Dreamgirls Tour to Launch at Apollo; Open Casting Call Confirmed

Dreamgirls is headed back to New York next year: A new national tour of the hit musical will premiere at the Apollo Theater in November 2009, as part of the historic Harlem theater’s 75th anniversary celebration. As previously announced, open auditions for the three “Dreams” Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson and Effie White will be held at the Apollo on Saturday, November 22. The casting call had been scheduled for November 1 but was delayed out of respect for Dreamgirls film star Jennifer Hudson after the murder of three members of her family in late October.

"The opening scene in Dreamgirls takes place in the legendary Apollo Theatre, so it is only fitting that we are launching the national tour at this historic venue," producer John Breglio said in a statement. "The prospect that we may discover the new Dreams at the Apollo, where so many stars were discovered, just adds to our excitement in bringing this great musical back to the stage."

The new Dreamgirls tour will be directed and choreographed by Bobby Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington. Breglio is producing for Vienna Waits Productions.

Dreamgirls is the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, and their rocky road to superstardom. The original Broadway production opened December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre and won six 1982 Tony Awards, running for 1,522 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen and was directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. Hudson won an Oscar for her performance as Effie in the feature film adaptation, which opened in December 2006.