Dreamgirls Appreciation Thread- Page 4

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 3:34pm

It has everything on the concert C.D.
There are so many things not on the OBC recording.
How could they leave out songs like Heavy & It's All Over,
it leads up to Effie's big number.
Now we have the entire show on C.D. How wonderful is that.

Updated On: 12/2/04 at 03:34 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 3:36pm

Adding it to my interactive Christmas list...with pics and everything...my mom is not good at finding cast recordings, lol.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 5:12pm

I actually think Jamie Foxx's voice fits Curtis moreso than Jimmy...Usher would be the perfect CC. Tyrese might be a good Jimmy. I think the male roles would be a good place to put some unknowns.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 5:52pm

11, have her go to Amazon. Put it on your wishlist. The only thing that is missing from the Concert version is the incredible Curtain call and walk out music.

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:04pm

Ooh yeah,curtain calls & walk out music would have been cool too.

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:16pm

OOPS...
I made a "HUGE" mistake.
Sheryl Lee Ralph's birthday isn't until 1230.
And she's going to be 47 not 49 like I said in earlier comments.
So sorry...
She still looks damn good.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:23pm

I just have to say that it is one of my all time favorite shows and I got to see Phylicia Rashad as Deena and she tore it up.
She was really Amazing. There were all top notch the orignal cast any version I've seen without them pales in comparison.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 12:01am

So how many times did Phylicia go in for Sheryl? I heard it wasn't very many and there was some drama surrounding it.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 12:06am

I saw Phylicia as Deena. She took over for awhile. I have the Playbill in a box. She went on quite a few times. Her name was listed alongside Ben Harney, Jennifer Holliday and the rest of the cast. There's also a pic of her and a short bio. This was right before they brought in Linda Leilani Brown (which was the reason Phylicia wound up leaving). She was Phylicia Ayers-Allen back then. Updated On: 12/3/04 at 12:06 AM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 12:48am

Thanx. Some people say she was good, some say she was horrible. What did you think, Marquise?

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 1:52am

I thought she was good. I also saw Linda Leilani Brown (who originated it in LA) and her voice got on my last nerve. Irritating.

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 10:03am

Oh yeah, Linda Leilani Brown got on my nerves too.
I didn't see her in the show but she was on all of the t.v. shows with Arneitia Walker & Deborah Burrell singing the title song.She is way too nasil & way too "Diana" for me.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 11:55am

Anyone have the original cast list? I would love to know what happened to my husband's friend.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 12:16pm

According to the Dreamgirls website I linked a couple of pages back:

"Phylicia Rashad (then Ayers-Allen) was the original understudy for the role of Deena. When Sheryl Lee Ralph went on vacation and Phylicia was not asked to fill in, she quit (according to her, she tendered her resignation directly to Bennett in very direct words). She felt that the role was perfect for her and that she was ready to take it on eight times a week. However, Linda Leilani Brown was brought in to perform the role following the closing of the first national tour."
http://www.graiai.com/dreamgirls/

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 1:19pm

Michael Bennett had reputation for being shall I say "shady".

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 1:22pm

Who's your husbands friend?

Updated On: 12/3/04 at 01:22 PM

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 1:32pm

I just recalled that the same thing happened to Phylicia when she was in the OBC of The Wiz. She was playing a munchkin & other characters.When Dee Dee Bridgewater who played Glinda went on vacation Ms. Ayer-Allen took over the role. When Ms.Bridgewater left the show completely Ms. Ayers-Allen was not offered the role,that's when she quit.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 1:57pm

I don't know his name, but think I would remember it if I saw it. He was part of the original ensemble. I have pictures of him with a group he was part of way back then. My husband was a photographer and took his portfolio pictures and he gave my husband the tickets to the show.

He was a terrific dancer and had a great voice.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 2:20pm

Dreamgirls OBC

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 2:32pm

Wow! that Dreamgirls website got it all wrong I saw Phylicia Ayers-Allen do Deena and I have the Playbill with her in it., she may not have performed the role for very long. Out of all the Deenas I've seen only two were memorable: Sheryl Lee Ralph and Alisa Gyse. Updated On: 12/3/04 at 02:32 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 8:30pm

I saw Alisa Gyse with Ms. H in Atlanta 2 yrs ago. She was very good. The whole production was AMAZING!

[jarred03]

Posted: 12/4/04 at 3:41am

I have never seen Dreamgirls and I hope that the revival comes out soon. I love the music so much. I am Telling You is one of my all time favorite songs. I also love Faking It To The Top, I would love to play that character, but sadly I'm white. Are there any white characters in the show?

BTW, shout out to TheTruth, Tamyra Gray kicks ass.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/4/04 at 9:15am

yes there are several white characters in the show but they mainly consist of Photographers, Reporters and the white group Dave and the Sweethearts which is made up of 1 white guy and 2 white chicks.

[perfusion]

Posted: 12/4/04 at 10:49am

I remember in the 1987 revival at one performances of the show they had a black actress in caucasion make up playing one of The Sweethearts,it worked.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 10:23am

I was searching Dreamgirls and found this thread!!

You all have such wonderful stories about this show. I wish I could have seen the OBC, they sound like they had a powerful chemistry together.

When I found out that Jennifer Holliday was going to be Mama in Chicago, I immidiately got tickets. :)

Did anyone see the show in Atlanta with Jennifer and Ramona? After seeing Brooklyn, I could definitely see Ramona in Dreamgirls.

Oh, that's for the link to the website, it is heaven!!