Scheduled to run July 28-Aug. 8 at the National Theatre, Dreamgirls was canceled by producers after advance ticket sales failed to meet expectations. The tour currently runs through Jan. 2, 2011, and could possibly return to Washington next year.
The 2010 tour itinerary, which includes stops in San Francisco, Nashville and Miami, will continue as scheduled. Ticketholders for the National Theatre engagement who purchased their tickets with a credit card will be automatically refunded. Other refunds may be obtained by phoning (800) 543-4835.
Dreamgirls features direction by Robert Longbottom, who co-choreographed with hip-hop artist Shane Sparks. The tour launched at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem in November 2009.
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.
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. The current 2010 touring itinerary follows:
Dallas, TX (June 30-July 18 at the Music Hall)
Kansas City, MO (July 20-25 at the Starlight Theatre)
Greenville, SC (Aug. 10-15 at the Peace Center)
San Francisco, CA (Aug. 24-Sept. 26 at the Curran Theatre)
Atlanta, GA (Oct. 12-17 at the Fox Theatre)
Nashville, TN (Oct. 26-31 at the Tennessee PAC)
Indianapolis, IN (Nov. 2-7 at the Murat Theatre)
Charlotte, NC (Nov. 9-14 at the Belk Theatre)
Tampa, FL (Nov. 16-21 at the Straz Center)
West Palm Beach, FL (Nov. 23-28 at the Kravis Center)
Memphis, TN (Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at the Orpheum Theatre)
Buffalo, NY (Dec. 14-19 at Shea's PAC)
Detroit, MI (Dec. 21-Jan. 2, 2011, at the Fox Theatre)
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," 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 also penned a new opening sequence for the second act, entitled "What Love Can Do."
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