Milwaukee Repertory Theater is getting ready to launch the Quadracci Powerhouse season with their highly anticipated production of the Tony Award-winning musical, Dreamgirls. After producing sold-out runs of Ragtime and The Color Purple, Artistic Director Mark Clements brings together the same production team for this glitz and glam musical about the rise and fall of three Black women trying to make it in the music industry of the 1960’s. As they soon discover, friendship and loyalty come at the price of fame.
The dynamic cast includes Nova Y. Payton, (Dreamgirls Signature Theatre; Hairspray Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award) as Effie, Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors; 2013 Broadway World Chicago Best Actress, Black Excellence Award, Black Theatre Alliance Award for “Celie” in The Color Purple at Mercury Theater Chicago) as Deena; and Dan’yelle Williamson (Broadway: Memphis; National Tour: The Lion King) as Lorrell– collectively known as “The Dreamettes.” Rounding out the cast is Jared Joseph (Broadway: Holler if Ya Hear Me) as Curtis Taylor Jr.; Richard Crandle (National Tour: Hairspray) as CC White and Cedric Neal (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess) as James “Thunder” Early, a role that won him the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C. for the Signature Theatre production; and Nathaniel Stampley (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The Lion King; The Color Purple at Milwaukee Rep) as Marty.
Dreamgirls runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse until November 1, previews began on Sept 22 with an opening on September 26. Tickets starting at $30 can be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at 414-224-9490, or at the Ticket Office (108 E Wells Street).
If you are in the Milwaukee area, I’d advise you to see this show as fast as you can. It’s one you just do not want to miss. Don’t believe me? Just watch this clip of Nova Y. Payton singing “And I Am Telling You” and see if you don’t change your mind.
