Jordin Sparks and Late Singer Whitney Houston "Sparkle" in Cinemas Starting Aug. 17 | Playbill

Related Articles
News Jordin Sparks and Late Singer Whitney Houston "Sparkle" in Cinemas Starting Aug. 17 "Sparkle," the feature film that stars "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and late Grammy Award winner Whitney Houston, hits movie theatres Aug. 17.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/99528e2c88fe5000d60f3f958e639b93-sparkle200.jpg
Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston Photo by Alicia Gbur

The film, directed by Salim Akil, is inspired by the doo-wop girl group The Supremes. Sparks, who also appeared on Broadway in In the Heights, takes on the titular role, with Houston as her gospel-singing mother.

Rounding out the cast are Cee-Lo Green, Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Omari Hardwick and Derek Luke.

Here's how "Sparkle" is described: "Musical prodigy, Sparkle (Sparks) struggles to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. From an affluent Detroit area and daughter to a single mother (Houston), she tries to balance a new romance with music manager, Stix (Luke) while dealing with the unexpected challenges her new life will bring as she and her two sisters (Ejogo and Sumpter) strive to become a dynamic singing group during the Motown-era." 

R&B artist R. Kelly penned original songs for the 2012 remake, which is choreographed by Fatima Robinson ("Dreamgirls") and features a screenplay by Mara Brock Akil.

The original 1976 "Sparkle" centered on three singing teenage sisters from Harlem who form their group in the late 1950s. The remake takes place in Detroit, MI, in the 1960s during the Motown era. As previously reported, executive producer Howard Rosenman, who also produced the original "Sparkle," plans to adapt the 2012 film into a Broadway musical.

"Sparkle" is produced by Debra Martin Chase, T.D. Jakes, Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil and Curtis Wallace. 

Watch the trailer:

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!