Broadway's upcoming revival of Dreamgirls—directed and choreographed by five-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, and scheduled to arrive next fall—has set an NYC open call audition for December 13. Sign in will begin at 9:30 AM, with auditions beginning at 10 AM.
The production is looking for Black female ensemble singer-dancers. The December 13 audition will be a dance call only. Attendees are asked to come in jazz shoes and/or sneakers and clothes comfortable to move in. Some may be asked to return for a singing audition on a later date.
This NYC audition follows earlier calls in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Both of the earlier open calls were advertised as looking for the production's Dreams. The NYC ensemble call does point out that principal covers will come from the revival's ensemble.
Those unable to attend calls in person can also submit self-taped auditions. Visit the revival's Instagram, or email [email protected] for more information
The staging will be the first on the Main Stem to be newly directed and choreographed. Michael Bennett staged the original 1981 production, which returned to Broadway via a national tour in 1987. A 2016 West End revival, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, had been expected to make a Broadway transfer, but that never materialized despite multiple casting calls.
Featuring music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and a book by Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls follows the show business story of a Black '60s girl group, somewhat modeled on The Supremes, The Shirelles, and others. The original production made a star and a Tony winner of Jennifer Holliday as Effie, whose "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going) " and "I Am Changing" became two of the few crossover hits from the Broadway of the 1980s. Among Holliday's original co-stars were Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, and Obba Babatundé.
A 2001 Actors Fund benefit concert starred Audra McDonald, Lillias White, Heather Headley, Billy Porter, and Norm Lewis. A film adaptation was released in 2006, quickly becoming an audience favorite and winning Jennifer Hudson an Academy Award for her performance as Effie. Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Anika Noni Rose, and Jamie Foxx co-starred.
Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson are producing the upcoming revival.
Visit DreamgirlsBway.com.
