Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre is hosting a new revival of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen's Dreamgirls through May 4, with opening night set for April 2. Gerry McIntyre is directing and choreographing. Get a first look at the production with newly released production shots in the gallery below.
Aveena Sawyer leads the cast as Effie White, with Gabrielle Beckford as Denna Jones, Khalifa White as Lorrell Robinson, Chali Cooke as Michelle, E. Clayton Cornelious as James "Thunder" Early, Jarran Muse as Curtis Taylor Jr., Devin L. Roberts as C.C. White, and Forrest McClendon as Marty.
Derek Walton, Gabrielle Beckford, Khalifa White, and Aveena Sawyer in Dreamgirls
Gabrielle Beckford, Aveena Sawyer, Devin L. Roberts, and Khalifa White in Dreamgirls
Chali Cooke, Gabrielle Beckford, E. Clayton Cornelious, Khalifa White, and Dana Orange in Dreamgirls
Jarran Muse and Gabrielle Beckford in Dreamgirls
E. Clayton Cornelious, Khalifa White, Aveena Sawyer, Gabrielle Beckford, and Devin L. Roberts in Dreamgirls
Jarran Muse and Forrest McClendon in Dreamgirls
Chali Cooke, Gabrielle Beckford, and Khalifa White in Dreamgirls
Jarran Muse, Zummy Mohammed, Cornelius Davis, Khalifa White, Aveena Sawyer, E. Clayton Cornelious, Devin L. Roberts, and Gabrielle Beckford in Dreamgirls
Sierra Wilson, Andrew Leggieri, E. Clayton Cornelious, Zummy Mohammed, Khalifa White, Fairin Hightower, Dana Orange, and Bonnie Kelly in Dreamgirls
Aveena Sawyer in Dreamgirls
Khalifa White, Gabrielle Beckford, and Aveena Sawyer in Dreamgirls
Khalifa White, Gabrielle Beckford, and Aveena Sawyer in Dreamgirls
Devin L. Roberts, Aveena Sawyer, Gabrielle Beckford, Jarran Muse, Khalifa White, and Chali Cooke in Dreamgirls
Aveena Sawyer in Dreamgirls
Monique Streety, Khalifa White, Gabrielle Beckford, Chali Cooke, and Taylor J. Mitchell in Dreamgirls
Khalifa White and E. Clayton Cornelious in Dreamgirls
Gabrielle Beckford, Aveena Sawyer, Khalifa White in Dreamgirls
E. Clayton Cornelious in Dreamgirls
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The cast also includes Anne Bragg, Cornelius Davis, Bonnie Kelly, Andrew Leggieri, Zummy Mohammed, Dana Orange, Sierra Wilson, Ian Coulter-Buford, Adeleke Goring, Fairin Hightower, Taylor J. Mitchell, Monique Streety, Derek Walton, and Karley Purnell.
Originally premiering on Broadway in 1981, Dreamgirls follows a 1960s Supremes-like girl group as they go from obscurity to international fame, while finding the road to success can be thornier than expected. Original Broadway Effie Jennifer Holliday won a Tony Award for her performance, and a 2006 film adaptation won Jennifer Hudson an Academy Award for her take on the role.
McIntyre's creative team includes music director Chris Burcheri, scenic designer Andy Walmsley, lighting designer Jose Santiago, sound designer Ed Chapman, costume designer Dustin Cross, and wig and makeup designer Destinee Steele.
Tickets are at WalnutStreetTheatre.org.
