Do you have what it takes to be a Dreamgirl? Broadway's upcoming revival of Dreamgirls—being directed and choreographed by five-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, and scheduled to arrive next fall—will be conducting a worldwide search for its Dreams. The production will hold open calls in Atlanta and Los Angeles as they seek fresh talent to play the roles of Deena Jones, Effie White, and Lorrell Robinson.
The Atlanta audition will be held October 11 at Alliance Theatre's Rehearsal Room A. Sign-ins begin at 9:30 AM, and calls run from 10 AM through 6 PM. A Los Angeles audition will follow October 18 at Thymele Arts' Joyce Hall, with the same hours.
The revival is also seeking potential stars in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, London, Toronto, Mexico City, and Paris. 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, John Johnson, and LaChanze Productions are producing the upcoming revival.
Visit DreamgirlsBway.com.
