I guess it's official - Knowles in Dreamgirls — Page 2

If, as I assume, Beyonce plays Deena, it's perfect casting. Deena is someone who's chosen to lead the group, not because she's the best singer, but because she's the one with star quality, which Beyonce most definitely has, plus she's already a star in her own right. People have been complaining that Sheryl Lee Ralph, who's going to play the role of Margo in Reprise's upcoming Applause, isn't enough of a star herself, to portray one in the play. Cast someone who's proven herself to be a current pop superstar, and the role of Deena will be that much more believable, unlike those TV showbiz bios that have some unknown who's going to remain unknown after the TV movie playing someone really famous, and you wonder, "Why did he/she (the real life figure) become a star?"

I guess that I could see her as Deena. I can't see her as Effie however. Bill Condon is not a fool. He has made some good choices in the past and I've respected a lot of what he has done so far. I guess that we will have to wait and see IF she gets the role.

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Well, I'm happy that the tune of this thread has taken a drastic turn from what it was on the previous page. It's so refreshing when people start sounding reasonable.

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Kavana: Beyoncé needs a job? I'm guessing that's because she's so dirt-poor and hasn't been touring, releasing albums and filming other movies nonstop for the past few years.

Just to set the record straight, the original internet article that stated Beyoncé was being considered for the role of "Effie White" was posted by someone who had no prior knowledge of the show. The person obviously got his characters mixed up. It was just a rumour.
Beyoncé was never considered for the role of "Effie"'.

I hope this puts an end to the 'Beyoncé as "Effie" posts.

Updated On: 4/11/05 at 08:33 PM

yea NOW she would be a good Deena. some of you guys kill me.

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Condon has shown himself to be a very good director of actors and Beyonce was OK in AUSTIN POWERS. Deena is a rather passive role that calls for a glamorous presence and a good singing voice. She should be up to that and perhaps Condon will get even more from her. With her in the lead, it could give him the freedom to cast talented unknowns in the meatier and more important roles.

Albin, Whitney tried that and the movie didn't get made. It's already been stated that the people who control Dreamgirls are very protective over it. They are not going to let Beyonce or anyone else dictate who signs "And I'm Telling You"


Musicnmath, Beyonce will most definitly be singing diffrently from her usual style. The music is from the 60's and 70's. It's a totally diffrent style, so why wouldn't she change her style up? Also, this is a pop musical, which is much more open to vocal interp than other shows. That's what I love about it. Granted, Deena doesn't have as much leeway as the others, there is a drastic diffrence between say Sheryl Lee Ralph's take on Deena and Audra Mcdonald's.

Question, I'm trying to remember this girl's name who played Deena on tour. She was brown-skinned with big teeth and she really resembled Diana Ross. She had a grating, nasal kinda voice like Nell Carter. Somebody help me out!!

"They are not going to let Beyonce or anyone else dictate who signs "And I'm Telling You""

I'll believe that when I don't hear her butcher it!

I'm one of the few people on this board that thinks she has a great voice.

I still don't see the ghetto part of it, Leander, but I guess we'll have to disagree about that one. To me, the ladies of Destiny's Child come off as modern day southern belles or atleast that's what they want to be portrayed as. Singers nowadays are not groomed to be polished like Diana&The Supremes and other groups because the industry is diffrent consumers are looking for artists who are more "real." So, I don't think it's really fair to make that comparison because times have changed so much.

Vocally, she has a very strong vibrato, which I don't see going anywhere in songs like "When I First Saw You." She has a pretty good falsetto, which I imagine they will take full advantage of. Plus, Beyonce has the advantage of actually being in a singing group (A trio at that!), which I'm imagining that the other actresses picked to play the Lorell and Effie wont be from groups. So, the choreography and blending her voice with the others in the group numbers will come easier for her.

I do agree without about Deena being a very nuanced part. I think a lot of people dismiss the role, but it's actually very hard to portray. She turns into a Diva, but she can't be hated.

There was a tidbit online from Studio Briefing entertainment news about Liz Smith being upset over something she wrote about the Dreamgirls movie that ended up being inaccurate. Anyway, this is the line that caught my attention:

To her surprise, however, Variety reported on Monday that Beyoncé Knowles had been tested to star in the thinly disguised role of Diana Ross in the movie version and that it will be directed by Bill Condon.

If this is true, it would suggest that she is indeed being considered for Deena, not Effie, since Deena is the role more closely related to Diana Ross.

Aside from casting, I can't wait for the promo posters. Those are gonna be hot!