Dreamgirls 2001: Stars in the House

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 9:30pm

I didn't see anyone post the cast of the 2001 Dreamgirls concert will be reuniting on Stars in the House. Love the recording from this concert. Wondered if anybody got a chance to see the concert live? Any memories of it?

 

https://t.co/6f4Kx7xNuo

Updated On: 5/28/21 at 09:30 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 9:54pm

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 9:59pm

Dreamgirls Concert Stars Audra McDonald, Lillias White, Heather Headley, More to Reunite on Stars in the House

[greensgreens]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 11:52pm

This one will always live in the shadow of 9/11. I can’t imagine a reunion will be all smiles. The one thing I remember is that Heather Headley was not in good voice (I believe due to the trauma and she was belting America The Beautiful everywhere) and I heard that she re-recorded a majority of her vocals for the album. I wonder if they’ll talk about that.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 2:28pm

Wow. Not having heard the recording until years later I didn’t realize how close to 9/11 this concert occurred.

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 4:51pm

To get you ready - recall this behind the belters video -This might start seven minutes in - when the singing at the first rehearsal starts - for background, click and move the cursor to the start. 

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 5/29/21 at 04:51 PM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 6/1/21 at 8:54pm

Dreamgirls reunion is being postponed! A cast member has a filming conflict, but Seth has made it clear it's 100% happening very soon.

It was going to be this Saturday, June 5th. 

....Now!! This Saturday, June 5th will be an AIDA REUNION!!

Heather Headley, Sherie Rene Scott, Adam Pascal, Tyrees Allen, and Schele Williams!

Updated On: 6/1/21 at 08:54 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/2/21 at 8:01pm

I have to imagine it's getting harder to do these shows with more actors getting back to work. Hoping this does indeed still happens but also thrilled for an AIDA reunion.

[Ke3]

Posted: 6/3/21 at 8:09pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Dreamgirls reunion is being postponed! A cast member has a filming conflict, but Seth has made it clear it's 100% happening very soon.

I wonder if it's Audra. Her upcoming HBO show has been filming a lot lately

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/10/21 at 7:55pm

This has been rescheduled for this Saturday at 8pm.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/12/21 at 10:22pm

What a wonderful reunion this was. If you have a chance, catch it on YouTube at some point. I cried, I laughed, the memories of Michael Bennett. Stunning!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 3:08am

This was a great watch. 

We need a real full out revival. I know many people don't like anatomically correct reproductions of original productions but this is a show that deserves it. A full out recreation of the original Michael Bennett production exactly as it was performed in 1981. The brilliant original production designs by Robin Wagner (with the full size automated lighting towers that glided around the stage under their own power), Tharon Musser, and Theoni Aldredge. The show was sublime. The show was perfection. No other productions have come close.

Lady Braxton should direct and recreate the show. 



 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 8:17am

I fully agree. A full recreation of Michael Bennett’s original 1981 Broadway production - with the lavish version 2 of the Act 2 Las Vegas opener Bennett added after the tour started. Major improvement and a glorious moment for Deena. The original Act 1 opener was just Deena Jones and the Dreams doing a medley and walking up and down a bland industrial looking staircase. Mais non, mon ami.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 9:07am

It really boggles my mind how this show, one of the most popular musicals ever written (and especially after the film version 15 years ago) has never been revived. I’ve given up hope that the West End production will ever transfer here so a reproduction of Michael Bennett’s original should be at the top of every producers “To-Do” list.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:02am

Especially after the success the movie had. However, the last US tour was horrendous. If and when a revival happens, it should be a recreation of Bennett's staging and nothing close to what that tour was. Braxton mentioned it last night, but she refuses to watch the movie. She also talked about having done of productions of Dreamgirls that didn't use the Bennett choreo and the productions weren't great. She said the concert version was the best thing since the original cast since they did use the Bennett choreo.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:04am

morosco said: "This was a great watch.

We need a real full out revival. I know many people don't likeanatomically correct reproductionsoforiginal productions but this is a show that deserves it. A full out recreation of the original Michael Bennett production exactly as it was performed in 1981. The brilliant original production designs by Robin Wagner (with the full size automated lighting towers that glided around the stage under their own power), Tharon Musser, and Theoni Aldredge. The show was sublime. The show was perfection. No other productions have come close.

Lady Braxton should direct and recreate the show.



ALL. OF. THIS. 

The new generation needs to be exposed to ALL of the elements that made this show such a legend in it's own time. I don't want a revisionist/revised Broadway revival of DREAMGIRLS. You don't mess with perfection. If and when this is ever done they can have ALL OF MY MONEY.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:12am

And also, for the love of God, remove “Listen” and put back in the original music for that section.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:15am

Jordan Catalano said: "And also, for the love of God, remove “Listen” and put back in the original music for that section."

Yes! Yes! Yes! and more YES! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:28am

“No! I want to stay and talk. I want talk to the great Ms. Jones…”

Is the best line in the whole show. It’s a travesty it and that whole section is removed due to a Beyoncé song.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 11:47am

Does Lillias White have an issue with Jennifer Holliday? First she said when she started playing Effie how Bennett told her how happy he was to finally have an actor in that role. Then White praised Headley’s Shug Avery to the heavens - a role Holliday performed after Headley left the show. I could be reading too much into her comments.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 1:25pm

Jordan Catalano said: "“No! I want to stay and talk. I want talk to the great Ms. Jones…”

Is the best line in the whole show. It’s a travesty it and that whole section is removed due to a Beyoncé song. "

I agree. Another misstep was to completely eliminate the Act II opener with the Dreams’ performance in Vegas and substitute it with that cringe-worthy video montage Deena is viewing in her screening room. 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 1:29pm

I have to say that I wish Billy Porter would have participated in the reunion, but I am guessing his schedule didn’t allow him. I loved all the behind the scenes footage of the rehearsals and table read. I had no idea of the now-famous people who were part of the ensemble like Orfeh and Sarah Ramirez.

I was living for Lady Braxton - such a beautiful woman inside and out!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 1:34pm

“No! I want to stay and talk. I want talk to the great Ms. Jones…”

Is the best line in the whole show. It’s a travesty it and that whole section is removed due to a Beyoncé song.

Wait, what? That sequence had been removed in subsequent productions? My favorite part. There was something so touching about it when we heard Effie sing "I saw you Deena, at your momma's funeral. How I wanted to speak to you that day. But I couldn't reach you. There were so many people in our way".

I hate that this was gone.

Updated On: 6/13/21 at 01:34 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 3:21pm

morosco said: "“No! I want to stay and talk. I want talk to the great Ms. Jones…”

Is the best line in the whole show. It’s a travesty it and that whole section is removed due to a Beyoncé song.

Wait, what? Thatsequencehad been removed in subsequent productions? My favorite part. There was something so touching about itwhen we heard Effie sing "I saw you Deena, at your momma's funeral. How I wanted to speak to you that day. But I couldn't reach you. There were so many people in ourway".

I hate that this was gone."

Not sure, but I think Jordan was referring to the film? I haven't seen the show since its original run and its 1987 return so I don't know if they've replaced it with the stage version of "Listen" in its most recent revised version. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/13/21 at 4:28pm

Yes, “Listen” replaces that ENTIRE segment now on stage. 

Updated On: 6/13/21 at 04:28 PM