Actress/singer Jennifer Hudson wearing a Dolce and Gabbana dress and Bvlgari jewelry arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of MGM's 'Respect' held at the Regency Village Theatre on August 8, 2021 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
Hey, Dreamgirls lovers, the iconic musical is heading back to Broadway, and this time Jennifer Hudson is stepping into a new role behind the scenes.
The EGOT winning star announced earlier this week on The Jennifer Hudson Show that she will serve as a producer on a newly reimagined revival of Dreamgirls, marking the show’s first Broadway return since its original run more than four decades ago.
“This fall, Dreamgirls is coming back to Broadway for the very first time since its opening 45 years ago in 1981,” Hudson shared with excitement. “Now, it’s being reimagined for a whole new generation, which I am so excited about. Now, I finally get to tell you that I am a producer on the team for the revival of this iconic musical.”
She added that more details will be revealed in time, describing the process as both joyful and creatively energising.
The revival will be directed and choreographed by five time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, whose recent Broadway credits include Hell’s Kitchen and Gypsy. Casting and performance dates have not yet been announced.
Dreamgirls originally premiered at New York’s Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981, running through August 11, 1985. The groundbreaking production starred Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson and Jennifer Holliday as Effie Melody White.
Following its Broadway success, the musical toured nationally and internationally, including a celebrated West End season at London’s Savoy Theatre, where Amber Riley took on the role of Effie to critical acclaim.
Dreamgirls quickly became an awards powerhouse. The original production won multiple Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards, including Best Book of a Musical and Best Choreography. Its original cast recording earned the Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1983, while Holliday’s powerhouse anthem “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
The musical found new life on screen in 2006, with Hudson delivering an Academy Award winning performance as Effie in the film adaptation alongside Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Eddie Murphy.
Now, with Hudson returning to the Dreamgirls universe as a producer, the revival promises both reverence for the original and a fresh lens for contemporary audiences.
More details on casting, creative team and performance dates are expected in the coming months as Broadway prepares to welcome Dreamgirls back to centre stage this fall.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
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