DG: Broadway & Hollywood
Act One opens at the world-famous Apollo Theatre in New York City, where 'The Dreamettes' arrive late for a talent contest that they hope will launch their career as rhythm and blues singers. 'The Dreamettes' include Effie (the overweight lead singer), Deena (the attractive back-up singer) and Lorrell (the second back-up singer). They are accompanied by C.C., Effie's brother, who writes all their material. Smooth-talking Curtis Taylor manipulates the contest, and 'The Dreamettes' do not win the trophy. Instead, Curtis becomes their manager, and he negotiates a job for the girls as back-up singers for a star, James (Thunder) "Jimmy" Early.
The three girls begin touring with Jimmy, and 'Jimmy and The Dreamettes' record their first song, Cadillac Car, written by C.C. They find, however, that C.C.'s song has also been recorded and made popular by a white group in a bland, pop style. The girls, C.C., Curtis and Jimmy's agent Marty are outraged. In the song Steppin' to the Bad Side, Curtis vows that the group will not be taken advantage of again.
Curtis responds by booking 'Jimmy and The Dreamettes' as the first black act to appear in Miami Beach. Everyone is elated. Meanwhile, Curtis has developed a relationship with Effie, primarily to manipulate the fortunes of the group; and Jimmy, despite being married, has developed a relationship with Lorrell. Success for Jimmy and the three girls continues.
At this point Curtis feels the girls are popular enough to go out on their own with a more sophisticated name:'The Dreams,' but first he decides to remove Effie as the lead singer and replace her with Deena. Although Effie has the best voice of the three girls, Curtis believes Deena has the 'look' of success. Effie is destroyed, feeling betrayed by Curtis and C.C., and has to swallow her pride to sing back-up . C.C. and the group try unsuccessfully to comfort her in the song Family. Jimmy is enticed by Curtis' aggressive management style and leaves his agent, Marty.
Led by Deena 'The Dreams' are successful and they perform their signature number Dreamgirls. Privately, however, relationships among members of the group continue to deteriorate. Effie's behavior and appearance continue to decline. Curtis is forced to replace Effie with Michelle, and tells her in the song It's All Over. Effie's pain and frustration are then expressed in the song (And I'm Tellin' You) I'm Not Goin'. The group is renamed 'Deena Jones and The Dreams.' They headline at the Las Vegas Hilton and their future is bright.
Act two opens five years later with 'Deena and The Dreams' at the pinnacle of their career. Effie, on the other hand, is trying to overcome her disappointments and pull herself together in Chicago with Marty as her agent. She attempts to land a job in a local club and sings I'm Changing. However, all is not well with 'Deena and The Dreams.' C.C. and Curtis are having serious artistic differences over C.C.'s new song One Night Only, and, to Curtis' dismay, Deena wants to follow her own dream and begin a movie career. Curtis sings to her in You Are My Dream. With Jimmy's career in serious decline, Lorrell leaves him, because after seven years Jimmy never divorced his wife.
Back in Chicago C.C. apologizes to his sister for deserting her, and they reconcile. He offers her One Night Only, since he did not like Curtis' disco interpretation of the song for Deena. Effie's version of One Night Only moves toward the top of the charts. Curtis is incensed and uses his influence to undercut Effie's version. Marty uncovers Curtis' illegal business practices. Deena leaves Curtis, and Effie and Deena reunite after years of bitterness. 'The Dreams' perform their farewell concert and , as the curtain closes, they invite Effie on stage for one final performance of Dreamgirls.
BROADWAY
DreamGirls
I did some research and decided to share....
Tom Eyen wrote the original DreamGirls book and
lyrics for all the songs, he also received
a TONY Award-for Best Book of a Musical, Eyen died of Aids on
May 26, 1981 in Palm Beach FL, he was not quite 50 years old.
The DreamGirls premiered on December 20, 1981 (perfect timing
for the 2006 Dream Girls premiere (December 25, 2006). The
Show closed on August 11, 1985 after 1,521 rounds. And was reshown
The three girls begin touring with Jimmy, and 'Jimmy and The Dreamettes' record their first song, Cadillac Car, written by C.C. They find, however, that C.C.'s song has also been recorded and made popular by a white group in a bland, pop style. The girls, C.C., Curtis and Jimmy's agent Marty are outraged. In the song Steppin' to the Bad Side, Curtis vows that the group will not be taken advantage of again.
Curtis responds by booking 'Jimmy and The Dreamettes' as the first black act to appear in Miami Beach. Everyone is elated. Meanwhile, Curtis has developed a relationship with Effie, primarily to manipulate the fortunes of the group; and Jimmy, despite being married, has developed a relationship with Lorrell. Success for Jimmy and the three girls continues.
At this point Curtis feels the girls are popular enough to go out on their own with a more sophisticated name:'The Dreams,' but first he decides to remove Effie as the lead singer and replace her with Deena. Although Effie has the best voice of the three girls, Curtis believes Deena has the 'look' of success. Effie is destroyed, feeling betrayed by Curtis and C.C., and has to swallow her pride to sing back-up . C.C. and the group try unsuccessfully to comfort her in the song Family. Jimmy is enticed by Curtis' aggressive management style and leaves his agent, Marty.
Led by Deena 'The Dreams' are successful and they perform their signature number Dreamgirls. Privately, however, relationships among members of the group continue to deteriorate. Effie's behavior and appearance continue to decline. Curtis is forced to replace Effie with Michelle, and tells her in the song It's All Over. Effie's pain and frustration are then expressed in the song (And I'm Tellin' You) I'm Not Goin'. The group is renamed 'Deena Jones and The Dreams.' They headline at the Las Vegas Hilton and their future is bright.
