The star-studded premiere at the famed Manhattan venue is scheduled for 8 PM. Among the cast and filmmakers scheduled to attend are Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Danny Glover, director Bill Condon and producer Laurence Mark. Other celebrities expected include Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson, Queen Latifah, Mandy Moore, Lorraine Bracco, Hugh Jackman, Paul Rudd, Christine Baranski, Patricia Clarkson, Peter Boyle, Rosie O'Donnell, Tyler Perry, Cedric the Entertainer, Tom Everett Scott and Sam Mendes.
A little more than a week later, on Dec. 15, the "Dreamgirls" roadshow will begin a ten-day screening at the Ziegfeld. The movie opens nationwide Christmas day.
Directed by Bill Condon, "Dreamgirls" stars Jennifer Hudson as Effie, Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones, Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson, Jamie Fox as Curtis Taylor Jr., Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder Early" and Danny Glover as Marty. Director Bill Condon also wrote the film's screenplay based on the late Tom Eyen's book. The film employs most of the original score by Eyen and Henry Krieger as well as four new tunes.
"Dreamgirls," according to the film's official website, "follows the rise of a trio of women — Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) — who have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for headliner James 'Thunder' Early (Eddie Murphy). Curtis gradually takes control of the girls' look and sound, eventually giving them their own shot in the spotlight as The Dreams. The spotlight, however, begins to narrow in on Deena, finally pushing back the less attractive Effie out altogether. Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined."
The Ziegfeld Theatre is located in Manhattan at 151 West 54th Street. *
The "Dreamgirls" roadshow will also play Hollywood's Cinerama Dome and San Francisco's Metreon. The roadshow will feature reserved seating, an intermission, "Dreamgirls"-themed lobby displays and merchandise booths, a limited-edition program and, of course, higher ticket prices.