Dreamgirls
Imperial Theatre
Previews Began: December 9, 1981
Opening Night: December 20, 1981
Closing Night: Aug 11, 1985
Music: Henry Kreiger
Lyrics: Tom Eyen
Book: Tom Eyen
A young female singing trio from Chicago get their big break at an amateur competition and begin singing backup vocals for James “Thunder” Early. However, things begin to spin out of control when their agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr., makes Deena and not Effie, the star of what will become known as “The Dreams.”
Musical Numbers
ACT ONE
I’m Lookin’ for Something……………The Stepp Sisters,
Marty, Company
Goin’ Downtown…….Little Albert and the Tru-Tones
Takin’ the Long Way Home……………….Tiny Joe Dixon
Move (You’re Steppin’ on My Heart)……Effie, Deena,
Lorrell
Fake Your Way to the Top………..Jimmy, Effie, Deena,
Lorrell
Cadillac Car………….Curtis, Jimmy, C.C., Marty, Effie,
Deena, Lorrell
– On the Road……………………………………….Company
– In the Recording Studio…………………Jimmy, Effie,
Deena, Lorrell
– Reprise……………………..Dave and the Sweethearts
Steppin’ to the Bad Side……………Curtis, Jimmy, C.C.,
Wayne, Lorrell, Effie,
Deena, Company
Party, Party…..Effie, Curtis, Jimmy, Lorrell, Company
I Want You Baby…………..Jimmy, Effie, Deena, Lorrell
Family………Effie, C.C., Jimmy, Lorrell, Curtis, Deena
Dreamgirls……………………………….Deena, Lorrell, Effie
Press Conference………………Deena, Curtis, Company
Only the Beginning………………………………Curtis, Effie
Heavy/Stop Bringing Us Down………..Deena, Lorrell,
Effie, Curtis
Drivin’ Down the Strip…………………………………..Jimmy
It’s All Over…………Effie, Curtis, C.C., Deena, Lorrell,
Jimmy, Michelle
And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going…………………Effie
Love Love You Baby……………Deena, Lorrell, Michelle
ACT TWO
Act II Opening……….Deena, Lorrell, Michelle, Curtis,
C.C., Jimmy
I Am Changing………………………………………………..Effie
One More Picture Please……..Lorrell, Michelle, C.C.,
Curtis, Company
When I First Saw You………………………..Curtis, Deena
Got to Be Good Times………………….The Five Tuxedos
Ain’t No Party…………………………………..Lorrell, Jimmy
I Meant You No Harm…………………………………..Jimmy
Quintette……….Lorrell, Deena, C.C., Michelle, Jimmy
The Rap……………………………………………………….Jimmy
Firing of Jimmy………Jimmy, Curtis, Lorrell, Company
I Miss You Old Friend….Les Styles, Marty, C.C., Effie
One Night Only……………………………….Effie, Company
One Night Only (Disco)……..Deena, Lorrell, Michelle,
Curtis, Company
I’m Somebody…………………….Deena, Lorrell, Michelle
Chicago/Faith in Myself……………..Effie, C.C., Curtis,
Deena, Marty
Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love…………Deena, Lorrell,
Michelle
Dreamgirls (Reprise)….Effie, Deena, Lorrell, Michelle
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Obba Babatundé C.C. White
Cleavant Derricks James Thunder Early
Loretta Devine Lorrell Robinson
Ben Harney Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Jennifer Holliday Effie Melody White
Sheryl Lee Ralph Deena Jones
Deborah Burrell Michelle Morris
Member of the Stepp Sisters
Vondie Curtis-Hall Marty
Tony Franklin Wayne
David Thomé Frank
Cheryl Alexander Charlene
Member of Les Style
Ensemble
Phylicia Ayers-Allen Ensemble
Vanessa Bell Member of the Stepp Sisters
Ensemble
Charles Bernard Member of Little Albert and
the Tru-Tones
Member of the James Early Band
Member of the Five Tuxedoes
Ensemble
Paul Binotto Dave
Film Executive
Ensemble
Candy Darling Member of the Sweethearts
Ensemble
Ronald Dunham Ensemble
Stephanie Eley Member of the Sweethearts
Ensemble
Sheila Ellis Edna Burke
Ensemble
Thomas Scott Gordon Member of the James
Early Band
Tenita Jordan Member of the Stepp Sisters
Member of Les Style
Ensemble
Linda Lloyd Joanne
Member of Les Style
Ensemble
Carol Logen Member of the Sweethearts
Joe Lynn Tiny Joe Dixon
Jerry
Ensemble
Frank Mastrocola Ensemble
Jamie Patterson Member of Little Albert and
the Tru-Tones
Member of the James Early Band
Member of the Five Tuxedoes
Ensemble
Wellington Perkins Member of Little Albert and
the Tru-Tones
Member of the James Early Band
Ensemble
Scott Plank Member of the James Early Band
Film Executive
Ensemble
Brenda Pressley Member of the Stepp Sisters
Member of Les Style
Ensemble
Charles Randolph-Wright Member of Little Albert
and the Tru-Tones
Member of the James Early Band
Member of the Five Tuxedoes
Ensemble
Larry Stewart The M.C.
Member of the Five Tuxedoes
Mr. Morgan
Ensemble
David Thomé Ensemble
Weyman Thompson Member of Little Albert and
the Tru-Tones
Member of the James Early Band
Member of the Five Tuxedoes
Film Executive
Ensemble
Swings: Brenda Braxton, Milton Craig Nealy
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