Dreamgirls extends by one week

photo by Joan Marcus

Adrienne Warren, Syesha Mercado and Moya Angela

The premiere engagement of Dreamgirls, currently in previews at the Apollo Theatre, extends its run by one week and will now end its limited engagement on 12 Dec 2009.

Dreamgirls began previews at the Apollo Theater on 7 Nov 2009, where it will open on 22 Nov 2009. The musical was originally scheduled to close on 6 Dec.

Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of an up-and-coming 1960’s girl group from Chicago, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune.

The cast features Moya Angela (Effie White), Syesha Mercado (Deena Jones), Adrienne Warren (Lorrell Robinson), Margaret Hoffman (Michelle Morris), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor, Jr.), Chester Gregory (James 'Thunder' Early), Trevon Davis (C.C. White) and Milton Craig Nealy (Marty Madison).

The musical is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch and is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.

Following the Apollo Theater engagement, the national tour of Dreamgirls will play Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Costa Mesa, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and more.

The original Broadway production of Dreamgirls opened 20 Dec 1981 at the Imperial Theatre and won six 1982 Tony Awards. It closed on Broadway 11 Aug 1985, after 1,522 performances.

Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters.

Dreamgirls was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, released in Dec 2006.