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Dreamgirls by Moonlight Stage Productions Dreams are born and dreams die, but hopefully never without passion. And Dreamgirls has a lot of it, inspired by the backstage, and onstage, fighting as The Supremes began their rise to the top and their manager tried to take R&B to the more lucrative pop charts via the new sound of Motown. Moonlight’s production, directed by John Vaughn, features some especially fine voices, and it is all led by the remarkable performance of Vonetta Misson as Effie White – the heavy-set member of the trio and its original lead singer. But when they accept car salesman Curtis Taylor, Jr. as their manager, he sweet talks Effie to get into the group then demotes her to bring the beautiful Deena (the Diana Ross character) to the front, appealing both to the public and himself. The move creates a professional and romantic rivalry that drives the rest of the show. As Effie, Vonetta Misson delivers with an extraordinary performance, wowing with her voice, humor, and pain. Her soulful solos of And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going and the show’s signature song One Night Only nicely demonstrate her range and ability. Her fellow Dreamgirls include Tawny Dolley as lovely Deena, Charisse Barard as Lorrell, and Effie’s eventual replacement Michelle by Amber Thompson, the three of them delivering the flashy Motown version of One Night Only. There are also some guys going for their dreams. Rovin Jay is R&B star James T. Early who romances Lorrell and proves that “Jimmy got soul” in The Rap. Allen Christopher is Curtis Taylor, Jr. who tries so hard for his dreams that he loses sight of even more important things, finding in the show’s well-done final scene that dreams can save people and destroy them.
Performance Dates: September 13 - 24, 2006
~ Cast ~
Effie Melody White: Vonetta Mixson Deena Jones: Tawny Dolley Lorrell Robinson: Charisse Barard Michelle Morris: Amber Thompson Curtis Taylor, Jr.: Allen Christopher James T. Early: Rovin Jay C.C. White: Jeff Baker Marty: Darwin Johnson Wayne: Lawrence Cummings Frank: Sherman McLaurin Ensemble: Joyelle Cabato Crystal Frazier Definique Heisz Kimberly Henry Raphael O. Knox Tod Kubo Lindsay Martin Lauren Petzke Brent Rode Amber Thompson Pit Singers: Bebe Brodie Charles Hand Benjamin Hart Candance Sames Lisa Michelle Staab Director: John Vaughan Lighting Design: Jean-Yves Tessier Sound Design: M. Scott Grabau Costume Design: Lynda Krinke Stage Manager: Stanley D. Cohen Orchestra Conductor: Kenneth Gammie Musical Director: Don LeMaster Choreographer: Orlando Alexander |