LaChanze in the first national tour of "Dreamgirls"?

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 6:49pm

I just happened to be going through my old playbills and found that I saw an R. Lachanze Sapp as one of The Stepp Sisters in the first national tour of "Dreamgirls" way back in 1986. Is this "the" LaChanze, Tony winner for "The Color Purple"? I checked her bio on "The Color Purple" website and she doesn't list this. Anyone have any info?

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 6:52pm

Yep. That's her.

Sapp is her last name.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 6:55pm

Thanks best12bars! I knew that someone on the board could confirm this for me.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 7:08pm

Lucky! You saw her in Dreamgirls?!

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 7:28pm

I guess I need to start going through my old playbills and see who else I may have seen!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 7:45pm

And then you can add it to that one thread

[HereNowhere]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 10:56pm

I've never really thought of it, but LaChanze would be a good Lorrell, or maybe even Deena.

[coolphantom919]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:05pm

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:22pm

When did she become a one name?

[Chanticleer148]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:26pm

I wonder if she showed up to perform then?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:28pm

Jeez, what a debbie downer.

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:26am

She would be a good Lorrell, I think she'd do well with "Ain't No Party".

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:32am

Regarding the insinuation that LaChanze frequently misses performances:

I thought I heard somewhere that she has some medical condition that warrants missing performances. I never got a straight answer as to what the problem is/was, but just that there was a legitimate reason for her missed performances.

[Doogie]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:26am

Why on earth does everyone assume when performances are missed, they are EVER illegitimate. Do you think those who call out of a show one night are out doing body shots at Splash? NO. They're at home. Sick.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 11:48am

she's played deena as well.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 11:52am

R. LaChanze Sapp understudied Deena and Michelle.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:08pm

I saw this production in 1987, though I don't think I have my Playbill anymore. I believe this was the production that Lillias White, and later Sharon Brown, played Effie.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:41pm

Dottie, shame on you for not keeping that playbill!

Yes...Lillias White was Effie in the 87 revival...and was fabulous.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:42pm

Doodle, at the time, I was subletting my first apartment in NYC, and not wanting to accumulate things, so I probably threw it out. I know, I know, oh the horror!!! (LOL)