Fantasia part in Dreamgirls

[wannabheard]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:28pm

I was listening to 92 Jamz in Burbank Cal.
They announced
"congratulations to Fantasia... American Idol's 3rd season winner for "LANDING" a part in the upcoming screenplay of the anticipated "Dreamgirls." They also said that her management is in negotiation talks to finalize her agreement. They mentioned that she would be playing alongside some of the greats.. Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. They still have not yet said what part she landed...

Has anyone else heard this info?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:29pm

NOOOO. She can't sing.

I really think this is going to suck - they are picking all R&B/Hiphop stars.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:29pm

well that's the end of life right there. but at least it's not a definite yet.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:30pm

She auditioned.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:30pm

ljay - perhaps I am wrong, but won't they be singing R&B/hip-hop songs...?

[musicnmath]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:31pm

not confirmed on her website (yet?): http://www.fantasiabarrinoofficial.com/host.htm

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:32pm

I always feel the need to say this whenever the discussion of singing in movie musicals comes up: In a film, the singing is pre-recorded. The actor sings it once in a studio and then technicians go to town. So why do people always freak out, as if the performer is going to have to sing it live and 8 times a week?

Whether the rumor is true or not, I'm pretty sure Fantasia could sing most of the songs from DREAMGIRLS in a recording studio at least once...

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:33pm

capn, dreamgirls is not the material of usher, beyonce and fantasia. yes, it is different than traditional musical theatre... i think beyonce is actually going to be very good, but i'm not a fan of fantasia at all. in any part. let alone effie. i guess maybe she could be lorell, but i would rather not.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:33pm

I'm sorry but I do think she could sing a mean Lorrell. I think Fantasia is a great performer and let us not forget that she put Broadway into a lot of households last year with her kick @ss rendition of "Summertime."

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:35pm

She sucks. Latoya London, Jennifer Hudson, Kimberley Locke, Trenyce. They were true American Idol soulful talents - Fantasia just screams. I really don't think she could sing a melody without screaming, or riffing. Ugh.

Now Beyonce can SING, and she can act. She will be fine. But Fantasia?
Updated On: 7/13/05 at 12:35 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:37pm

Didn't she also sing "There's A Place For Us" from WSS?

Regardless if she sang "Broadway" on IDOL or not, I say don't judge her until you hear her sing the show AS whatever part she is "offered."

Trust Bill Condon. He wouldn't give her the role if she couldn't handle it. Do you KNOW how many STARS - BIGGER STARS than Fantasia - auditioned for the role?? If he was only interested in making money, Fantasia wouldn't be cast.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:40pm

Latoya London, sang "Somewhere" from WSS on Idol, she is quite possibly one of the best contestants Idol ever had.

I'm just not a fan of Fantasia - I heard what she can do - and it's not good. I bet they'll use a ton of studio tricks on her. Maybe you don't remember who Fantasia was on Idol - she was the one who jumped around the stage and screamed the whole time.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:40pm

latoya london sang somewhere, not fantasia. and she did it splendidly i might add. well whatever bill condon thinks, i don't like fantasia's voice and think she is an awful choice.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:42pm

Ummmm... that "jumping around and screaming" on stage is called soul. Fantasia is a performer. She reminds me a lot of a young Tina Turner.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:43pm

I followed every Idol season, I remember who Fantasia is. I admit, I prefer La Toya's voice over Fantasia. But I thought Fantasia was a HELLUVA singer. Better than many of today's crappy artists.

You may not be a fan of her, but that doesn't mean she is wrong for Effie.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:43pm

Well whoever they cast, it won't please everyone on this board (I can't wait for the screaming when the SWEENEY film cast is announced).

But fact remains DREAMGIRLS is an 80 million dollar movie adaption of a musical, which, despite it's fan base on this board, isn't all that known to the average American.

They have to cast stars to guarantee an audience. They aren't going to make the PHANTOM mistake again. Bill Condon is a fine writer/director. He'll pull it off.
Updated On: 7/13/05 at 12:43 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:47pm

Bennet - I see your points. They are very true.

And I know what soul is - thank you. I'm a huge fan of R&B music, it's my favorite genre outside of Broadway. There are SOOO many talents in R&B right now they could easily be in this film, and are better choices than Fantasia. It kills me because the late Aaliyah would've been perfect in this film - I don't want to think about it too much - because she would've been soo great for this. Vivian Green is another soulful woman from R&B who would be great for this film. She has a backround in Jazz, and Big band singing, she also can really sing R&B. She was in DeLovely where she sing "Love For Sale." What I'm basically saying - since I really know the genre of R&B and what R&B artists are out there - I can think of so many better choices than Fantasia.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:49pm

I agree 100% Michael! Also, I feel like it is pretty safe to say she would be playing Lorrell and not Effie.

[AndSoItBegins]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:51pm

Should the casting be true, I think she will be great.

I became a true fan not from IDOL (although her "Summertime" was very nice)... Her performance saluting Elton John on the Kennedy Center Honors this year (December 2004)was nothing short of AMAZING -- definately a moment of chill bumps. She and Heather Headley had wonderful performance -- very different but both brilliant in their own way.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:51pm

ljay - but can they act?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:53pm

AMEN ljay. that's all i have to say.

oh, andsoitbegins, that was the most atrocious performance ever. heather was amazing and then fantasia came out and was just the most awful thing. it made me want to cry.

[wannabheard]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:53pm

There's two sides to Fantasia
She can sing in a powerful soft voice "What are You Doing the rest of Your Life and Summertime" and the energetic Fantasia I think most people know
They are still auditioning for the part of Effie in Atlanta this weekend so it must be another role in the movie she has landed

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:55pm

Well Aaliyah is sadly dead. That girl could act, obviously sing. She had a lot of training in all 3 areas (singing, dancing, acting) And she almost got the part of Aida in the original cast - but Heather got the role - Aaliyah was the second choice for the role. But since I love Aaliyah so much, I felt the need to share this.

But there are definitely a lot of R&B singers I know of, that can act. Do we know Fantasia can act? Beyonce can act, and the other 2 Destiny's Child girls (Kelly, and Michelle) can act too.

Oh well - we'll see how the film turns out. Maybe, we'll all be pleasantly suprised.

I'm glad some of you see my points.
Updated On: 7/13/05 at 12:55 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:56pm

Yes, there are casting calls in Atlanta and LA still to be held.

[Georgeanne]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:58pm

Well, I can't say that I'm a 'fan' of hers at all, I just don't care for her. However, I can tell there's at least some talent underneath all those riffs.

I do hope though that she will do well and hope most of all that she can act.