DREAMGIRLS casting news? Beyonce as Effie?????? — Page 5

I hate to admit but I agree with Marquise because I too think that Ashanti would be a good choice. She really has that soft sound and Ashanti is a beautful women,but I dont think she could pull of the dance moves. I really want them to make a good choice for Deena because she is my favorite of the entire musical. I cant't shake the felling that Kelly Rowland would make an excellent choice. Her look is so reminscent of young Diana/ Sheryl. I can just envision her descinding down that staircase for the opening of Act two and get chills.

Quote: Her acting ability really has yet to be seen.

How does one appear in 3 different acting projects with acting skills yet to be seen? That basically means they have none.

I don't have any personal hate towards Miss Knowles. I just don't subscribe to everyone's theory that she is the next best thing since sliced bread.

And with some of your remarks about other singers, you really shouldn't call my opinion suspect.

I dont think it will work with three unknown Dreams and Jamie Foxx or other stars playing the male roles. It will throw the balance off because people are going to be drawn to the stars. So, if they are going to have a star on the male side they need atleast one star on the female side.

Silent, What I mean is that she hasn't done a movie that IMO has shown what she can do as an actress. Austin Powers, she was box office window dressing. The prime example in proving my point is Beyonce in The Fighting Temptations, she wasn't great and her co-star, Cuba Gooding Jr. (Oscar Winner) was equally horrible. Cuba can do his thing in dramatic roles but he can't do comedy. Pink Panther, she plays an international pop star. Almost all of the work she's done has been comedy. Maybe she can do well with a more dramatic part. I'm not saying she's the best actress of the best for Deena. She should have a shot like everybody else. I'm sure Condon will go with the best overall choice.

I don't think that Beyonce should play Deena, because of the MTV musical Carmen, she just wasn't working in the dramatic/musical part. Not only that but the fact that she has her own group drama with Destiny's Child I dont want the public writing this movie off as another Beyonce spectacle and also she is too big a star to play Deena. Everybody willl think they are watching the Beyonce autobiography.

I've heard through the grapevine that Tamyra Gray is up for the role against Beyonce and I hope she gets it. She's a better actress and her voice fits the part better, and she's not as overexposed as Beyonce so audiences will actually be able to see her as Deena and not as Tamyra. And she's starred on Broadway and we need at least one broadway star in the show.

I think Jill Scott or Angie Stone should be Effie. AND YES EFFIE HAS TO BE OVERWEIGHT!!!!! I will be ed if they throw some skinny bitch in the role.

As for Lorell, throw in Heather Headley or Anika Noni Rose to make us broadway fans really happy.

There's a reason no one has mentioned them in that context before, lol. Firstly, Tatyana's reed-thin voice wouldn't survive the 1st cut and secondly, it's hard to imagine Brandy in the role of Deena with one eye in Brooklyn and the other in Queens. Brandy just doesn't ooze sensuality or bring other-world beauty to the part in wake of the great Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena. There has been some prior discussion about skin tones. SLR has roughly the same complexion as JH, but she fit the bill for the "right look" in relation to her Dreamette sorors. The actress stepping into the role of Effie Melody White is not the only one with big shoes to fill. IMO the three actresses comprising the Dreamettes are a package deal.

Condon has to cast brilliantly or this has the potential to go straight to the discount DVD bin. I know this next bit will be difficult for some on here to consume. The original Broadway staging & tour(s) were not seen by everyone on this planet and a lot of time has passed since their outing. Memory fades quickly and young audiences today have a plethora of forms of entertainment to fancy, so 'Dreamgirls--the Movie' will face stiff competition at the box office to capture their video-length attention spans and pocketbooks. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be a STARFEST if it will be widely distributed feature film.

Finally, the reason Beyonce figures so prominently these days in any and every casting decision is because too many of her contemporary hip-hoplettes have been getting "jiggy" and trying to pass for "thugettes" (both onstage & off) over the past decade. Whenever an opportunity like this film comes alone, they are not even considered because they are perceived to be of a certain "ilk" that will never be featured in a Dreamworks or old school studio production.

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Updated On: 1/30/05 at 04:00 AM