who are the characters in dreamgirls based on

Release Dates The film version references elements of Motown history to add backstory to the musical's plot, and there are many homages to a number of distinct 1960s/1970s R&B stars (besides The Supremes and Motown acts such as Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, and Tammi . Screenwriter and director Bill Condon, who wrote Chicago's screenplay, met producer Laurence Mark at a Hollywood holiday party in late 2002, where the two discussed a long-held "dream project" of Condon's adapting Dreamgirls for the screen. With girl groups, that becomes more possible.". Congratulations to Santos, the entire cast and production team for bringing "Dreamgirls" to the MunOpCo Music Theatre stage. 76 Metascore; 2006; 2 hr 9 mins Drama, Music PG13 Watchlist. Releases in other countries began on various dates between January and early March. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $155 million at the international box office. Instead the score is standard issue Broadway fare, decorated with a few drumbeats and occasional light disco drive, that stays heavy on narrative subtext, allowing the songs to comment on the story line. Characters Dreamgirls Curtis Taylor, Jr. Curtis Taylor, Jr. Dreamgirls See more characters from Tom Eyen Henry Krieger Breakdown Key Information Character Curtis Taylor, Jr. Show Dreamgirls Gender Male Age Range Adult Role Size Lead Dancing Mover Voice Tenor, Baritone Vocal Technique Legit, Pop Time & Place In 1967, Martha and The Vandellas were singing in Detriot when the riots broke out. Curtis soon starts his own record label, Rainbow Records, out of his Detroit car dealership, appointing Effie's brother C.C. This LP is an authentic Motown release, issued as Gordy 906 in June 1963. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example of how NOT winning the title of American Idol . The site's critics consensus states: "Dreamgirls' simple characters and plot hardly detract from the movie's real feats: the electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers. Dreamgirls plays from 19 November 2016 at the Savoy Theatre. We sang one of The Chantels' numbersI'm thinking it was 'Maybe.' The character was portrayed in the original 1981 Broadway production of Dreamgirls by Ben Harney and in its 2006 film adaptation by Jamie Foxx, who also played Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Bats in Baby Driver. When their first single "Cadillac Car" fails after white pop group "Dave and the Sweethearts" releases a cover version, Curtis, C.C., and their producer Wayne turn to payola to make "Jimmy Early & The Dreamettes" mainstream pop stars. [25] After briefly considering R&B singer Omarion,[26] singer/actor Keith Robinson was eventually cast in the role. 2012. Says Warwick, "Even from the very beginning, their songs are a little more adult in the themes," such as in the songs "Where Did Our love Go" and "Stop in the Name of Love." Certainly whites (particularly young people) had been listening to black music before girl groups came on the scene, and black artists had made the pop charts before. [8] This release made Dreamgirls the first American feature film to have a roadshow release since Man of La Mancha in 1972. Unbeknownst to them Effie is pregnant with Curtis's child, but she doesn't say anything. To restart her music career, she hires Marty as her manager and after a pep talk by him begins performing at a local club. The timing of 'Postman' was excellent. But because of our performance, one of our teacherswhen it came time to audition for Motownbecause that was a part of what your winnings would be, to audition for Motownshe recommended that they take the top five. The movie, based on the 1981 Broadway play, tells the story of a small black record label and its star singers whose success crosses over to the pop charts. [50] As of 2017[update], total domestic video sales to date are at $95.1 million. They force Curtis to nationally distribute Effie's record to avoid being reported to the FBI. Yet The Supremes aren't necessarily representative of the rest of girl group culture. Their songs employed a lead voice with backup harmonies, and the music was a hybrid of soul, rhythm and blues, pop and 1950's doo-wop. As a result, more than fifty high schools, colleges, community theaters, and other non-commercial theater entities staged productions of Dreamgirls in 2006, and DreamWorks spent up to $250,000 subsidizing the licensing. By sticking to a highly publicized diet of water, lemons, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper (also known as the Master Cleanse), Knowles rapidly lost twenty pounds, which she gained back once production ended. Gordy also packaged Gaye, at one point, as a supper club entertainer -- a common strategy for R&B performers hoping to cross over to white audiences in those days -- a scene repeated in the movie with Early. InWomen of Motown, she says, "What I related the song to was my experience in Rio at Carnival time, and in New Orleans at Mardi Gras. Dreamgirls