Dreamgirls Revival Taking Shape - Hudson to Reprise Effie?- Page 3

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 7:37pm

I agree, this could be a bad move for Jennifer, but I don't think any of us would mind if she does star on Broadway. I think Anika Rose would be perfect for Deena. I think that Natalie Venetia Belcon would be great as Lorrell.
Updated On: 1/26/07 at 07:37 PM

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 7:47pm

I was thinking LaChanze when I opened this thread. I also think Sharon Leal would be fabulous. I loved her in the movie, even though it was a small part.

Posted: 1/26/07 at 8:39pm

Dream Cast:

Lorell: Natalie Venetia Belcon
Effie: Heather Headly
Deena: Anika Noni Rose

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 8:45pm

Talk about a nightmare cast. Heather Headley?

Updated On: 1/26/07 at 08:45 PM

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 8:51pm

I would go see it if Jennifer starred as Effie!

[Kalimba]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 8:52pm

Heather Hedley as Effie? WTF!

Posted: 1/26/07 at 9:18pm

I don't know..I couldn't think of anyone beside JHud, so I thought of the next belter in my mind.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 9:30pm

If they choose to go in an American Idol direction (don't bite off my head), what about Tamyra Gray as Effie and LaToya London as Deena? Just a thought! I do think it would be exciting if they went with unkowns for the leads though. With all the hype from the movie, they may not need "names."

[anthonyhw]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 10:33pm

What about Capathia Jenkins as Effie? or Shayna Steele?

[Malice]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 10:43pm

Everyone is talking about mainly the female leads, how about dream casting for Jimmy and Curtis?

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 10:55pm

Brandon Victor Dixon for CC!

Posted: 1/26/07 at 10:57pm

Capathia!!!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:05pm

Yeah, Capathia would have been a great Effie... ten years ago.

Anika Noni Rose is eyeing a return to Broadway, but in the transfer of "Porgy and Bess." Don't hold your breath for her to ever play Deena. She's a smart girl, and will reach stardom on her own terms outside of "Dreamgirls."

[anthonyhw]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:11pm

Is it true that Capathia was the second choice to play Effie in the movie?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:25pm

Condon said that Jenkins was "A" runner-up to Hudson, but didn't say that she was #2.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:31pm

Margo, where did Condon say this?

Am I the only one who thinks Jenkins is a bit long in the tooth for the role? On stage she may be able to get away with it, but on film against the likes of Knowles and Rose as her contemporaries? No way.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:51pm

About ten years ago I think Fredi Walker would have made a great Effie. I think that Frenchie Davis was also considered, thank God she was not hired.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:53pm

Absolutley no one in the film version will go NEAR a revival of "Dreamgirls". So get over it.

I'd like to see Norm Lewis play Curtis, although he's probably much too old now.

I'm all for Ramona Keller to do something.

anything.




actually, what wouldn't surprise me at all is that if "Grease" turns out to be a success, this show is cast via reality TV. I mean, everyone knows it now, and it has that pop-score sound that America loves.

Scary? yes. but i do think it's possible. (although I'll let Margo be the judge of that, I think he knows what the Bennett estate will and will not allow better than I)

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 11:53pm

Absolutley no one in the film version will go NEAR a revival of "Dreamgirls". So get over it.

I'd like to see Norm Lewis play Curtis, although he's probably much too old now.

I'm all for Ramona Keller to do something.

anything.




actually, what wouldn't surprise me at all is that if "Grease" turns out to be a success, this show is cast via reality TV. I mean, everyone knows it now, and it has that pop-score sound that America loves.

Scary? yes. but i do think it's possible. (although I'll let Margo be the judge of that, I think he knows what the Bennett estate will and will not allow better than I)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 12:22am

I can't remember where I read it, but Condon did confirm in a recent interview that Jenkins was a finalist -- which I thought was ODD to say the least (she's a good decade too old for it).

I really can't imagine Breglio OKing a reality show. It doesn't seem like his style. Besides, the movie has given the title so many millions in free publicity, it doesn't need any cheap stunts to sell a revival.

There's also the fact that the GREASE tv show has been doing progressively worse in the ratings every week it has been on, so I don't know if we'll see another Broadway-themed reality show in the future. And remember that GREASE is a much higher profile title than DREAMGIRLS, having been done thousands of times around the country by every high school and community theater in America and the movie is the highest grossing musical in history.

Plus, I also can't help, but wonder about the degree of major network interest there would be in an all-black reality show. The GREASE one has practically 100% white contestants (as did the British one about The Sound of Music) and most other successful reality shows have had few successful non-white contestants. How many larger black women (and black women in general) have managed to do well on American Idol? Hudson only finished 5th and others have stuggled to get the millions of votes nationwide that they need on a weekly basis to succeed on the show. As much as it would be nice to say that such a thing would be a non-issue with the public, I would be willing to bet that the network programmers would be very hesitant to book an all-black, Broadway-themed reality show in primetime.

Updated On: 1/27/07 at 12:22 AM

[silent]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 1:05am

During her run in "Aida," I remember reading a blurb in the New York Post and Daily News mentioning that Deb was being considered for a possible revival of "Dreamgirls." Of course, that didn't pan out as the talk of the film started a few months later. Deb has mentioned that doing "Dreamgirls" would be a dream for her. I believe she would tone down her vocals for the sake of the story.

From what I've heard through the grapevine, the top 3 finalists for Effie were Jennifer, Capathia and Nicci Gilbert (former lead singer of the R&B group Brownstone).

And I'm glad they won't include any of the film songs in the play, especially "Listen."

I think Latoya London would make a great Lorrell.

And I agree with what Margo mentioned before: there should be two Effies! Updated On: 1/27/07 at 01:05 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 2:03am

Well, wasn't Fantasia the one most people involved with the movie rooting for? Hudson was consistently told she had not been cast for the role but then kept getting calls to go back. Jenkins is incredibly talented but I agree she'd have been too old for the role on the screen; however, she might be OK for a revival.
I can't believe anyone who has listened to the Concert cast recording would suggest Heather Headley for ANY of the roles. Her "Ain't No Party" is a bit painful to hear and she disappointed during some numbers like "I Meant You No Harm." I doubt Anika Noni Rose would play Deena but I think she'd be great in the role. Sharon Leal is probably a more likely choice and her voice seems to be perfectly suited for Deena.
And no Norm Lewis as Curtis either. I think the only person from the concert recording I'd like to see reprising his role is Darius de Haas.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 3:20am

Well of course, Fantasia, a black woman, WON her season of American Idol (and Latoya London was 3rd runner-up). And Kimberly Locke, who is half black and on the plus size, was second runner-up in season 2 (which was won by a black man). And I would argue that the second biggest success to come out of season 1 would be Tamyra Gray. And then Vonzell was second runner-up in Season 4. Overall, I'd say black women have done pretty well on American Idol.

So I don't think American Idol is the best example to support your point. (though you did specify larger black women, which may make for a more true case)

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 3:29am

Heather as Effie would be awful. She is a phenomenal singer but NO effie. I do not think any Idol's would be cast...it would be so cliche.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:31pm

Deena = Sasha Allen