It's A Dream, Girl: The Can't Miss Broadway Show

Thursday, 08 April 2010 11:32 | Written by Byron

BEAUTIFUL DREAM-ERS: Dreamgirls—the stage musical that stars one American Idol (Syesha Mercado as the Diana Ross-like "Deena Jones") not the movie starring another American Idol (Jennifer Hudson as the diva-ish "Effie White")—is not just a good show, it's probably the best touring show I've ever seen in my life.

As I said in a review of the film I did way back when, strip it to its core, and Dreamgirls is the story of one song: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." The life-altering number, and perhaps the ultimate of showstoppers, appears at the end of Act I. It established Jennifer Holiday, in the original Broadway production, as a star. It gave Hudson, in the movie version, not only an Academy Award nomination nod, but the Academy Award itself. And in the touring production that opens on Tuesday night at the Keller Auditorium it will introduce Portland audiences to Moya Angela, who seems to understand the weight of both Holiday's and Hudson's performances, but still makes the role entirely her own. To see Angela perform the number is a once-in-life-time-experience and worth the price of admission alone. Let's just say she is more than up to the challenge of this incredibly challenging role.

But that's not the only reason you should see this show...and, truthfully, I am getting a little ahead of myself.

You see, I was whisked off to Seattle via Amtrak (a wonderful ride, indeed) to see the Tuesday opening night of Dreamgirls at the Paramount Theatre in the hopes I might have something to say about the show.

I knew I was in for a unique couple of days when I arrived and the first thing I saw, after leaving the train station, was a cab (below) advertising "Dreamgirls," except this wasn't for the show I was seeing that night. No, this was for a gentlemen's club near Safeco Field. Hmmm....serendipity, I guess.

After checking into the hotel I checked out the sights.

Seattle is one of my favorite cities—and also one of my least favorite cities. I guess that's why I don't live there anymore, or even try to "escape" there for a couple of days, like I used to. The city itself feels like its still stuck in the same year I moved away from there: 1982. People still obey walk signals, there are still way too many punk rockers, and well, the traffic, is, you know, a bitch.

But 1982 also gave us Michael Bennett's Dreamgirls. While I was running away from Seattle, this Broadway show was running away with awards, accolades as well controversy as it was the thinly veiled life story of Diana Ross and the Supremes.

And now, here I was back in Seattle, to see that show. Hmmm...serendipity, I guess.

This tour started last November, in Harlem, at the Apollo Theatre. A friend of mine, who saw that show, said it was "magic."

And, on the road, it's magic too. Everyone in this production kick's ass. And this show looks like it kicks their ass too. The cast never, ever stops moving. There are very few props, except a row of large, rotating, digital screens and a bank of klieg-ish disco lights. This show focuses on the performers, their voices, and some, truly fabulous costumes (and "how did they do that?" costume changes).

Particular standouts, alongside Angela, include Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, Chester Gregory as James "Thunder" Early, and Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones. Syesha kicks Beyonce's version to the curb, and shows so much more depth as a performer than she was ever able to do on Idol. These are stars in the making. This show is pure gold.

Although its been almost three decades since it arrived on the scene, and this particular show itself has been on the road for several months now, it doesn't feel outdated. In fact, the feeling inside the theater that night, especially during the end of Act I during "that song," is unlike anything I've ever felt. The movie may've not lived up to the hype, but this show does, and "I Am Telling You I Am Going" to see it again. And again. And again. That is my dream.

Click here for tickets and more information about Dreamgirls.

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