Dreamgirls Vs Nine?

[BwayDreamer00]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 3:19pm

So with all the buzz going around about the possible Dreamgirls revival this spring, and the current West End production with Amber Riley I want to go back to the original production in 1981. It lost best musical that year as well as best score (Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen) and best direction (Michael Bennett) all to the musical Nine? It did win best book (Eyen) as well as best actress for Jennifer Holliday with her irresistible performance as Effie. And best choreography for Bennett. I don't know much about Nine so I'm a little bias because I love Dreamgirls but what did Nine have that Dreamgirls didn't? And the score is so spunky and soulful and catchy with standout numbers like Move, I'm Not Going, and It's Hard To Say Goodbye. And even though the movie version with Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce had its problems I think it should've at least gotten a best picture nomination at the Oscars. So should it have won or did Nine deserve it?  

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 3:33pm

You might find this very old thread (2007) helpful as it discusses what you are looking for. :)

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=922061#2731627

Updated On: 10/22/17 at 03:33 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 3:39pm

I like both shows, but Nine is brilliant and Dreamgirls is great.  They were both wonderful new musicals, but I actually thought Nine was the better musical.  Just by a hair though.  It was a bit more creative in structure and staging and everything.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 3:39pm

Michael Riedel’s book Razzle Dazzle has an entire chapter on the Dreamgirls / Nine showdown and what happened

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 7:42pm

That's a good thread! Memories. Thanks for posting Huss. I miss Margo. And for the record, I am not nor ever have been Frank Rich. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 10:48am

This is a fascinating subject. Going slightly OT, what other big "showdowns" have occurred in the Best Musical race over the years?

Avenue Q and Wicked?

Miss Saigon and Will Rogers Follies?

Into the Woods and Phantom?

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 11:04am

The Avenue Q and Wicked "showdown" has been discussed at length but Caroline or Change has to be thrown into that mix.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 12:03pm

The fact that the stage doors for NINE and DREAMGIRLS were just a few feet from one another must have caused some awkward moments.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 12:22pm

The Avenue Q and Wicked "showdown" has been discussed at length but Caroline or Change has to be thrown into that mix.

Well, Caroline or Change is greatly admired among a very small minority of academics and hardcore enthusiasts, but it was never considered part of a "showdown" or viewed as much of a contender at the time.

This is a fascinating subject. Going slightly OT, what other big "showdowns" have occurred in the Best Musical race over the years?

Follies/Two Gentlemen of Verona
La Cage aux Folles/Sunday in the Park With George
Billy Elliot/Next to Normal
Kiss of the Spider Woman/Tommy
1776/Hair
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum/Oliver!
Man of La Mancha/Mame
A Chorus Line/Chicago
Passion/Beauty and the Beast
The Lion King/Ragtime
Thoroughly Modern Millie/Urinetown
Once/Newsies
Kinky Boots/Matilda
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder/Beautiful
Dear Evan Hansen/Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
The Music Man/West Side Story

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 1:00pm

They are such vastly differently shows. You really can't compare them adequately. I loved them both & saw them numerous times with different cast members!

Updated On: 10/23/17 at 01:00 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/23/17 at 1:18pm

Mister Matt said: "The AvenueQ and Wicked "showdown" has been discussed at length but Caroline or Change has to be thrown into that mix.

Well, Caroline or Change is greatly admired among a very small minority of academics and hardcore enthusiasts, but it was never considered part of a "showdown" or viewed as much of a contender at the time."
 


I mentioned it simply because of the controversy and many discussions here on that year's Tony Awards. Yes, I think WICKED was probably the show everyone expected to win, I thought it would, but as you know, being on these boards for a long time, there were many, and some heated, discussions over that year. So for some it was kind of a 3 way showdown.