For the St. Louis American
When most people hear Dreamgirls, they think of the hit “And I am Telling You,” the show-stopping tune originally sung by Jennifer Holliday that was performed at least once a week on Showtime at the Apollo back in the day and continues to be belted in talent shows across the country. But that’s about all they know.
In a move that is probably the most anticipated in The Black Rep’s 29 year history, founder and producing director Ron Himes is bringing the Tony- and Grammy-award winning production to their stage for the first time so audiences can see and hear the entire story.
And what a story it is. Dreamgirls follows three young girls (Willena Vaughn as Effie, Jia Taylor as Deena Jones and Malkia Stampley as Lorrell Robinson. Rochelle Walker is also featured as Michelle Morris) on their path to superstardom, showing the bumps, pit-stops and falls they take along the way. The production is said to be loosely based on The Supremes.
Though the ladies get the title and the main storyline, it is the men that provide the foundation for the drama to unfold. Until the male characters make their moves, the girls are just naïve teens with a passion for singing and performing. “We round the girls out,” said Kelvin Roston Jr. “Much of the conflict is because of the men.”
Roston plays C.C., lead female character Effie’s younger brother who is trying to make a name for himself as a songwriter. “He wants the best for the Dreams, but at the same time he wants to make it big himself,” Roston said. “When C.C. meets up with Curtis, he is still pretty green,” said Roston. “C.C. is negatively influenced by Curtis and does things that he probably normally would not have done.”
“I wasn’t really taken with Curtis, but it was the girls and their stories that got me,” said J. Samuel Davis about his character. Davis plays the seedy car salesman turned music businessman.
“Although Curtis is definitely the antagonist, I believe that when he first entered the industry he had good intentions,” Davis said. “But the business can corrupt people and this is definitely the case with Curtis. He gets caught up in the glamour, the money and the seedy people and turns into a manipulator.”
“My challenge has been finding that medium where he has a bit of hustle in him but still showing that he is different from Curtis,” said Drummond K. Crenshaw when explaining his role as Marty.
“I see him as a Berry Gordy type, someone who is familiar with the industry and recognizes the character flaws of Curtis from the beginning. He is an agent in the true sense of the word and recognizes that you have to be savvy in the business.”
Marty’s business is representing resident superstar James Thunder Early (Jimmy) and he enters the life of The Dreams while searching for new backup singers for Jimmy, played by Jahi Kearse.
“Jimmy is a crazy but really cool cat, kind of a shade of James Brown who screams and hollers. The role calls for a tremendous amount of energy and intensity,” said Kearse.
“The story helps bring to light the darker side of the music industry, including radio and music chart payoffs and the men’s lack of respect for women artists in the business.”
Davis agrees with Kearse that the play is a showcase for the ladies, but enjoys the lighter side of the production. “It’s such a pretty show with the glitter, wigs and glamour. You get to see the girls go from teenagers to glamour queens,” Davis said.
“I am sure people are already excited about it. And I am just as excited to be a part of it. Although many people have heard the song (“And I am Telling You”) they have never seen how that song and the others play into the story.”
“The play speaks to the history and plight of the black artist,” said Crenshaw. “The only pressure that I feel is that there is such an expectation regarding what The Black Rep is going to do with Dreamgirls. Everyone feels that no one can do a musical like The Black Rep.”
The Black Rep’s production of Dreamgirls opens May 24 and runs through July 2 at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information or to buy tickets, call (314) 534-3810.