eventually grossed $103 million in North America, and almost $155 million worldwide. For. Early's evolution is also marvelously reflected in his changing tonsorial and sartorial styles. Horn players would never run all over the stage as they do in "Dreamgirls" or they would be too out of breath to play the instruments. But the songs were sometimes closer to real life than expected. Based on the rise of the 1960s Motown girl-group trio The Supremes and Motown impresario Berry Gordy Jr., the 1982 Tony-winning hit musical Dreamgirls seemed to be a shoo-in for a movie version. Outside Motown, The Shangri-Las were singing songs about good girls loving bad boys, such as "Leader of the Pack." But The Beatles themselves were obsessed with American girl groups and even sang girl group songs, including "Please Mr. Postman," The Shirelles' "Baby It's You" and The Cookies' "Chains. Deena Jones is based on the Supremes' lead singer Diana Ross and two former Supremes members Scherrie Payne and Jean Terrell. In Motown, founder Berry Gordy aimed to make music with widespread pop charts appeal. As much as Deena Jones, Beyonc Knowles ' character in "Dreamgirls," was modeled on Diana Ross, the film's main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry. In the movie, the Dreams' album covers look like specific old Supremes albums. As much as Deena Jones, Beyonc Knowles' character in "Dreamgirls," was modeled on Diana Ross, the film's main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry Krieger. "[60] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter was less enthusiastic, stating that while the film was "a damn good commercial movie, it is not the film that will revive the musical or win over the world". This is a hit with the audience until Jimmy goes too far and drops his pants. [8] With a production budget of $80 million, Dreamgirls is one of the most expensive films to feature a predominant African-American starring cast in American film history. "Dreamgirls" is the fictionalized story of the creation of The Supremes and the rise of Berry Gordy and Motown. Towards the end, Curtis notices Magic in the front row, realizing she is his daughter. The DVD version was issued in two editions: a one-disc standard version and a two-disc "Showstopper Edition". However, Deena clandestinely hopes the film will never come to be, pursuing other acting gigs. director of photography (as Tobias Schliessler) Film Editing by Virginia Katz Casting By Staged with a mostly African-American cast and originally starring Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Obba Babatund, the musical opened on December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. Learn more about the full cast of Dreamgirls with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide . 1 In Sluggish Sales Week. The Broadway show had been had been partly financed by music mogul turned film producer David Geffen, who retained rights to produce the movie. In New York, Phil Spector produced girl group songs using his famous "wall of sound," a production technique that employed a huge amount of instruments and layered track after track on top of each other. "Love You I Do," with lyrics by Siedah Garrett, is performed in the film by Effie during a rehearsal at the Rainbow Records studio. [55] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. [51], A "Director's Extended Edition" of Dreamgirls was released on Blu-ray and Digital HD on October 10, 2017 by Paramount Home Media Distribution. He also brought in professional choreographers. And all that very famous footage of Elizabeth Eckfordgoing to school that first day. But the success of girl groups had to do with more than harmony and lyrics. Cookie Policy [36] The film was primarily shot on soundstages at the Los Angeles Center Studios and on location in the Los Angeles area, with some second unit footage shot in Detroit, Miami, and New York City. [80] It was also named as one of the American Film Institute's top ten films of 2006. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Geffen, taking the role of co-producer, brought Paramount Pictures in to co-finance and release Dreamgirls. In any case, neither Franklin nor James ever belonged to the Supremes. ", The girl group era was also the civil rights era. [60] Roeper still enjoyed the film, noting that Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" as the "show-stopping moment of any film of 2006" and very much enjoyed Murphy's performance as well, remarking that "people are going to love this film. He created a thick, roaring, echoing sound, like The Ronettes' recording of "Be My Baby. The Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture soundtrack album was released on December 5 by Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records, in both a single-disc version containing highlights and a double-disc "Deluxe Version" containing all of the film's songs. ", In the entertainment world, The Supremesarguably the most successful girl group of all timebegan playing venues that had been hard for black musicians to book. Filming & Production [100] On the other hand, Mary Wilson attended the film's Los Angeles premiere, later stating that Dreamgirls moved her to tears and that it was "closer to the truth than they even know". "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was the Dreamgirls soundtrack's second single. [20] Condon did not start work on the Dreamgirls script until after making the Alfred Kinsey biographical film Kinsey (2004). They announced that they were having a talent show. By 1965, however, Effie begins acting out, particularly when Curtis' affections also turn towards Deena. . For instance, "Please Mr. Postman" is in some ways a classic girl group song, with a girl waiting for a letter from a boy. 