Download Virginia Rep Announces the Opening of Dreamgirls, The

News Release
Virginia Repertory Theatre
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Date: June 3, 2016
Susan Davenport
Director of Communications
Virginia Repertory Theatre
[email protected]
804-783-1688 ext 1133
804-513-8211
Virginia Rep Announces the Opening of
Dreamgirls,
The Megawatt Broadway Sensation
Starring Desiree Roots, Zuri Washington, and Felicia Curry
Richmond, VA – Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Dreamgirls on
June 24 at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The
production runs through August 7, 2016. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and
book by Tom Eyen, this megawatt Broadway crowd-pleaser electrifies the stage with
Motown dreams and powerhouse voices. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the
Supremes, the story follows the turbo-charged rise to fame of the Dreams.
Director Chase Kniffen has reassembled many of the designers and cast members from
the 2014 Virginia Rep box office hit, The Color Purple. “I am thrilled to work with these
incredible actors again – Felicia, Desiree, Jerold, Katrinah and many of the ensemble.
Dreamgirls is a very different show. It’s glitzy and fast and more of a spectacle, but
these actors are talented and versatile. It will be a real treat for patrons who fell in love
with The Color Purple.”
Kniffen’s recent directing credits include Gypsy, South Pacific, The Color Purple for
Virginia Rep and Caroline, or Change for Cadence Theatre Company in partnership
with Virginia Rep. He won the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 RTCC Award for Best
Director of a Musical for his work on The Sound of Music, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Spring Awakening, and The Color Purple.
Music Director, John Winn, tours Asia, Russia, Turkey and Mexico leading his jazz
quartet as singer/saxophonist and performs frequently in pit orchestras for touring
Broadway productions in Richmond and Norfolk. Currently he teaches music at St.
Christopher’s School. He recently music directed Mame for Virginia Rep.
Choreographer, Leslie Owens-Harrington, is a seasoned choreographer with a diverse
repertoire from theme park mainstage presentations to HBO’s featured movie Iron
Jawed Angels. A few of her musical credits include Gypsy, The Color Purple, Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Ain’t
Misbehavin’, and Anything Goes. Harrington’s Director/Choreographer credits include
Once on This Island, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and Ragtime.
Lighting designer Joe Doran’s work with Virginia Rep includes South Pacific, The Color
Purple and A Year with Frog and Toad. Broadway credits include assistant lighting
director for Doctor Zhivago and Magic/Bird. National Tours include Anything Goes,
West Side Story, Flashdance the Musical, and In the Heights.
Desiree Roots returns to the November stage in the role of Effie. Recent Virginia Rep
credits include lead roles in Vera in Mame, Sofia in The Color Purple, and Caroline in
Caroline or Change (RTCC Award Best Actress in a Musical) in partnership with
Cadence Theatre Company. She is the recipient of the Theresa Pollack Award for
vocal excellence in the arts. Roots has been the opening act for such internationally
known performers as B. B. King, Kenny Garrett, Bobby Watson, Art Porter, Gerald
Albright, Leslie Uggams, and Bill Cosby. Her first Jazz CD, Don’t Ever Stop Dreaming,
was released in 2015.
Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome Zuri Washington in her Virginia Rep debut in the
role of Deena. Recent credits include the lead role of Felicia in the National Tour of
Memphis, which recently played at the Altria Theatre. Other credits include Danielle in
Bring It On: The Musical, Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, and Maureen in RENT.
Felicia Curry returns to Virginia Rep in the role of Lorrell Robinson. Curry was last seen
on the November Stage in 2014 in the lead role of Celie in The Color Purple for which
she won an RTCC Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She has performed on stage at
many of the nation’s leading regional theatres, including Arena Stage, Signature
Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre and has been seen in multiple productions on
The Kennedy Center stage. She is a Helen Hayes Award recipient for her work in
Signature Theatre’s groundbreaking production of Les Miserables and a Helen Hayes
nominee for her work in Godspell and Aida at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. She has toured
nationally with the Capital Steps and Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Recent credits include
Disgraced at Arena Stage and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and The
Mountaintop (Gulfshore Playhouse).
Jerold Solomon will play the role of Curtis. Virginia Rep credits include The Color
Purple, The Whipping Man, and The Mountaintop in partnership with Cadence Theatre
Company. Broadway credits include South Pacific at Lincoln Center and the OffBroadway production of Bare. National tours include Ragtime, Big River, and Annie.
Four Thoughts
1:30 p.m. on Sundays
The Four Thoughts discussion series will continue on Sundays throughout the run.
Experts will present four thoughts or ideas that provide context to the play. Open to
public. No reservation needed.
Ticket Information
Box Office 804-282-2620
www.virginiarep.org
Full Price Tickets: $48 - $60.
Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available.
U-Tix for college and high school students $15. Available by phone or in person
day of show only. Student ID required.
The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a new state-of the-art
induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped
hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system
is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.
Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-park is available
for patrons within blocks of the theatre.
Press Kits Available at http://va-rep.org/press.html
Pass code accessible Hi Res photos available to media.
username = press password = HiRes121
Evening performances at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:00 p.m. on
Thursdays and select Wednesdays
Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and select Wednesdays and Saturdays
Direction & Design
Director
Music Director
Choreographer
Scenic Designer
Lighting Designer
Costume Designer
Stage Manager
Chase Kniffen
John Winn
Leslie Owens-Harrington^
Ron Keller+
Joe Doran+
Sarah Grady
Ginnie Willard*
Cast List
Effie Melody White
Deena Jones
Lorrell Robinson
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
James Thunder Early
CC White/u/s Curtis
Marty
Michelle Morris
Desiree Roots*
Zuri Washington*
Felicia Curry*
Jerold Solomon*
D. Jerome Wells*
Durron Tyre
Billy Dye
Katrinah Carol Lewis
Ensemble: Trent Williams, Anthony Cosby, Tybias Whitehead, Reed Patterson, Ashlee
Heyward, Courtney Jamison, Cariel Hughes, Skye Hagood, Madison Harris, Nicole
Oberleitner, Mallory Keene, Gerald Jackson
+Member of USA United Scenic Artists: local 829
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage
managers in the U.S.A.
^Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor
union
Full bios can be found at www.virginiarep.org.
About Virginia Repertory Theatre
Virginia Repertory Theatre is the regional professional theatre in Richmond, Virginia.
With a budget of $5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an
annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is one of the largest performing arts
organizations in Central Virginia. Virginia Rep stages four seasons annually: the
Signature Season at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, Theatre Gym Season
in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, Virginia Rep’s Children’s Season at
Willow Lawn, and the Hanover Tavern Season.
Corporate Sponsors
Virginia Rep is grateful for the following support:
Premier Sponsor
Dominion
Production Sponsor
Union Bank and Trust
Season Sponsors:
Atria
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
Commission for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The Richmond Times- Dispatch
Community Idea Stations