Act two opens five years later with 'Deena and The Dreams' at the pinnacle of their career. Effie, on the other hand, is trying to overcome her disappointments and pull herself together in Chicago with Marty as her agent. She attempts to land a job in a local club and sings I'm Changing. However, all is not well with 'Deena and The Dreams.' C.C. and Curtis are having serious artistic differences over C.C.'s new song One Night Only, and, to Curtis' dismay, Deena wants to follow her own dream and begin a movie career. Curtis sings to her in You Are My Dream. With Jimmy's career in serious decline, Lorrell leaves him, because after seven years Jimmy never divorced his wife.
Back in Chicago C.C. apologizes to his sister for deserting her, and they reconcile. He offers her One Night Only, since he did not like Curtis' disco interpretation of the song for Deena. Effie's version of One Night Only moves toward the top of the charts. Curtis is incensed and uses his influence to undercut Effie's version. Marty uncovers Curtis' illegal business practices. Deena leaves Curtis, and Effie and Deena reunite after years of bitterness. 'The Dreams' perform their farewell concert and , as the curtain closes, they invite Effie on stage for one final performance of Dreamgirls.
BROADWAY
DreamGirls
I did some research and decided to share....
Tom Eyen wrote the original DreamGirls book and
lyrics for all the songs, he also received
a TONY Award-for Best Book of a Musical, Eyen died of Aids on
May 26, 1981 in Palm Beach FL, he was not quite 50 years old.
The DreamGirls premiered on December 20, 1981 (perfect timing
for the 2006 Dream Girls premiere (December 25, 2006). The
Show closed on August 11, 1985 after 1,521 rounds. And was reshown
in 1987 for 177 shows.
The Original DreamGirls cast on Broadway were:
Jennifer Holliday (singer), Obba Babatunde (Half & Half),
Cleavant Derricks (he has a Twin brother),
Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale),
Ben Harney, and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Moesha)
Title tracks on the 2001 CD were:
Disk 1
1. I'm Looking for Something, Baby
2. Goin' Downtown
3. Takin' the Long Way Home
4. Move (You're Steppin on My Heart)
5. Scene: Fifty bucks says the Dreamettes don't win
6. Fake Your Way to the Top
7. Scene: It ain't working, Marty
8. Cadillac Car
9. Cadillac Car (On the Road)
10. Cadillac Car (Recording Studio)
Disk 2
1. Opening Act II: Dreams Medley
2. Scene: Effie White is the best singer you're gonna find
3. I Am Changing
4. Vogue Sequence
5. When I First Saw You
6. Ain't No Party
7. I Meant You No Harm
8. The Rap
9. I Miss You, Old Friend
10. One Night Only
HOLLYWOOD
2006
starring:
Beyonce Knowles (Deena Jones),Jennifer Hudson (Effie Melody White),Bobby Slayton, Keith Robinson (Clarence Conrad aka CC White),Anika Noni Rose (Lorrell Robinson),Eddie Murphy (James Thunder Early),Danny Glover (Marty Madison), Jaime Foxx (Curtis Taylor Jr),Sharon Leal (Michelle Morris)
**Side note**-did you know that Eddie Murphy has Grossed over $1 BILLION dollars in his acting career...yes ma'am..Brother is paid and now so is NICOLE (his ex wife)
DreamGirls is about the rise of a black group who challenged the white music industry. It is not a musical as portrayed. Starting with a three girl singing group, adapted from the group the Supremes. Effie (Jennifer Hudson) is the great voice and Deena Jones (Beyonce)& Anika Noni Rose(Lorrell Robinson) sing back-up.
That is all I have to say about that!!!
The Original DreamGirls cast on Broadway were:
Jennifer Holliday (singer), Obba Babatunde (Half & Half),
Cleavant Derricks (he has a Twin brother),
Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale),
Ben Harney, and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Moesha)
Title tracks on the 2001 CD were:
Disk 1
1. I'm Looking for Something, Baby
2. Goin' Downtown
3. Takin' the Long Way Home
4. Move (You're Steppin on My Heart)
5. Scene: Fifty bucks says the Dreamettes don't win
6. Fake Your Way to the Top
7. Scene: It ain't working, Marty
8. Cadillac Car
9. Cadillac Car (On the Road)
10. Cadillac Car (Recording Studio)
Disk 2
1. Opening Act II: Dreams Medley
2. Scene: Effie White is the best singer you're gonna find
3. I Am Changing
4. Vogue Sequence
5. When I First Saw You
6. Ain't No Party
7. I Meant You No Harm
8. The Rap
9. I Miss You, Old Friend
10. One Night Only
HOLLYWOOD
2006
starring:
Beyonce Knowles (Deena Jones),Jennifer Hudson (Effie Melody White),Bobby Slayton, Keith Robinson (Clarence Conrad aka CC White),Anika Noni Rose (Lorrell Robinson),Eddie Murphy (James Thunder Early),Danny Glover (Marty Madison), Jaime Foxx (Curtis Taylor Jr),Sharon Leal (Michelle Morris)
**Side note**-did you know that Eddie Murphy has Grossed over $1 BILLION dollars in his acting career...yes ma'am..Brother is paid and now so is NICOLE (his ex wife)
DreamGirls is about the rise of a black group who challenged the white music industry. It is not a musical as portrayed. Starting with a three girl singing group, adapted from the group the Supremes. Effie (Jennifer Hudson) is the great voice and Deena Jones (Beyonce)& Anika Noni Rose(Lorrell Robinson) sing back-up.
That is all I have to say about that!!!
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