Dreamgirls Returns to OC/LB
By Stan Jenson
Since its Broadway premiere in 1981, “Dreamgirls” has been a phenomenon. A thinly veiled history of the Supremes and Motown Records, the original production catapulted singer Jennifer Holliday to stardom, and her recording of “And I Am Telling You” was a No. 1 single on Billboard’s R&B charts in 1982.
The show since has never been out of production. A 2001 Broadway concert performance was recorded and released in its entirety on CD, and the 2006 movie version starring Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson was loved both at the box office and the Oscars.
In 2009, a new set of producers re-examined “Dreamgirls” and organized a two-year national tour. Appropriately, it opened at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater. Director-choreographer Robert Longbottom has taken a fresh look at the material and, by incorporating theatrics that weren’t available in 1981, has created a production that is as revolutionary today as the original was in the ‘80s. The original scenic designer, Robin Wagner, was brought back for the revamped production. Born in 1933, Wagner has re-envisioned the show with modern electronics, including five, massive LED panels that fly, turn, spin and move up and down stage. The information to the LED panels is sent via fiber optics, so the images on the panels are fantastic. The requirements of the script have onstage scenes interpolated with backstage dialogue. Wagner’s panel concept allows the audience to see backstage while watching the onstage performance.
Even though Ray Gin, who serves as stage manager, has supervised some of the longest regional productions, he has also managed plenty of national tours. “Dreamgirls” is his biggest.
In addition to 26 actors, the show carries a crew of 20 and adds 50-70 local crew members at each stop. Four full-time musicians travel, and 13 local musicians join them. There are 70 moving lights, 305 costumes – including 220 wigs maintained by a staff of four stylists. The three leading ladies, The Dreams, have 20 costume changes each, including wig changes to accommodate the spans from 1962 to 1975. Even the jewelry has to be appropriate to the different eras. Some of the quick changes take less than 20 seconds, and several happen onstage without the audience seeing them.
Gin saw the original production on Broadway in 1981-82. He was so amazed by the production he returned four more times. Gin said he is blessed with a cast that recognizes the rigors of doing such a demanding show eight times per week. American Idol alum Syesha Mercado plays Deena, and most nights Moya Angela’s portrayal of Effie brings the audience to their feet when she sings “And I Am Telling You.”
“Dreamgirls” plays Feb. 25 – April 4 at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theater, located at 135 N. Grand Ave. Tickets start at $20 and are available at the box office, at (213) 638-2772 or at www.centerteatregroup.org.
It also plays April 20 - May 2 in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets also start at $20 and are available at the box office, at (714) 556-2787 or www.OCPAC.org.