Posts Tagged ‘tom eyen’

Tuneful, Energetic “Dreamgirls” Entertains in Style at the Muny

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on June 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Dreamgirls
Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen, Music by Henry Krieger
Directed by Robert Clater
Choreographed by Lesia Kaye
The Muny
June 28, 2024

Charl Brown, Courtnee Carter, Aramie Payton, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Tiffany Mann, Aisha Jackson, Ron Himes
Photo by Phillip Hamer
The Muny

Dreamgirls is back at the Muny, and it’s impressive. Last staged on the Muny stage in 2012, this new production has the same director and choreographer as before, and a great deal of fast-paced energy. With a catchy soundtrack, strong production values that evoke the time and place especially well, and a great cast, this Dreamgirls is an entertaining delight.

Although the story is fictional, it bears a strong resemblance to that of the development of Motown and particularly Diana Ross and the Supremes. Here, the main focus is on Effie White (Tiffany Mann) who starts the show along with her young friends Deena Jones (Aisha Jackson) and Lorrell Robinson (Courtnee Carter) at a talent contest at New York’s famed Apollo Theatre, hoping for their big break in show business as the Dreamettes, along with Effie’s brother, C. C. (Aramie Payton), who writes songs for the group. There, they meet ambitious car salesman Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Charl Brown), who manages to get the Dreamettes a gig touring as backup singers for R&B star James “Thunder” Early (Nick Rashad Burroughs). Soon, the group rises in popularity, but Effie is bothered by Curtis’s attentions to Deena and his ambitions for the group–eventually renamed the Dreams–that seem to involve Deena more and Effie less. Over the years, we see the group’s rise to fame and Effie’s struggles to be seen and appreciated as an artist. It’s a story of hopes, dreams, and ambitions occasionally hampered by heartbreak, love triangles, and greed, with a driving soundtrack and a brisk pace that emphasizes motion and constant change.

The show is perhaps best known for its excellent R&B, soul and pop score, including the showstopper “(And I’m Telling You) I’m Not Going” and other memorable songs such as “I Am Changing”, “One Night Only” and the title song. It’s a sweeping tale that takes place mostly in various performance venues, with clever staging for the concert sequences that often lets the audience look on from the viewpoint of backstage. All the technical elements work together well here, maintaining the look, sound, and atmosphere of the 1960’s and 70’s with impressive detail, from Edward E. Haynes, Jr.’s versatile set to Elain J. McCarthy’s evocative video design, to Rob Denton’s dazzling lighting. There are also strikingly detailed period costumes by Leon Dobkowski, and a first-rate Muny Orchestra led by music director Anne Shuttlesworth.

As for the cast, everyone is excellent. The much-coveted role of Effie is taken here by Mann in a dynamic, emotional, superbly sung performance that commands the stage from her very first appearance. She is the heart and soul of this production. The rest of the cast is also fantastic, with Jackson as Deena, Carter as Lorrell, and Natalie Kaye Clater as later member of the Dreams Michelle Morris all in great form and strong voice. Brown is also memorable as the ambitious, manipulative Curtis, and Burroughs is a standout in a strong display of showmanship as Jimmy Early. There’s strong support as well from Payton as C.C. and Ron Himes as Jimmy’s first manager Marty, who later manages Effie. The leads are backed by an energetic ensemble who help to bring the world and era of the show to life with strong vocals and impressive dancing, choreographed with flair by Lesia Kaye.

Dreamgirls has become a classic musical, although in its 40+ year history, this is only the second staging at the Muny. I’m sure this will not be the last Muny production, though, as it works so well on that massive stage and in the Forest Park environment. As for this latest version, it’s nothing short of marvelous, with a terrific cast and dazzling production values. It’s a thoroughly entertaining production. 

Cast of Dreamgirls
Photo by Phillip Hamer
The Muny

The Muny is presenting Dreamgirls in Forest Park until July 3, 2024

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A Stylishly Staged “Dreamgirls” at Stray Dog Theatre

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on April 8, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Dreamgirls
Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen, Music by Henry Krieger
Directed by Justin Been
Choreographed by Mike Hodges
Stray Dog Theatre
April 4, 2019

Cast of Dreamgirls
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre has been producing more large-cast shows in their relatively small space at Tower Grove Abbey lately. Its current production, Dreamgirls, is the latest example. A well-known Broadway show that’s also been made into an acclaimed movie, this is a big, glitzy and glamorous musical that adapts very well to the smaller venue at SDT. Especially, it serves as a showcase for some standout performances and impressive production values.

The original Broadway Dreamgirls and the movie are well-known for their music and for the performances of two famous Jennifers–Holliday (on stage) and Hudson (on screen)–as central character Effie White, the original lead singer for a Supremes-like singing group. Here, Effie is played by the excellent Ebony Easter, as the show traces Effie’s and her group’s path from obscurity to stardom. The Dreamettes–who later become the Dreams–start out as a group of three friends entering a talent contest at New York’s Apollo Theatre. Effie, along with her friends Deena Jones (Eleanor Humphrey) and Lorrell Robinson (Tateonna Thompson) are young a naive at first, embarking on a tour supporting R&B star James “Thunder” Early (Omega Jones), but encouraged by Effie’s songwriter brother C.C. (Marshall Jennings) and their highly ambitious car-salesman-turned manager Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Abraham Shaw), they soon learn more about the reality of show business, with its joys, triumphs, disappointments, and heartbreak in their personal and performing lives, also dealing with inherent racism in the music industry as Early and the Dreams aim to cross over from R&B to pop. The show is a deliberate evocation of the Motown sound, being basically a fictionalized tale of the rise of Motown and the Supremes in particular, with a memorable score featuring many highlights, including the title song, “Steppin’ to the Bad Side”, “One Night Only” and  Effie’s show-stopping “(And I Am Telling You) I’m Not Going” and “I Am Changing”.

The staging at SDT is, for the most part, excellent, reflective the glitzy and occasionally glamorous world of show business in the 60s and 70s, but also showing the realities of life backstage and offstage. Josh Smith’s glittery, red-and-gold two-level set is striking, as are Julian King’s detailed era-specific costumes, reflecting the evolving styles of the eras in which the show takes place as well as the Dreams’ growth in maturity and sophistication. There’s also sparkling lighting by Tyler Duenow and energetic choreography by Mike Hodges, along with an excellent–if a little too small for the sound–band ably led by music director Jennifer Buchheit. The staging and pacing is good, for the most part, although there are occasionally some awkward scene transitions.

What especially stands out here is the excellent cast, and particularly the leading performances. Although the ensemble energy varies at times, there are some truly dynamic performances here, led by Easter who is in excellent voice as the determined Effie. Humphrey as rising-star Deena is also strong, and Thompson as Lorell is a particular standout. The always dynamic Jones puts in a dazzling performance as Early, as well.  Also notable are Jennings in a well-sung, highly likable performance as C.C. and Shaw in the difficult role as the highly ambitious but controlling and manipulative Curtis. The performance scenes especially are excellent, as an evocation of the 60s and 70s transitions between soul and R & B to pop, and eventually disco.

Dreamgirls is a fascinating show, with excellent songs and characters, and a real sense of history about it. At Stray Dog Theatre, this show is given a highly entertaining staging featuring some especially strong performances by an impressively talented cast. It’s a tuneful, poignant, and ultimately hopeful story. It’s another memorable musical from this theatre company.

Eleanor Humphrey, Marshall Jennings, Abraham Shaw, Tateonna Thompson, Omega Jones, Ebony Easter, Diamon Lester
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Dreamgirls at Tower Grove Abbey  until April 20, 2019

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