An intresting Dreamgirls Idea

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:52am

So I know there has been talk of a dreamgirls revival. I was thinking the other day since shows are stuntcasting latly to boost sales I thought of a show that might work. How would Dreamgirls starring: Jennifer Hudson as Effie, Syesha Mercado as Deena and Tamyra Grey as Lorelle. I think the show would actually be very good they would sing it extremly well.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:56am

Syesha Mercado is better-suited for Lorrell, and Jennifer Hudson would be a fool to play Effie on stage in a full-blown revival. Anika Noni Rose should play Deena and I'm not sure who would be my pick for Effie.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:04am

I agree that Anika would be best suited for Deena. But I figure with 3 former idol contestants they can market it like that. And why would Hudson be a fool to play it in a full revival? I thought she was stellar in the movie.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 4:33am

Because if she glues herself indelibly to one character in one show, her career may well suffer as a result. I believe Jennifer Holliday had some problems refusing to give up Effie.

[lizzie3]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 5:04am

Theatre boy, I sooo agree with you. omg i would watch that show everynite. but then i think if one of them pulled out the whole thing would hve to come to an end. it wouldnt be as perfect anymore!!!

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:34pm

They would all be good..but Jennifer Hudson shouldn't do it. I would love to see Anika play Deena !!!!!!!!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:46pm

Rene Elise Goldsberry should be Deena.

I don't think Jennifer Hudson has the acting chops to play Effie. Yes, I know. Neither did Jennifer Holliday, but there's got to be a woman out there that can sing and act the role.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:49pm

Not only shouldn't Jennifer Hudson not play Effie again, but she will never play Effie again.

She did so... won an Oscar for it... and has moved onto other roles and projects.

She would be wise to keep her distance from anything DREAMGIRLS unlike Jennifer Holliday, who is STILL playing Effie Melody White over 25 years later in any production that asks her.

"... and I am telling you -- I'm NOT going!"

Yes you iz, beotch!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:19pm

Haha brody that made me laugh. I think though it might work like as a limited engagement. That way its not like Hudson stays forever with the show. Limited run, a couple extenstions (cuz of course it would run well I think) and then move on again. I just hope that some kind of revival pops up in the near future.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:19pm

Syesha is too good to play Deena. Same with Anika.

[JRybka]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:28pm

The ONLY way to cast this is with Joan Rivers as Effie....

Oh Oh Oh Oh, can we talk? I am so not going... Oh Oh you know why? I am not going? Oh cause I said so... You're lying your lying I never looked so young... Eh!

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:39pm

Deena shouldn't be the strongest singer of the bunch, but rather the weakest. Anika is way too powerful.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:49pm

Syesha does not have the vocal chops to sing any role on Broadway. She thinks she is better than she is, and thus she ends up overdoing it on so many songs and messing up notes. It's called knowing your limitations as a performer.

How about casting people who audition for the role, and make it a cast full of unknowns, it's really a show that needs bankable stars, the name pretty much sells itself.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:58pm

It's not about Deena's voice being weaker. She's supposed to have a smoother (read "whiter") sound that will cross over. One of the million inane tweaks to the story in Bill Condon's movie was all that stuff about her mother never thinking she had a good voice, and Curtis saying she couldn't sing and all. None of that is in the stage version. Deena IS supposed to be a good singer.

Updated On: 5/16/08 at 02:58 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:03pm

Really? I thought she was supposed to have a voice like Diana Ross, and I never thought she was a good singer.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:14pm

Well, the stage version certainly drew its inspiration from the Supremes, but again, Condon went way overboard in the allusions he made to them in the movie. He really muddied up the story by trying to hit you over the head with the fact that this was inspired by The Supremes.

[roquat]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:19pm

Sheryl Lee Ralph (the original Deena, for you young'uns) is a fantastic singer. She deliberately smoothed out her tone, resisting any urge to show off, in order to come across as bland, white-sounding Diana Ross.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:21pm

"Syesha does not have the vocal chops to sing any role on Broadway. She thinks she is better than she is, and thus she ends up overdoing it on so many songs and messing up notes."


I completly disagree with that statement! IMO Syesha's voice is better than Anika's. Though I have never seen Anika live, I was not impressed with her ,at all ,in the movie.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:25pm

Really? I thought Anika had the best voice of the three, and this is coming from a Beyonce fan.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:28pm

Who are The Surpremes?! The name of the group is The Dreams (later Deena Jones and The Dreams).

I'm confused.

[jarred03]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:58pm

I love the original idea, Jennifer Hudson(Effie), Syesha(Deena), and Tamyra(Lorell). I think 1)it doesn't matter if Jen does Effie on bway because she already did her in the movie and won every award for film that can win by playing that part she will never outshine Effie White as herself or as any other character. Holiday couldn't get past Effie and she was seen by way less people then the movie version.

2) Anika was already lorell in the movie and although she would be great as Deena it would be hard for most audience to seperate her as the 2 characters.

3) Syesha's voice is perfect for that part because she doesn't need to over sing. Beyonce and Syesha are both better singers than the original Deena.

4) Tamyra would be the most perfect casting because she's cute and spunky and froming hearing her "Goodbye Love" in RENT I think her goodbye to jimmy song would be priceless.


oh and jrybka- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 4:05pm

I wasn't basing my comment off of the movie adaption, but rather how every Deena that I've seen has been vocally inferior to the other two girls.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 4:06pm

"Really? I thought Anika had the best voice of the three, and this is coming from a Beyonce fan."

Maby if I had seen her in something else before I saw the movie I would appreciate her a bit more but, from just seeing the movie ,I thought her voice is just average.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 4:09pm

"... ladies and gentlemen -- the incredible Dreams!"



Who da f**k is Effie?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 4:31pm

Actually, the cast has already been set for a Broadway revival. Here they are in dress rehearsal. (Hat tip: Morosco).