"Dreamgirls" Broadway Revival: How Long?- Page 4

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 4:04am

Yeah, for both the HAIR and WHOREHOUSE concerts Hudson basically only had a soundcheck a few hours before to prepare her performance (and it's doubtful there was time for any coaching or anything else other than just setting the keys and telling her where to stand when she sang).

For DREAMGIRLS, Condon put her through what they've both described as "Effie boot camp" with the two of them, one on one, going through the entire screenplay scene by scene, moment by moment for a week before shooting began (not unlike what Bennett had to do for acting-neophyte Jennifer Holliday during the original DREAMGIRLS workshops). This was in addition to acting classes she was taking for the movie. Condon actually took FOUR days to shoot just the "It's All Over/AIATY" scene, putting her through god-knows-how-many takes to get to that performance out of her that we see on the screen. Not to take anyting away from Hudson herself, but she owes an incalculable debt to Condon for how well that scene and the rest of her performance comes across on film.

I actually think they won't have too much trouble finding a decent Effie or two for a revival (and I wouldn't look for Hudson to repeat her film performance on stage -- she has a new album to promote, a concert tour that's already booked and no doubt she'll be fielding film offers for the next year or two). The show has almost never stopped touring and has had dozens (hundreds?) of full scale regional productions around the country in the last couple of decades. It seems like every r&b/gospel-style black female belter that's showed up on Broadway in the past decade or more has a DREAMGIRLS credit somewhere in their bio (from LaChanze to Mary Bond Davis to Capathia Jenkins to several members of CAROLINE, HAIRSPRAY and LITTLE SHOP). The talent is out there. The only worry is that without Bennett (or even Michael Peters) around to crack the whip and supervise remounting the show, as well as guiding some of the more inexperienced performers, some of the intensity and drive may be lost (I imagine Brenda Braxton, the original dance captain who oversaw the concert will be enlisted).

Hopefully that won't too much of an issue, though. I saw a few professional productions of the show in the 90s after Bennett died, that, despite his not being there, still retained most of the power and electricity of the original. Maybe they had really good stage managers and others overseeing the show or maybe there's just something about that score and the kinds of performers it attracts and the breathless, breakneck pacing of the Bennett staging that keeps everyone on their toes -- I'm not sure, but recent productions in Philly and Atlanta indicate that the show still works just about as well as it ever did, driving audiences into the sort of frenzy that few shows can, so I have very high hopes for a Broadway revival whenever it comes along (which I'm guessing will be sooner than later).

Updated On: 12/27/06 at 04:04 AM

[gonnapassmealaw]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 4:16am

Margo, thank you so much. It seems you never sleep when there is a Dreamgirls question that needs answering!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 9:12am

yeeeeeah they are talks of this opening in the uk in 2007(its about bloody time)

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 9:29am

I seem to remember talk of a revival several years ago with Regina King (of RAY and JERRY MAGUIRE) as either Deena or Effie. I cannot remember which, but Deena would seem to be the logical option. That could be totally wrong, but the idea of it sticks out in my mind for some reason.

I love the idea of Renee Elise Goldsberry as Deena, should a revival ever come to be. She would be absolutely perfect.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:47pm

I wish almost they would have done the revival and then the movie becasue it seemed to have boasted the Chicago Revival, I doubt it would still be alive or open if it wasn't for the movie but I don't know if that would work backwards...

[Zachary Goldfarb]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:35pm

lilli cooper.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 11:26am

I wonder if a revival will ever happen. Surely it will...but how soon?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 11:28am

Fenchurch, EXCUSE ME!

A DREAMGIRLS revival would be fantastic, if cast correctly, and would, most likely, be a HUGE success.

[Kavana]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 11:59am

I think i will be disappointed with a revival if the cast is not giving me the same talent that the obc gave.

[dannilupone]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:24pm

Well...I don't know about anyone else, but I firmly believe in color-blind casting. Yes...color-blind casting. I think that Effie should be Asian. They can sing anything. Honestly. I think everyone needs to broaden their horizon. Maybe that fat lady that was Margaret Cho's grandma on "All American Girl" can sing. I bet she can!

[Kavana]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:38pm

^^^^^
are you selling what you're smoking?

[Wicked63]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 2:03pm

The original Broadway revival didnt last!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 12:48am

So this probably won't happen, eh?

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:21am

The original broadway revival of DREAMGIRLS was a limited engagement which had to actually extend because of it's popularity.