Dreamgirls In Concert-why NO Holiday?- Page 2

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 4:20am

While I do think it has someting to do with Seth's friends, it also has to do with the fact that it wasn't a reunion concert. It's an all-star concert, so they're having people that wouldn't really play those roles in real life. Lillias is too old, Audra's not R&B enough, Heather's not a belting soprano, etc. And, while Jennifer can still do the show, she has to do it in an altered key. I love her, but she just shouldn't be doing Dreamgirls anymore. And I LOVE Jennifer Holliday.

[Whatchmacallit]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 8:49am

Does anyone know whether La Chanze was ever attached to this concert? I know her husband passed on 9/11 so its obvious why she didn't take part, but was she originally asked? She was in the revival, and I think she would have been great as Michelle(not to mention Deena or Lorrell). Definitely better than Tamara Tunie, who really was not up to everyone else's level vocally.(which I've heard she'll quickly admit)

By the by, La Chanze tells a really cute story of her being cast in the Dreamgirls revival.

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 10:33am

Yes - LaChanze was scheduled to be in the Dreamgirls concert (I forget what role) but after losing her husband on 9/11 she of course withdrew from the show. I forget who replaced her at the last minute. If I remember correctly the show was postponed.

I attended that show and I'm not sure if it was the fact that the show took place only 2 weeks after 9/11 but it was grogeous in my memory. There were sound and mic issues. But most everyone was in good voice. And while I love Jennifer Holliday at his point Lillias sings a better "And I Am Telling You" in my opinion.

Casting bigger names wasn't an issue. They wouldn't have raised a cent more with or without Jennifer. It was a benefit concert that sold out quickly regardless.

[Marquise]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 12:00pm

i saw this live. it's true that some of the performances had to be re-done for the actual cd. billy porter was sick that night and some of his vocals suffered. i'm suprised he still had a voice by night's end. heather headley's vocals were *ok* but her "ain't no party" was extemely painful to hear. she couldn't reach the upper registers of the song. she was literally straining by mid-song, they never bothered re-recording that track and what you hear on the cd is what was heard that night.


Updated On: 4/6/05 at 12:00 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 12:05pm

For some reason I thought La Chanze did appear (I'll have to check my recording). I might be getting that mixed up with the "Once on This Island" concert.

[PleaseChangeMe]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 12:40pm

I will take Holliday's "And I'm Telling You..." over White's version anyday. Yes, White blew me away all throughout the show (when she first walks on in "I'm Looking For Something, Baby" I was rolling in my seat.) but I was very, very disappointed with her version of the song. To me, it lacked the overall solidness that Holliday's version has. And, in my opinion, the orchestra was too 'loose' for that number.

[Rodgers]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 2:02pm

As Far as I'm concerned there is one Dreamgirls and that was the original cast. That Half Baked Concert was Mediocre at best. The Best Thing in it was Norm Lewis's Vocals. None of the Ladies had the chops for that particular score and the sound that it's supposed to have.I love Billy Porter but his voice wasn't right at the moment of that concert.

[Justice]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 2:17pm

"None of the Ladies had the chops for that particular score and the sound that it's supposed to have."

that's why Lillias White has performed this role several times on Broadway and regional productions....

Updated On: 4/7/05 at 02:17 PM

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 5:58pm

get your facts st8
Lillias only did it the last time DG was on broadway 1987 for like 3 months then they got the HIYAH cause that cast was a chop

[jgilmore]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 12:06am

Howdy...first post here...

I heard Seth Rudetsky the other night on Sirius radio mention that they had problems with the audio feed at the actual concert and had to use an earlier rehersal recording on the CD for "And I am Telling You." As Mr. Rudetsky told it, all the "oohs and ahhs" she uses on the CD were part of Lillias' vocal warm-ups. Apparently, Seth had quite a hissy fit when he found out that they were using the "vocal warm-up version" on the CD. Why they didn't just have her re-record it when she was in better voice is beyond me.

John

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 12:15am

Just to be clear, Lillias was an Effie understudy during the original Broadway run (and went on many times), starred as Effie for the the first national tour which then came back to New York in 1987 and ran for five months.

And I was at the concert and, while I don't know whether or not that was the version used on the CD, she certainly botched "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" live that night -- a VERY disappointing rendition.

Updated On: 4/7/05 at 12:15 AM

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 1:43am

We all talk about Lilias White And I Am Telling You but what about Adura McDonlad rendition of Opening ActII.Her acting the diva was great but her voice lacked soul majorly.Granted Denna voice is to have pop appeal but I didn't expect it to be operatic.

[Justice]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 1:48am

In defense of Audra...since when does Diana Ross have a "soul" quality to her voice? She has the same Soprano sound that Audra or Sheryl Lee Ralph had. But, I have to agree, Audra did mess up the beginning of Act 2.