By Adam Hetrick
22 Nov 2009

Dreamgirls' Adrienne Warren, Syesha Mercado and Moya Angela
photo by Joan Marcus

Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen's hit 1981 Motown musical, Dreamgirls, the showbiz fairy tale about an unknown girl group that is catapulted to international stardom, opens Nov. 22 at Harlem's Apollo Theater in a new production that gives the famous material a makeover.

Originally conceived for the stage by the late Michael Bennett, Dreamgirls receives fresh muscle thanks to director and co-choreographer Robert Longbottom (Side Show, Flower Drum Song, Bye Bye Birdie) and Emmy-nominated hip-hop artist Shane Sparks, who co-choreographs. Krieger's Motown score propels the seamless blend of on-stage and off-stage action. Dreamgirls began previews Nov. 7 and will play an extended run through Dec. 12 prior to embarking on a limited U.S. national tour.

The Apollo bow of Dreamgirls brings the story full circle. The opening scene of the musical takes place as the central trio from Chicago enter the Amateur Night talent competition at the famed Harlem venue and get their first break in show business. It is also where the group plays its final performance.

The latest stage incarnation of Dreamgirls, which first played a test run in Seoul with an all-Korean cast last winter, includes the 2006 film's song "Listen," but rewritten by Krieger and Willie Reale. In the current production, the song has been reconceived as a duet for Effie and Deena. Krieger and Reale have also penned a new opening sequence for the second act, entitled "What Love Can Do."

Moya Angela stars as Effie White alongside Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris. Principal casting also includes Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James "Thunder" Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White and Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison.

The Dreamgirls ensemble features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Patrice Covington, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

Tony Award winner Robin Wagner, who created the scenic designs for the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, renders new designs for the production. The design team also boasts Tony winners William Ivey Long (costume design) and Ken Billington (lighting design), and Acme Sound Partners (sound design), with media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch.

Sam Davis serves as musical director for the production that has orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, and vocal arrangements by David Chase and Cleavant Derricks.

Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tom Eyen (with additional lyrics by Reale). The late Michael Bennett directed and choreographed the original Broadway production (Michael Peters co-choreographed); Bennett and Peters won Tony Awards for the show's choreography.

Drawing apparent inspiration from Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls follows its central trio's beginnings at an amateur night competition, to their first big break singing back up for a headliner on the road. Their road to success is not without its bumps: when they ultimately nab a headlining deal of their own, one girl's dreams are shattered as she is replaced as the lead of the Dreams.

The tour itinerary for Dreamgirls follows:

New York, NY (Nov. 7-Dec. 6 at the Apollo Theatre)
Baltimore, MD (Dec. 16-27 at the Hippodrome Theatre)
Pittsburgh, PA (Dec. 29-Jan. 3, 2010 at Heinz Hall)
Milwaukee, WI (Jan. 5-10, 2010 at the Marcus Center)
Minneapolis, MN (Jan. 12-17, 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre)
Chicago, IL (Jan. 19-31, 2010 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre)
Boston, MA (Feb. 2-14, 2010 at the Colonial Theatre)
Columbus, OH (Feb. 16-21, 2010 at the Palace Theatre)
Los Angeles, CA (Feb. 25-April 4, 2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre)
Seattle, WA (April 6-11, 2010 at the Paramount Theater)
Portland, OR (April 13-18, 2010 at the Keller Auditorium)
Costa Mesa, CA (April 20-May 2, 2010 at the Orange County PAC)
Cincinnati, OH (June 8-20, 2010 at the Aronoff Center)
Philadelphia, PA (June 22-27, 2010 at the Kimmel Center)

Dreamgirls is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions in association with Chunsoo Shin, Jake Productions & Broadway Across America/TBS.

In his Dreamgirls bio, producer Breglio also announces that he is planning new productions of the musical in South Africa and the U.K. Dreamgirls co-producer Jake Productions (Hazel, Sam and Tony Feldman) has brought the musicals Fame, Chicago and Rent to audiences in South Africa and Asia.

Originally conceived as a stage project for Nell Carter, Dreamgirls was first workshopped under the aegis of Joseph Papp. When Carter departed the project to pursue television projects, gospel newcomer Jennifer Holliday was cast to join Loretta Devine and Sheryl Lee Ralph. A Chorus Line creator Michael Bennett was brought on board and after several workshops (and titles) Dreamgirls arrived on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in December of 1981.

The musical earned eleven 1982 Tony Award nominations and took home six, including Best Book, Best Choreography, Best Lighting and a host of acting honors. It was bested by another innovative stage project Nine, which took home the Best Musical and Best Score honors. The recent film, adapted and directed by Bill Condon, earned newcomer Jennifer Hudson the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for her portrayal of Effie White. Tony winner Anika Noni Rose and recording artist Beyonce Knowles co-starred.

For tickets (ranging $36-$106) to the New York engagement, visit TicketmasterApollo, phone (212) 302-0995, or visit the Apollo box office at 253 W. 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Visit DreamgirlsOnStage.

Chester Gregory, Syesha Mercado, Moya Angela and Adrienne Warren in Dreamgirls
photo by Joan Marcus