DREAMGIRLS: Vibrant, Extraordinary, Beauteous!

By Linda Ayres-Frederick

With 305 of 465 available costumes and 175 of 205 traveling wigs used during every single performance of Dreamgirls, you’d think the actors would be busier offstage than on. But these troupers are so hot onstage that the costume and wig changes must be just another bit of juice to rev up their already electrifying performances.

Now playing at the Curran Theatre is SHN’s Best of Broadway revival of the musical Dreamgirls (Music by Henry Krieger, Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen) that walked off in 1982 with six of thirteen nominated Tony Awards, three Drama Desk Awards, the Theater World Award for Jennifer Holliday, Oscar’s for the 2007 Film version and Jennifer Hudson, and multiple Grammy’s for both.

Opening backstage in the excitement of wannabe talent hoping to win a contest at NYC Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, Dreamgirls tells the story of an up and coming 1960’s female singing group called the “Dreams” and the challenges and triumphs that come with their pursuit of fame and fortune. While the group’s ambitious manager Curtis (Chaz Lamar Sheperd) has dreams with admirable political implications to cross over from soul music to mainstream pop charts, his manipulating machinations eventually have dire consequences. The story takes a bit of time to unfold, but eventually the meat of it takes hold when one realizes the larger than life dynamic lead singer Effie White (Moya Angela) is going to be pushed aside so that a slimmer different but equally potent voiced Deena (Syesha Mercado) can take her place in order to fulfill Curtis’ and their dream.

By the time Effie is expelled from the group altogether, it’s not just her heart that is broken. (Curtis dropped her romantically for Deena.) Effie’s composer brother CC White (Trevon Davis) has seen his music rearranged, and James “Thunder” Early (Chester Gregory) has been so toned down from his explosive soul and dance style, he’s been mistaken for Tony Bennett. Gregory infuses the James Brownish character Early with extraordinary joie de vivre by delivering his lines as well as executing amazing physical dance feats with perfect timing. “I’ve been waiting so long in that car” he quips, “Ray Charles has had enough time to get himself another Grammy!”

The effects of Robin Wagner’s sets are visually staggering with LED technology: rotating screens filled with Howard Werner’s moving and still images. There’s much to draw you in along with William Ivey Long’s shimmering costumes and director Robert Longbottom’s and co-choreographer Shane Spark’s staging, but it is the stellar cast of fabulous voices and vibrant rhythm infused bodies that carry this show from one show-stopper to another. And let’s not forget those beauteous, fine singing Dreamgirls Lorell (Adrienne Warren) and Michelle (Margaret Hoffman) as well as the wise Marty (Milton Craig Nealy’s). Conductor Sam Davis and Orchestra invigorate the evening with their solid backup.

Filled with unforgettable moments from the uptempo “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” through the heart wrenching “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” to “I am Changing” and the duet “Listen”, Dreamgirls is a show that’s well worth the price of admission.

Dreamgirls continues through September 26 at the Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St. SF. Tickets $30-$99 (888) 746.1799, shnsf.com or the Theatre Box Office. $25 rush tickets available 2 hours before performance. Limit 2 per person.