Dreamgirls is currently playing in London’s West End and the show has won universal acclaim from critics and theatregoers since it opened in November 2016.
If you’ve seen the 2006 film starring Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, then you’ll know what to expect. Dreamgirls charts the rise of girl group The Dreams as they go from supporting megastar Jimmy Early to finding success on their own as a trio. Soon in-fighting hampers the group’s rise to fame as a battle for lead singer ensues and the repercussions of the fallout take their toll over a number of years.
You may think that if you’ve seen the film, you probably don’t need to see the show on the West End but you couldn’t be more wrong. We were lucky enough to see the show recently and we’ve put together five reasons why you should get online and book your tickets right now!
1. The music
Even if you’re not familiar with Dreamgirls, you’ll likely know And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going. It’s been sung to death on reality TV shows like The Voice and The X Factor. Dreamgirls is pretty much a solid two and a half hours of soul, R&B and disco music that’ll have you dancing in your chair, weeping your heart out and smiling from ear to ear. Highlights include One Night Only, I Am Changing and Listen.
2. The incredible female leads
The performance we saw had understudy Marisha Wallace in the role of Effie White, standing in for Amber Riley. She was absolutely incredible, possessing the kind of voice that floors you as soon as she starts to sing. Liisi Fontaine takes on the role of Deena Jones and Ibinabo Jack is the third member of The Dreams, Lorrell Robinson.
3. The remarkable supporting cast
Joe Aaron Reid as Curtis Taylor Jr, the manager of The Dreams, and Adam J. Bernard as singing star Jimmy Early are just two of the remarkable members of the supporting cast. Reid brings charisma and sex appeal to his role while Bernard gives everything he’s got as the wildly unpredictable Jimmy.
4. The costumes
Dreamgirls perfectly captures a classic era in music and the glamorous costumes The Dreams wear are stunning. With plenty of costume changes, and a few moments of spectacle on the stage, it’s a visual feast for the eyes. Mixing bright colours with daring and bold costumes, The Dreams look sensational throughout. The male cast members are pretty suave too in their fitted suits.
5. And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going
We’ve already mentioned the music but this song alone is worth going to see the show for. It brings the show’s first half to an end and it’s easily the most difficult song sung in the entire production. Jennifer Holliday (the original Effie White on Broadway) and Jennifer Hudson have both recorded the song but hearing it live in a theatre is an incredible experience. Amber Riley and Marisha Wallace both perform stunning versions of the classic track. When we saw Marisha sing it, we had tears in our eyes and couldn’t quite believe the magnitude of her show-stopping performance. We felt every single word of the song and it stuck with us long after the show ended.
Dreamgirls is currently playing at The Savoy Theatre, London. Tickets for the show and further information can be found at www.dreamgirlswestend.com.
The Dreamgirls Original London Cast Recording will be released on 14th April 2017 and you can pre-order your copy at http://smarturl.it/Dreamgirls_amz
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