More gossip about Fantasia as Effie White

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:49pm

I don't know how true this is, but I found it very interesting. It was posted on a message board where insider info is usually true.


>>>Hey all,

PRELL2 sent me these major insider scoops about DreamGirls. And Prell (who was Wyntergrace) is almost always right.



Major News Folks:



First up...Jennifer Holiday HAS BEEN CAST in the new film "DreamGirls", playing the mother of Effie White...and guess what showstopper she gets to sing? (Read further)

Second Up:



The reason that they're not revealing exactly what role Fantasia will play in "DreamGirls" yet---is because she tested for both Effie and Lorel--and Bill Condon wants her to play Effie, but....



Dreamworks Pictures is very nervous about letting Fantasia carry the most important role in a $90 million film production and demanded that Condon continue the auditions in Atlanta and Los Angeles before a final decision is made. If a brilliant unknown turns up at the auditions (I personally, think that Frenchie Davis was born to play Effie White), then Fantasia will be cast in Loretta Devine's Lorel role, however---however---at this moment, Fantasia is Effie White.



Whoever wins the auditions in L.A. and Atlanta will be cast in smaller roles in the film as well.



Fantasia brought Condon to tears in a dramatic death scene screen test. Word is: The girl can act...she can do comedy...and she WOWED Bill Condon big time. She did four different screen tests, two as Effie and two as Lorel. Clive Davis himself financed all Fantasia's screen tests---which were directed by Denzel Washington.



MORE:


For those of you who don't know----Bill Condon has re-written the stage book from "DreamGirls" and has added 6 new songs. The movie version, he says, will be different from the original play.

Rumor has it that the Apollo Theatre talent contests that opened the play version....have been replaced with an American Idol-type t.v. show contest.



Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Deborah Burell and Jennifer Holiday will all appear in the new movie as the "Mothers" of the girls....which will allow Jennifer Holiday herself to sing "And I'm Telling You".



SPOILER ALERT

MAJOR LEAK:



In the new version of DREAMGIRLS.....Effie White is on her death bed as her mother Jennifer Holiday closes the film by cradling her close and singing to her "And I'm Telling You"---at the end of the song, Effie passes on.....

Fantasia (who more than likely will play Effie) will sing "And I'm Telling You" earlier in the film to Jaime Foxx during a big production number when he tries to break up with her.



ALSO...three minor roles in the film have been cast with Tamara Gray, Free (from BET) and Vivian Greene playing the "Stepp Sisters"--the girl group from the original play who beat the Dreams in the first talent contest.



SPOILER ALERT:



THE BIG ENDING:

While cooking in her run-down apartment, Effie's Mom (Jennifer Holiday) gets a call from Beyonce (as Deena) to "come quick"--Effie's dying.



Of course Jennifer starts crying. As she rushes out of the apartment and hails a cab---she begins singing---"no, no no NO way!!!...I'm living without you, I'm not living without you..."



And she goes on all the way through the bustling traffic, into the hospital up to her daughter's death bed singing "And I'm Telling You".....
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<









Updated On: 7/28/05 at 10:49 PM

[Kavana]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:05pm

did you post this to get bashed??

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:05 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:51pm

Regarding Frenchie Davis as Effie. It would seem to be a perfect fit but it's not. I saw her do the role in the mini-tour and she was awful. Can't act to save her life, and was all over the place with her vocals. She based the whole performance on her big song, which wasn't even that good. Not trying to bash Frenchie, but she is all wrong for the part, even though she'd lead you to think it's her role.

Fantasia is a great singer, but is more suited for Lorrell. She's actually perfect for the role.

Wait, and Jennifer Holliday will sing "And I am Telling you.." in the film as the mother? Are they changing the lyrics? They are very specific to Effie's tragedy.

I find a lot of these rumors to be a bit out there and a bit off. Way off. Sort of like Hugh Jackman playing Max in Sunset.
Some of these things just can't be true.

At least I hope not.

Why name the movie Dreamgirls if more that 50 percent of the text is going to be changed?

[Plum]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:56pm

In what universe does "And I Am Telling You" make sense as an Effie deathbed song?

[yarn769fink034]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:01am

I try not to be rude,but thats just stupid.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:12am

The whole post was very entertaining when I read it

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:43am

That's friggen hilarious! I love the image of Jennifer Holiday in old lady makeup as Mama Effie cooking grits and running outside in the snow (you just know its snowing) and chasing after a cab, wailing "I'm Telling You!" Forget the Dreams. Let's just make a picture about their MOTHERS and how awful it is that their nasty daughters didn't re-wallpaper the bathroom with their Motown Money. Ungrateful Bitches.

[yarn769fink034]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:01am

Michael,Your post made laugh so hard I fell down.


Mama Effie cooking grits and running outside in the snow ...
She must be the southern Effie.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:17am

Why is Effie on her death bed?

Are they worried about The Supremes wanting royatlies or something?

THIS MAKES NO SENSE

I heard that instead of Motown, the movie is going to be about stand-up comedy.

Drew Carey will play Effie.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:21am

hogwash

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:23am

OMG drew Carey as Effie would be stupendous. i would see the film 4 times just for that.

[silent]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:21am

Wow Updated On: 7/29/05 at 02:21 AM

[silent]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:32am

...
Updated On: 7/29/05 at 02:32 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:35am

They're secretive because they don't know if they can afford the Susan B. Anthony wig they are going to need for JENNIFER HOLIDAY's cookin grits scene.

[silent]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:45am

LMAO @ Michael's response.

*falls out the chair*

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:47am

saw her at the today show the other day and she was in great voice.. she said she was going to get into sum acting

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:48am

Dreamgirls might not even be made from what i hear
not trying to start anything

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 11:10am

Ghettobway, the movie is happening. Just let it happen.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 11:23am

Okay, this just totally spoiled my wet dream about DREAMGIRLS being made into a film. If that plot comes to fruition I will boycott the damn picture with every other homosexual in the world. Hell, if they are all playing the mothers of the girls why not just have them all play their original parts. Shoot them through gauze like Lucy in MAME!

PS: Michael I love your AIATYING imagery for the film with Mama White!!!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 11:29am

i think fantasia should be raffikki on broadway, she has the voice range, and acting for it!!! it would be hilarious, and great!!! her jumping around in a monkey costume...that is my dream role for her

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:18pm

Absurd. Especially that Denzel Washington part! HILARIOUS!

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:20pm

I think I'm going to have a bigger issue with Usher being in this film than Fantasia.

I'm not crazy about Usher's voice at all. He has a very thin voice, in my opinion.

[jdanton2]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:53pm

i hope that the tamyra gray part is true. though i would love to see her with a bigger role though i will be happy with the fact that she was cast in it. tamyra will get to perform "and i am telling you" in the upcoming comercial she did for H&M clothing stores since she is their new face as she said on her official site.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:53pm

well personally i hope they find a no name for Effie, I dont want to see Fantasia play Effie, that doesnt work

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:20pm

I would like to see a no name for Effie also. They already have enough stars in it. I have a feeling that this movie is going to be really good or really bad. No in between.