It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
#1It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:17pm
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117954893.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
While the article doesn't state directly that a revival is definitely coming...next year is the 20th anniversary since DREAMGIRLS last came to Broadway. It's possible...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#1re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:21pmThat would be amazing...
"Passion can drive you crazy but is there any other way to live"
#2re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:25pmI would love that. It's definitely time.
One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
bwayondabrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/05
#3re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:33pm
wow, that would be awesome!
i would love to see who will star...
:)
#4re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:42pmIt's going to happen. I just have the feeling...
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#5re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 3:38pm**waits for the "Hudson should play Effie again" comments**
#6re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:19pm
Hudson should play effie again.
now that that's over, the thread can continue.
I've been saying for like 5 years they should revive it. Its such a great show it needs to come back to the Broadway stage.
#8re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:38pmdarling, lilias is too old that's all there is to it.
#9re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:40pmNot to mention she riffs so much in "And I'm Telling You..." that it's hard to distinguish when she's singing the actual melody.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#11re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:51pmWhat Theatre would it fit in?
MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#12re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:53pmAs much as I love Lillias, I seriously doubt they'd cast her or anyone else over 40 to be in a full scale revival right now.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
TheaterAddict7652
Broadway Star Joined: 2/7/06
#13re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:03pmPlease let this be true!
There's a lot I am not certain of...
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:03pm
Age doesn't matter in a concert, but it certainly does in a full staging. Remember that Effie and the other Dreams are teenagers when the show opens (and only in the late 20s at the end of the show). Lillias is in her early 50s, so, no she has no business playing Effie at this point.
Not to mention, even in her prime, she was far from the best Effie. I've seen about a dozen in the past 25 years and she doesn't even make my top 5.
If you're going to cast someone too old for the role, you might as well grab Holliday, McGirt-Nixon, Fuchsia Walker or even Sharon Brown, all of whom were better Effies than White.
But all that aside, they should go for talented newcomer. Holliday was 21 and had only one Broadway credit when the show first came around -- they should find some one like that. Condon did a nationwide talent search and apparently auditioned over 700 performers for the role of Effie for the movie -- maybe one of them would work (heck maybe they should grab a couple of them -- given how demanding the role is and how often several of the actresses during the original run and revival missed performances because they had blown out their voices, you always need two or three understudies for the role of Effie).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#15re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:41pmI do like the idea of Anika Noni Rose as Deena. But, as Margo said, I would rather not go for "names", have the show make the actors successful, not the other way around.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#16re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:44pmAnika Noni Rose is hardly a name.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#17re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:51pmAnika is at least established. What I mean by "names" are people who are practically obscure. Let them "come out of nowhere".
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#18re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:57pmAisha DeHaas is also over 40.
MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#19re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:10amI wonder if Taraji P. Henson could sing Lorrell's part.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
#20re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:17amI'm ready for Julie Taymor's version of Dreamgirls... with hand puppets.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#21re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:21amWould a Broadyway revival have to follow Bennett's original staging?
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#22re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:22am
I respectfully disagree with Margo about White. She was my favorite Effie and was in poor voice for the concert recording (as was most of the cast.) I did see most of the ladies mentioned and still think that White sang the part best (never saw McGirt, who I understand was amazing, so I will leave the pedestal free.) White also had a toughness in the revival that struck me as necessary for Effie to get through her journey. While not as powerful vocally as some of the others, her interpretation of One Night Only and I Am Changing were marvelous, and not over the top.
That said, she is too old to play the part in a revival, and it would be wonderful for newcomers to play these legendary roles.
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
Updated On: 12/4/06 at 10:22 AM
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#23re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 11:09amMimi Jimenez (an unknown currently touring as the SOL soloist in Rent) would make one hell of an Effie.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#24re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:01pm
"Mimi Jimenez (an unknown currently touring as the SOL soloist in Rent) would make one hell of an Effie."
Yeah, no. She doesn't have the kind of voice needed. If they do a revival, I sort of hope it's a new approach to it. Look how new approaches worked out for Chicago, Pajama Game, etc.
#25re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:53pmRentboy, if all you have heard Mimi perform is her track in Rent, who are you to say she doesn't have the type of voice needed?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#26re: It's Been 20 Years... DREAMGIRLS Broadway Revival? (Variety)
Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:14pm
I've said it before, but there's an interview where Beyonce said she wanted to be the first black woman to have an oscar, a grammy, an emmy, and a tony. Not that I think she'd be capable of winning a tony as Deena, but who knows, she might go for it. If she were starring, then the production would definitely be guaranteed a success.
I would love it if Sharon Leal came back to broadway as Deena. With Jesse L. Martin as Curtis. Don't know about any of the other parts. Maybe Billy Porter could play Jimmy again.
"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs."
-RuPaul
Videos