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Wilson as Magic White, Effie's daughter, Paul Kirby as Promo Film Narrator (voice), This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 17:27. ", It wasn't uncommon for a group to get its big break at a high school talent show or, like The Dreamettes in the movie Dreamgirls, at a local talent contest. And the same non-threatening, pure quality that was letting black girl groups cross over into white culture was giving young women force in the civil rights movement. For the 2007 Golden Globe Awards, Dreamgirls was nominated in five categories: Best Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical (Beyonc Knowles), Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson), and Best Original Song ("Listen"). [84] The Dreamgirls soundtrack was also nominated for the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album. "[65], Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role of Effie onstage, expressed her disappointment at not being involved in the film project in several TV, radio, and print interviews. [22] A total of 783 singing actresses auditioned for the role of Effie White, among them American Idol alumnae Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson, former Disney star Raven-Symon, and Broadway stars Capathia Jenkins and Patina Miller. [85], In February 2022, Hudson's rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was named one of the five finalists for Oscars Cheer Moment as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "Oscars Fan Favorite" contest, finishing in fourth place. A black-owned recording company having such a hit was, at that time, revolutionary. Both men worked in the automotive industry before focusing on music, and integrated aspects of the automotive business into the music making process. [citation needed] In addition, the Tonnor Doll Company released "The Dreamettes" collection, featuring dolls of the characters Deena, Lorrell, and Effie, to coincide with the release of the film. "Come and get these memories: gender, history and racial uplift in Bill Condon's Dreamgirls". Yet before girl groups, it was easier for a song to cross over than for artists themselves to do, says Warwick. | Offstage, Effie falls in love with Curtis while the married Jimmy does likewise with Lorrell. Other Characters From Dreamgirls. Soon people started talking about how the group's hit song "Dancing in the Streets" was about social uprising. Hudson to Upgrade "And I Am Telling You" Video: Dreamgirls director Condon wants clip to attract wider audience. Khylah Eure, Mariah Goiran, Clara Alford and Kayla Carrington are tremendous as Featured Dancers. As such, Hudson became one of the few actresses ever to win an Oscar for a film debut performance. The limited edition program guide accompanying the Dreamgirls road show release was made available for retail purchase in February. [7] "Listen", with additional music by Scott Cutler and Beyonc, and lyrics by Anne Preven, is presented as a defining moment for Deena's character late in the film. [16] That same year, Geffen, who ran his Warner Bros.-associated Geffen Pictures film production company at the time, began talks with Broadway lyricist and producer Howard Ashman to adapt it as a star vehicle for Whitney Houston, who was to portray Deena. [42][52] This version, based on edits done for preview screenings before the film's release, runs ten minutes longer than the theatrical version and features longer musical numbers (including songs and verses cut during previews) and additional scenes. Presenting himself as their new manager, he recruits them as backup singers for Chitlin' Circuit R&B star Jimmy "Thunder" Early. In Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy plays James "Thunder" Early, a character who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all Eddie Murphy. Based on his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces! [82] Dreamgirls also received a record eleven Black Reel Award nominations, and won six of the awards, among them Best Film. [42] Among this footage was one whole musical number, C.C. The Dreams' hometownthe setting for much of the actionwas moved from Chicago to Detroit, the real-life hometown of The Supremes and Motown Records. One thing is certain: by the time the women's movement arrived in the late 1960s, there was a generation of women used to standing on the stage and telling the world how they felt. "[30][31][32], Hudson was required to gain twenty pounds for the role,[33] which marked her debut film performance. Certainly whites (particularly young people) had been listening to black music before girl groups came on the. "Introduction". In any case, neither Franklin nor James ever belonged to the Supremes. Dreamgirls - Musical. [102] He repeated these concerns in a later interview with Access Hollywood, adding that he felt DreamWorks and Paramount owed Gordy an apology. "The most surprised was Motown. That same year, Motown got its first pop hit with The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! ", The only girl group able to compete with The Beatles on the American charts was The Supremes, who maintained popularity into the early 1970s, even though Diana Ross had left the group. Teen Culture. By 1973, Effie has become an impoverished welfare mother living in Detroit with her daughter Magic. [73] The film's failure to gain a Best Picture or Best Director nod was widely viewed by the entertainment press as a "snub" by the Academy. | Ballard, the group's original lead vocalist, had a rough, grainy and more conventional rhythm and blues voice, as opposed to the light, lithesome sound of Ross' vocals. 'Dreamgirls' Gets Standing Ovations, Cheers, Loretta Devine & Sheryl Lee Ralph Attend L.A. The post-war baby boom had produced more teenagers than ever before, and the 1950s brought the explosion of a new teen culture with its own music, clothes, movies and dancing. [56], Rolling Stone's Peter Travers gave the film three and a half stars (out of four) and the number-two position on his "best of 2006" list, stating that "despite transitional bumps, Condon does Dreamgirls proud". It was a time for people to forget who they are and just get with each other to be happy and loving and dance and rejoice. Among the more direct references are the uses of adapted Supremes album cover designs for albums recorded in the film by the Dreams. He signs a trio of young women, the Dreamettes, gets them a job backing an R&B performer, James "Thunder" Early, establishes his own record label and starts wheeling and dealing. We were into, or going into the Vietnam War. When Jennifer Hudson won the Golden Globe for her performance as Effie in the film version ( Dreamgirls (2006)), she dedicated the award to Ballard, describing her as "a lady who never got a fair chance". Gordy, like his counterpart in the movie, had aspirations of making movies. Hundreds of girl groups recorded songs during the sixties, but hardly any of them were seasoned musicians. Dreamgirls premiered on December 4, 2006 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, where it received a standing ovation. Though a music video with all-original footage was once planned,[44] the video eventually released for "And I Am Telling You" comprised the entire corresponding scene in the actual film. [19] When offered the part of Curtis, Foxx initially declined because DreamWorks could not meet his salary demands. The film's nominations included Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson), Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, and three nominations for Best Song ("Listen", "Love You I Do", and "Patience"). [31], Dreamgirls received eight 2007 Academy Award nominations covering six categories, the most of any film for the year, although it was not nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, or either of the lead acting categories. 214,187 people follow this. Hudson was required to be rude and come in late both on set and off, and she and Condon went over Effie's lines and scenes throughout the week. URL: Nader, Juli (Nov. 21, 2006). Beyonc, Madonna, and Prince are just a few of the superstars who have revolutionized the Super Bowl halftime show. [23], R&B star Usher was to have been cast as C.C. [61] Ed Gonzales of Slant magazine found the entire picture too glossy, and declared that "the film doesn't care to articulate the emotions that haunt its characters". Gaye was not only Motown's chief solo male vocal star, he was married to Gordy's sister. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. As much as Deena Jones, Beyonc Knowles ' character in "Dreamgirls," was modeled on Diana Ross, the film's main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry Krieger. [17], DreamWorks' Dreamgirls adaptation came about after the film version of the Broadway musical Chicago was a success at both the box office and the Academy Awards. Privacy Statement Though Effie defiantly and desperately appeals to Curtis, he, C.C., and The Dreams abandon her, forging ahead to stardom. He eventually drops Effie, hiring his secretary Michelle Morris to replace her beginning with their 1966 New Year's Eve debut in Las Vegas as "Deena Jones & the Dreams." [37], Beyonc Knowles elected to lose weight to give the mature Deena Jones of the 1970s a different look than the younger version of the character. Disillusioned by Jimmy's death and Curtis' cold reaction to the news, C.C. Curtis pitches a film about Cleopatra to star Deena, whom he has also married. But there are things -- much more important than specific details of time or place -- that the film gets very right, such as record label boss Taylor's cold indifference to the act he now realizes is washed up or Early's heroin overdose death. Three Supremes albums Let the Sunshine In, Cream of the Crop, and Touch were reworked into Deena Jones & The Dreams album designs, with the only differences in the designs being the substitution of the names and images of the Supremes with those of Deena Jones & the Dreams. Curtis promptly drops him from the label and Lorrell ends their affair. They were also among the first black musicians to appear onThe Ed Sullivan Show. They watched performers on stage who were their age. Sometime later, C.C., who feels Curtis is undermining his songs' artistic merit by making them into disco music, quits the label. [16] Upon learning that Knowles and Murphy had signed on, Foxx rethought his original decision and accepted the Curtis role at DreamWorks' lower salary. [74] Some journalists registered shock,[75] while others cited a "backlash". During the course of production, Paramount's parent company, Viacom, would purchase DreamWorks, aligning the two studios under one umbrella (and giving the senior studio US distribution rights on behalf of DreamWorks). It was about the whole performancehow they moved, the clothes they wore, how big their hair was. Lorrell Robinson. [16] The completed film had a production budget of $75 million, making Dreamgirls the most expensive film with an all-black starring cast in cinema history. These dark moments, where shadows fall across the dazzling film, resonated with truth. Official Sites Curtis Taylor, Jr., a car salesman, breaks into the music business with big dreams. But this song inevitably gained meaning from the times in which it was heard. "Dreamgirls' Best Picture snub and Oscar night thud", 'Dreamgirls' banked on Best Picture, and Lost, "Nominees & Winners for the 79th Academy Awards", "The 38th NAACP Image Awards Takes Place With Superstar Entertainer LL Cool J As Host", National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "Screen Actors Guild Honors Outstanding Film and Television Performances in 13 Categories at the 13th Annual SAG Awards", "Official press release for International Press Academy Satellite Awards Nominations", "Beyonc, Jennifer Hudson Top BET Awards", "Zack Snyder's Justice League Tops 'Oscars Cheer Moment' List", "The 79th Academy Awards (2007) Nominees and Winners", "Dreamgirls (2006) Nominees and Winners", "The 12th Critics' Choice Awards Winners and Nominees", "One stage of film's marketing is on stage", Gordy Album Discography, Part 1 (19621981), "Diana Ross Talks About 'Dreamgirls,' Secrets to Staying Power", "Mary Wilson on the New Film, 'Dreamgirls', "Does 'Dreamgirls' Offer Lowdown on Motown? [72], In addition, Dreamgirls was the first film in Academy Award history to receive the highest number of nominations for the year, yet not be nominated for Best Picture. "We get young teenage girls at front and center in mainstream pop culture." Original Broadway Cast of 'Dreamgirls' Feels Left Out of Movie History. Gordy did work on the Ford assembly line in his early days (the Gordy figure in the movie, Curtis Taylor Jr., played by Jamie Foxx, runs a car dealership), and he worked his way up in the music business starting as a songwriter for Jackie Wilson. And even if it gets much more right than it does wrong, "Dreamgirls" is still an imagining of the rough and gritty life of the R&B performer, a pop musical divertissement rather than an earthy, true-to-life account. "At Motown, The Marvelettes, The Velvelettes, groups like that, are much more clearly identified as teenagers," she says, "and arguably that's why The Supremes had more longevity. [16] The roles of many of the characters were related more closely to their real-life inspirations, following a suggestion by Geffen. "[34], After Hudson was cast in November 2005, the Dreamgirls cast began extensive rehearsals with Condon and choreographers Fatima Robinson and Aakomon "AJ" Jones, veterans of the music video industry. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. That same year, four teenage girls were killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Dreamgirls (2006) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Bill Condon Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Tom Eyen Henry Krieger Cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler . [35] Meanwhile, the music production crew began work with the actors and studio musicians recording the songs for the film. The success of girl groups had much to do with the market. [23], Loretta Devine, who played Lorrell in the original Broadway production, has a cameo as a jazz singer who performs the song "I Miss You Old Friend.
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