DREAMGIRLS heading back to Broadway...

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:09pm

An EPA notice went up today. Vienna Waits is producing, no theatre is mentioned.

Robert Longbottom is director/choreographer, Shane Sparks is co-choreographer, and Zane Mark is music director. The show will be newly choreographed and staged.

All roles are available, and the first performance is slated for early November 2009.
Updated On: 9/15/08 at 03:09 PM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:19pm

It's going on the road first.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:20pm

This November? Sounds a little rushed.

Weren't they doing a try-out in Seoul first? or did that already happen?

[winston89]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:27pm

Verynewyorkcurious, I was thinking the same thing. Honestly, the first thought that I had when reading the title of this thread was that this was the production that just came back from Korea and that it was coming to Broadway.

[mll85]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:30pm

The productions is aiming to start performances November 2009.

http://actorsequity.com/CastingCall/browse_notice.asp?NoticeID=16641&NoticeType=1

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:32pm

Sorry for the confusion folks, 2009 :) I edited the original post. First rehearsal will be September 21, 2009.
Updated On: 9/15/08 at 03:32 PM

[JP2]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:58pm

Yay!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:04pm

"The show will be newly choreographed and staged."

Does the Bennett estate have control over this?


"All roles are available, and the first performance is slated for early November 2009."

Now you're lyin' you're lyin' it's gonna be a star.

Jennifer Hudson as Effie?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:13pm

It has been announced as a national tour, not a Broadway production.
And I HIGHLY doubt that it'll be re-staged.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:21pm

Are they gonna shoehorn in "Listen"?

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:27pm

Really ray?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=221861
Updated On: 9/15/08 at 04:27 PM

[BNN]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:27pm

Has anyone called Lillias White yet? It would make my dreams come true.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:29pm

I was going off the Playbill article. I trust Playbill.com a lot more than I do BWW.com
Longbottom Will Direct Dreamgirls National Tour

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:30pm

Well if Longbottom and Sparks are billed as choreographer, then yes...it WILL be restaged.

Akiva

[morosco]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:36pm

Big orchestra please.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:42pm

That is really odd. The reason I said I highly doubted it is because the Bennett estate is EXTREMELY protective of the major Bennett shows. It's odd that they would allow someone to tinker with the choreography. Oh well.

[The Ghost of Kringas]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:47pm

Maybe it's different because he didn't have a stake in the creation of the material? I don't think stock and other productions are required to use his staging (I know the god-awful production at the St Louis Black Rep a few years ago didn't).

I like that the BWW article lists "I Miss You Old Friend" as one of the notable songs.

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:51pm

Dang BWW/Playbill, can't a brotha get a shoutout?

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:59pm

I'm not so concerned about "Listen," but I loved "Patience" and "I Am Changing" and I'd love to see them added to the production.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 5:01pm

"I Am Changing" was part of the Original Production.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 6:12pm

I was JUSt thinking that Dreamgirls should be revived yesterday. YES.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 6:14pm

I really want to see Natalie Venetia Belcon in this! She could probably sing any of the parts, but she would probably fit in as Lorrell the best (except she is a little oldish).

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 6:29pm

Best of luck without the Bennett staging. It was such an integral part of why that show worked and was a hit. And it was actually the only real reason it was considered an innovative show.

So, GOOD, strip the innovation out of it and put it back on Broadway.

Same thing as removing the Robbins choreography from West Side Story.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 6:33pm

"Jennifer Hudson as Effie?" I would really like that, Gothampc, but for selfish reasons. I hope she doesn't though, for the sake of her career. However, I have a gut feeling that she will.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 6:55pm

Um, Michael Bennett DID have a hand in it's creation. It's why it went from being a Valley of the Dolls style show to a Diet Story of Diana Ross style show.