Performers from the worlds of pop, Broadway and regional theatre join Holliday in the Theater of the Stars production at the Fox Theatre.
Dreamgirls features Cindy Herron-Braggs (an original member of the hit recording group EnVogue) as Deena; Brandi Chavonne Massey (Broadway's Wicked, Caroline, Or Change and London's The Lion King) as Lorrell; Nicole Alesi (whose regional credits include Aida, Bye Bye Birdie and Little Shop of Horrors) as Michelle; David Jennings (Broadway's Once Upon a Mattress) as Curtis Taylor Jr.; Eugene Fleming (Broadway's Fosse, Kiss Me, Kate) as James Thunder Early; J. Bernard Calloway (Othello at the American Stage in St. Petersburg, FL) as Marty; Destan Owens (Broadway's Chicago, Rent, Smokey Joe's Café) as C.C. White; and James Harkness (the Atlanta world premiere of The Color Purple and on Broadway) as Wayne.
*
Christopher B. Manos is producer of Theater of the Stars. The revival of the musical by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen is presented in association with the National Black Arts Festival.
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj directs, Robert Strickland is the musical director and conductor and Kevyn Morrow is the choreographer. Opening night is July 20. Jennifer Holliday reprises her Tony Award winning role as Effie, the troubled star of a legendary female singing group in the 1960s. The score, widely known from Broadway, tours and the 2006 Hollywood film, features "Dreamgirls," "I Am Changing" and Effie's show-stopper, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."
Two-time Grammy award winner Jennifer Holliday was discovered singing in a Houston choir and made her Broadway debut in the musical revival of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God. From there she was cast as Effie in Dreamgirls by Michael Bennett and she helped create the role. Other Broadway and stage credits include Chicago, Grease, Down-Hearted Blues: The Story of Bessie Smith, Sing, Mahalia, Sing: The Story of Mahalia Jackson and Harlem Suite.
She had a recurring role on the popular television series "Ally McBeal."
The Dreamgirls ensemble includes Heather Lea Bair, Melvin Bell, III, Kiara Bennett, Taela Naomi Brooks, Rogelio Douglas, Jr. Evan Edwards, Adam Fleming, Johnathan Lee Iverson, Michael D. Jablonski, Rashaan James, II, Terace Jones, Tracey Conyer Lee, C. Mingo Long, Shannon MacKeil, Greg Thompson, Tryphena Wade, Jasmin Walker and Adrienne Warren.
Dreamgirls was produced on Broadway by director-choreographer Michael Bennett, Robert Avian, Geffen Records and The Shubert Organization. It is presented through special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets and at www.tickemaster.com. Call (404) 817-8700.
For more information, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
