" and "Patience". " Listen " (Spanish " Oye " is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. "Love You I Do" is a song performed by American R&B singer Jennifer Hudson in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. "Patience" is a 2006 (see 2006 in music) song written by Henry Krieger and Willie Reale for the motion picture adaptation of the Broadway

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 that 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. [8]

Opening night cast

Awards and nominations

Tony Awards

Wins:

Nominations:

Drama Desk Awards

Wins:

Nominations:

Grammy Awards

Sample

"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"

Recorded by Jennifer Holliday, from Dreamgirls (Original Broadway Cast Album)
Problems listening to the file? See media help. Jennifer-Yvette Holliday (born October 19, 1960, Riverside Texas) is a two-time Grammy Award -winning American Singer Dreamgirls Original Broadway Cast Album is the Cast album for the original Broadway production of the musical Dreamgirls, which

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Tom Eyen denied that he had the Supremes in mind when he wrote the book. Dreamgirls Original Broadway Cast Album is the Cast album for the original Broadway production of the musical Dreamgirls, which Dreamgirls is a 2006 American Musical film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures Dreamgirls Music from the Motion Picture is the Grammy Award-nominated Soundtrack album for the 2006 DreamWorks / Paramount film Dreamgirl My Life as a Supreme is the name of a 1986 Autobiography that features the Memoirs of Mary Wilson, one of the founding members The Supremes were an American female singing group that first formed as a quartet called The Primettes Mary Wilson (born March 6, 1944) is an American Singer best known as a member of the Motown soul and pop "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, . . . all larger than life. " retrieved February 27, 2007.
  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. ^ "Past Winners Search Results. " TonyAwards. com. Retrieved from http://www.tonyawards.com/p/tonys_search?start=0&year=&award=&lname=&fname=&show=%3Ci%3EDreamgirls%3C%2Fi%3E on November 11, 2006.
  5. ^ Fotenot, Robert (2005). "American Idol's Jennifer Hudson as the Supremes' Florence Ballard?" Retrieved from http://oldies.about.com/b/a/220110.htm?terms=jennifer+holliday on November 11, 2006.
  6. ^ Hill, Jeremy. "Film Version (2006): History". Dreamgirls: Your Virtual Coffee Table Book of the Musical.
  7. ^ McClintock, Pamela (Nov. 6, 2006). "D'Works takes 'Girls' on road. " Daily Variety. Retrieved from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117953449.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&s=h&p=0 on November 11, 2006.
  8. ^ Olsen, Mark (Dec. 12, 2006). "One stage of film's marketing is on stage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-dreamgirls12dec12,0,693678.story on December 15, 2006

References

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Woman of the Year
by Peter Stone		Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
1982
by Tom Eyen		Succeeded by
Cats
by T. S. Eliot
The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel Peter Stone ( February 27, 1930 – April 26, 2003) was a writer for theater television and movies The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Tom Eyen ( August 14 1940 - May 26 1991) was a Tony Award and Grammy Award winning American Playwright Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic.

Dictionary

dreamgirls

-noun

  1. Plural form of dreamgirl.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic