Though a planned-for-New-York tour of Dreamgirls ended up stalling on the road three years back, Broadway will get a taste of that show — for one gala night, anyway — when the Actors' Fund offers a concert version of the musical, Sept. 24. The Ford Center, home of 42nd Street, will house the event, which promises much vocal firepower from its three stars: Audra McDonald, Heather Headley and Lillias White (who plays Effie).
Dreamgirls, a high-energy musical from the pens of librettist Tom Eyen and composer Henry Krieger (who went on to write Side Show), tells of a Supremes-like singing group that moves from the streets of Chicago to the big time — with lots of infighting and heartbreak along the way. Songs include "One Night Only," "I Am Changing," "When I First Saw You," "I'm Somebody," "Family" and Effie's show-stopping "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." The show was originally directed by Michael Bennett and became legendary for its flashy staging and design.
According to producer John Breglio, reached June 25, Danny Herman will direct the Sept. 24 concert, with musical staging by Smokey Joe's Cafe star, Brenda Braxton. An Encores!-like concert, the evening will have a full orchestra but no sets or special costumes. Breglio has been steeped in Bennett of late; a year ago, reports surfaced of his plans to offer a Fosse-like Broadway evening devoted to Bennett's choreographed works, among them Ballroom and A Chorus Line. That project remains on the back burner.
As for the Dreamgirls benefit, all three lead actresses are Tony winners. Actress McDonald has won three (Carousel, Ragtime, Master Class). Relative-newcomer Headley won the Best Actress Tony for Aida, and White nabbed the honor for her role in Cy Coleman's 1997 tuner, The Life.
The nation's "only human service organization for all entertainment professionals," the Actors' Fund of America is best known for providing financial assistance and social services (food, rent, medical expenses) to professionals in need. Other Fund benefit evenings include performances of current Broadway shows given on nights when those shows don't normally play. Though all benefits go to the Fund, box office prices are the same as on other nights, and the evenings tend to be well-attended by members of the entertainment community. — By David Lefkowitz
