Dreamgirls to open in the West End — Page 3

I think Amber is a mildly pleasant actress. When she was forced to cry onscreen in Glee, it wasn't great. I think she'll be great in the role.


As for Jennifer Hudson, I haven't seen her in The Color Purple, but she was right for the character, in my mind, for the film version of Dreamgirls. She was awful in SATC. I thought she was pretty good in the Secret Life of Bees. I can't actually think of any other film acting she's done, off the top of my head. Give her a song to sing and she's dynamite.

I love Jennifer and Amber's voices. But IMO Jennifer's acting in Empire (the last thing I saw her in) really was not good. Amber is much more charismatic than Jennifer. I don't think Amber is a great actress, but that won't stop me from seeing her. And with the right direction, I think she could be very good. I'm glad she has this opportunity.

Who is in the rest of the cast?

Well, the role should go to the one best person for the role in the world. Objectively speaking.

ljay889 said: "On what planet does Jennifer Hudson sound like a wailing smoker? "

Second that. I mean, a "wailing smoker," really?

Joelle Moses comes to mind to play Deena. She was the Rachel alternate in the The Bodyguard for about a year.

RippedMan said: "Do we think he will try and shoehorn in some big tap break? "



If he does (oh dear God), it better be for that Michael Jackson kid and not The Dreamettes.

ACL2006 said: "the Bennett choreography was so fantastic for this show, it's a shame the original choreography hasn't been recreated by someone in a revival.. But I'm waiting for the interview when Amber Riley says "I needed to learn to tap dance for this show."



"
Just to be really obnoxious, most of the actual choreography was done by Michael Peters (speaking of Michael Jackson...) apparently, even if he got an associate choreographer credit. Of course this isn't unusual (going at least as far back as Gennaro, sp?, doing nearly all the Sharks numbers for WSS, or Bob Avian doing key numbers for other Bennett musicals--not to mention Thommie Walsh handling a lot of the actual choreography for his shows with Tommy Tune and later Jeff Calhoun doing the same for Will Rogers Follies and Grand Hotel. The key element being of course that these famous director/choreographers all had final say--not to take away from their associates but I can't say any of them have made as strong an impression working on their own).

I know it's not cool to say, but I frankly would love the opportunity to see the Bennett staging live again myself... It just seems so key to how the show works on stage (witness the lacklustre US tour a while back).

I hope they cast Trenyce as Deena Jones. I wouldn't be shocked if they went with Leona Lewis though.

It's surprising to me that she was able to negotiate 6 shows a week. I didn't think she was a big enough draw to get that kind of deal. Although it's understandable considering what a beast that role is to sing. I'm surprised so many other ladies have done it without an alternate.

hmm

http://www.playbill.com/video/watch-amber-riley-preview-the-west-end-production-of-dreamgirls-with-a-studio-performance-of-i-am-changing