Foxx Endorses Fantasia for 'Dreamgirls' Role — Page 2

I just wish Jennifer Hudson would get this part. Prefer her voice to Fantasias.

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Jennifer's first replacement was Roz Ryan I believe.
MargoChanning would definitely know the answer.

Thanks Ghetto.

Marquise, you are correct. And Roz Ryan was excellent. Fantasia Barino is an ideal choice for Effie(assuming she has some acting chops--even if not, there is a very strong director of actors doing this film,)and no weight gain is needed....Fantasia is sufficiently "overweight" for the part of Effie...the part of Effie, at least in the Broadway show, need not be played by a heavy woman. It simply cannot be played by an anorexic looking woman.

The part of Effie has been played on Broadway by the very large Jennifer Holiday and Roz Ryan to the simply zaftig Lillias White who played Effie in the national tour revival that played Broadway briefly. Of course Ms. White also did Effie in Dreamgirls in Concert. Again, Fantasia Barino (as some of us posted well over a year ago) is the ideal choice for Effie in the film. I suspect poster Michael Bennett is correct when he says Fantasia Barino in Dreamgirls will be announced soon. Yay.

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The sympathetic characters are the women who are getting very hard lessons in show business throughout. Everyone is a sympathetic character if played right, tho everyone has flaws...that is what makes the book so wonderful. Curtis is the most consistantly greedy, but Effie is as well. How they ruin each other is the climax of the first and second parts of the story...Curtis is usually considered the lead actor, Jimmy a supporting role, and I doubt the script will stray too far from the book.
(note: Loretta Devine and Debbie Burrell were the only stars to not be nominated for a tony because the competition was amazing with 3 women from Nine and Laurie Beechman from Joseph taking all 4 spots...sound familiar? Remember Kerry Butler being knocked out by the Nine revival ladies?)

Original Bway Cast:
Deena: Sheryl Lee Ralph (Tony nom. - Best Actress)
Effie: Jennifer Holliday (Tony winner - Best Actress)
Lorelle: Loretta Devine
Michelle: Deborah Burrell
Curtis: Ben Harney (Tony winner - Best Actor)
Jimmy: Cleavant Derricks (Tony Winner - Best Supp. Actor)
CC: Obba Babatunde (Tony nom. - Best Supp. Actor)
tonys for Choreography, Book and Lighting

Revival cast:
Deena: Alisa Gyse
Effie: Lillias White (she had done the original tour as well)
Lorrelle: Arnetia Walker
Michelle: Susan Beubian
Curtis: Weyman Thompson
Jimmy: Herbert Rawlings, Jr.
CC: Kevyn Morrow

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What studio is producing the movie?

I think that Fantasia would be ok in the role, but speaking about American Idol, I would love to see Vonzell Solomon in a role on either Broadway or in the movie Dreamgirls. I think that she has a better voice than Fantasia. Don't get me wrong Fantasia has an Amazing voice but not for Dreamgirls, maybe if they do a A'int Misbehaven' revival. LOL

If Fantasia is playing Effie, I'll be skipping the movie...

Ilove American Idol, but it is no way shpe or form a breeding ground for the next generation of Movie/Musical stars. Come on People!!!!! Effie has GREAT songs, but if she can't act, who cares??? How about Dioni Michelle Collins or Aisha de Haas? Some big girls with some real acting experience and great voices!

ANSWERING wendy72's QUESTIONS:

Effie is replaced in the group by "Michelle Morris", who winds up having a relationship with "Effie"'s brother "C.C".

Jamie Foxx will be playing "Curtis Taylor, Jr.", manager of The Dreams. In the beginning of the show he is romantically linked to "Effie", but eventually turns his affections to and marries "Deena" (Beyoncé Knowles).

Eddie Murphy will be playing "James Thunder Early", a soul singer in the mold of James Brown. He's married but has a long extra-marital affair with Dreams group member "Lorell Robinson" (Anika Noni Rose).

Marquise, GhettoBway & leomaxfrank---

Regarding Jennifer Hollidays' first replacement on Broadway, it was Vanessa Townsell. It was a big PR deal when she got cast. She was working for the phone company at the time and had very little theatrical experience. It was also a big mistake. She missed many performances and was replaced after only a few months.

How do I know this? I saw the show one month after Jennifer Holliday had left it. I saw Vanessa's understudy Brenda Pressley in the part of Effie. She was fantastic.

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Updated On: 10/19/05 at 07:17 PM

In regards to her being able to sing/act musical theater...

I believe the words Simon Cowell used to describe her rendition of SUMMERTIME were something like "a master class..."

Granted it's only Simon's opinion but I thought she did an outstanding job with that song.

EDIT: Maybe someone can find the video, but below should be the audio link... hope that works.
Summertime Audio

Updated On: 10/19/05 at 07:23 PM