I can remember the day I first saw the DREAMGIRLS movie. It was a wet Sunday afternoon, I was a voting member of BAFTA at the time, and had a DVD copy in my hand ready to watch prior to giving my opinion. I can tell you now, within the space of a week, that film was watched four times, and then some.
So I come to this already a pre-ordained Dreamgirls fan. The music is incredible (and multi award winning), the story however, is absolutely gripping, and some would say maybe a little bit true to life. This fabulous show moves into the Wales Millennium Centre next week, and is definitely one to catch.
Meet The Dreams – Effie, Lorrell and Deena – three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, a revolutionary time in American music history. The three friends embark upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business, testing their friendships to the very limit.
Think Diana Ross and the Supremes and all the hysteria that surrounded them back in the 60s and you’ll get the gist of the story.
Dreamgirls in itself is a supreme experience and a tour which gets to us next week, direct from a long run in the West End at London’s Savoy Theatre, 35 years on from opening on Broadway.
As we said, the story is extraordinary but it’s always the unforgettable, spine-tingling vocals that send audiences wild. This spectacular musical production features the classic songs And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, Listen, I Am Changing and One Night Only, all of which have gone on to become classics in their own right.
Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in this first-ever Dreamgirls UK Tour, she told us……
“Effie has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and now I will get to share her with audiences around the UK. To say I’m excited is an understatement”
You may well know Nicole, not only was she a finalist on ITV’s The Voice in 2019, she actually blew the judges aways at her blind audition, performing Dreamgirls hit ‘And I Am Telling You.’ Team mentor that year was Jennifer Hudson who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls. Nicole got to duet with Jennifer so it seems to us that she was always destined to star in this show.
Before opening in the Dreamgirls tour, Nicole was in the West End company of Dear Evan Hansen at the Nöel Coward Theatre (go see it, it’s amazing). She has also been in The Book of Mormon, Waitress, and the West End production of Dreamgirls.
Nicole will play the role of Effie in the UK tour at certain performances with Sharlene Hector performing the iconic role atother times. The show also stars Natalie Kassanga as Deena Jones, Paige Peddie as Lorrell Robinson, Dom Hartley-Harris as Curtis Taylor Jr., Brandon Lee Sears as Jimmy Early, Shem Omari James as C.C. White, Jo Servi as Marty and Brianna Ogunbawo as Michelle Morris.
This award-winning production is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier® and Tony® Award-winning Casey Nicholaw who has worked on some amazing productions – The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten! Set and Costume Design by Tim Hatley, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Hair Design by Josh Marquette and Music Supervision by Nick Finlow.
As you can see from the gallery above this is a show to dazzle you in every respect, you really don’t want to miss this tour.
DREAMGIRLS gets to the Wales Millennium Centre from next Tuesday 19th to Saturday 30th April. Shows are at 7:30 with matinee performances throughout the run. Tickets are priced between £19.50 to £59.50 and you can get yours HERE.
