It’s been a long wait!
Thirty-five years after its ground-breaking original Broadway production the West End will finally get its own production of Tony Award-winning musical DREAMGIRLS when it opens at the Savoy Theatre in November, 2016.
This is going to be a smash hit so grab tickets before it sells out!
The brand new staging will be directed and choreographed by the hugely successful, Tony and Olivier award-winning Casey Nicholaw and stars Amber Riley from TV’s GLEE as Effie White.
The original Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards. That’s a tough act to follow but If anyone can make it a hit all over again it will be Nicholaw who’s recent triumphs include productions of THE BOOK OF MORMON, ALADDIN and my favourite current Broadway show, SOMETHING ROTTEN!
The press release describes it as follows – "Inspired by R&B music acts in 1960s America, DREAMGIRLS transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. DREAMGIRLS charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’ , ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’."
The book and lyrics are by Tom Eyen and the composer is Henry Krieger.
Producer Bill Kenwright is to be congratulated for taking that most dangerous of financial risks, launching a new musical in the West End. Recent attempts to do so, MADE IN DAGENHAM and BEND IT LIKE BECHAM failed to turn into long running hits.