Download Dreamgirls - Portland Center Stage

PORTLANDCENTERSTAGE
Presents
Dreamgirls
Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen
Music by Henry Krieger
Original Broadway Production
Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett
Orchestrations by Harold Wheeler
Produced on Broadway by Michael Bennett, Robert Avian,
Geffen Records and The Shubert Organization
September 20 – November 2, 2014
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Artistic Director | Chris Coleman
PORTLANDCENTERSTAGE
Presents
Dreamgirls
Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen
Music by Henry Krieger
DIRECTED BY CHRIS COLEMAN
Musical Director
Rick Lewis
Choreographer
Kent Zimmerman
Scenic Designer
G.W. Mercier
Costume Designer
Sydney Roberts
Lighting Designer
Robert M. Wierzel
Sound and Video Designer
Casi Pacilio
Stage Manager
Emily N. Wells*
Dance Captain
Jonathan Burke*
Assistant Stage Manager
Marialena DiFabbio*
Production Assistant
Bailey Anne Maxwell
Casting
Harriet Bass
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Presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library,
Inc., 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this
production is strictly prohibited.
Performed with one intermission.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of
Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
CAST
Antoinette Comer*………….…Stepp Sister 1/Michelle Morris
Tatianna Mott*…………………Stepp Sister 2/Ensemble
Allyson Tolbert*…………………Stepp Sister 3/Ensemble
Shalanda Sims…………………Charlene/Joann
Tyrone Robertson*…………………Marty
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Rodney Hicks*…………………Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Mary Patton*…………………Deena Jones
Lexi Rhoades*…………………Lorrell Robinson
Nattalyee Randall*…………………Effie Melody White
Gerrin Delane Mitchell…………………M.C./Ensemble
Larry Owens*…………………Tiny Joe Dixon/Stage
Manager/Ensemble
Calvin Scott Roberts*……………C.C. (Claridge Conrad) White
Terry Lavell*…………………Little Albert/Jerry Norman/
Tuxedo/Mr. Morgan/Ensemble
Don Kenneth Mason*…………………Tru-Tone 1/Tuxedo/
Wayne/Ensemble
Jonathan Burke*…………Tru-Tone 2/Frank/Tuxedo/Ensemble
David Jennings*…………………Jimmy (James Thunder) Early
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Jameson Tabor…………………Dave
Joy Martin…………………Sweetheart
Kira Batcheller…………………Sweetheart
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of
Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
ORCHESTRA
Rick Lewis…………………Conductor
Jeffrey Childs…………………Piano
Sean Vinson…………………Bass
Sam Foulger…………………Percussion
Eric Toner…………………Guitar
Tim Ribner…………………Keyboard II
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Mieke Bruggeman…………………Reeds
Anthony Percival…………………Reeds
John Kim…………………Trumpet
Levis Dragulin…………………Trumpet
Al Torres…………………Trombone
DREAMGIRLS SONG LIST
ACT I
I’m Looking for Something, Baby…………The Stepp Sisters
Goin’ Downtown…………Little Albert and The Tru-Tones
Takin’ the Long Way Home…………Tiny Joe Dixon
Move (You’re Steppin’ on My Heart)…Effie, Deena & Lorrell
Fake Your Way to the Top……Jimmy, Effie, Deena & Lorrell
On the Road – Cadillac Car ………… C.C., Jimmy, Marty,
Effie, Deena, Lorrell & Ensemble
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Movin’ Out/Recording Studio………… Jimmy, Effie, Deena,
Lorrell & Ensemble
Cadillac Car (Reprise)…………Dave & the Sweethearts
Steppin’ to the Bad Side…………Curtis, C.C., Jimmy, Wayne,
Effie, Deena, Lorrell & Ensemble
Party, Party………… Curtis, C.C., Jimmy, Effie, Lorrell &
Ensemble
Baby-Baby…………Jimmy, Effie, Deena, Lorrell
Family…………Jimmy, C.C., Curtis, Effie, Deena & Lorrell
Dreamgirls…………Deena, Effie & Lorrell
Reporters…………Deena, Effie, Lorrell & Ensemble
Heavy…………Deena, Effie & Lorrell, Curtis
Walkin’ Down the Strip…………Jimmy
It’s All Over…………Curtis, C.C., Jimmy, Effie, Deena, Lorrell
& Michelle
(And I’m Telling You) I’m Not Going…………Effie
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ACT II
Opening (Reprise: Dreamgirls)…………Deena, Lorrell,
Michelle, Jimmy, Curtis & Ensemble
I Am Changing…………Effie
I Am Changing – Vogue…………Effie, Curtis, C.C., Deena,
Lorrell, Michelle & Ensemble
You Are My Dream…………Curtis & Deena
Ain’t No Party…………Jimmy, Lorrell & Tuxedos
I Meant You No Harm…………Jimmy, Lorrell, C.C., Michelle,
Deena
The Rap…………Jimmy, Frank, Curtis, Lorrell & Ensemble
I Miss You Old Friend………Marty, C.C., Effie & Les Styles
One Night Only…………Effie
One Night Only – Disco…………Curtis, Deena, Lorrell,
Michelle & Ensemble
Chicago………… Deena, Lorrell & Michelle, C.C., Marty,
Curtis, Effie
Hard to Say Goodbye (My Love)…………Curtis, Deena,
Lorrell, Michelle & Effie
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When Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. started writing
tunes with his buddy, Smokey Robinson, he didn’t have the right
to vote. Gordy came from two generations of businessmen. His
grandfather had been a successful entrepreneur in Sandersville,
GA before moving his family to Detroit to seize the
opportunities emerging in the automotive industry. Gordy’s
father ran a successful grocery store, his mother an insurance
company. The family was taught to hustle, push hard and make
a profit. Gordy dropped out of high school to become a
professional boxer, but it was only when he turned his energy to
producing music that he started to get some traction.
And for Gordy, while getting some traction was about making a
profit, that profit was always in service of a greater need. He
didn’t have a lot of faith in the American political system, and
didn’t know if social change would come through the system,
but he - like Curtis in Dreamgirls -believed that the real way to
gain power in America was to make money. A lot of it. As
Curtis sings in Act One:
“If the big white man can make us think we need his Cadillac
To make us feel as good as him;
We can make him think he needs our music
To make him feel as good as us.”
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At its core, Dreamgirls is a play about ambition: everyone in the
story is on the make, looking for a break, looking to hit it big.
Oftentimes in the rush to win, they scrape off a piece of their
humanity before they realize the price they’ve paid. And
ultimately the tension between ambition, loyalty, and
responsibility finds a way to emerge in some kind of balance.
It’s no accident that the show (and it is a SHOW) never stops
moving, never stops singing, always leans forward.
Jonathan Burke
Tru-Tone/Frank/Tuxedo/Ensemble/Dance Captain
Jonathan is thrilled to make his Portland Center Stage debut in
this dream show (pun intended)! A Baltimore native, Jonathan
was most recently seen in the national tour of Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Zebulun; Joseph u/s). Other
national tours include Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story: The
Musical and Cats (Mungojerrie). Jonathan was seen OffBroadway in the world premiere of Langston in Harlem (Junior
Addict) as well as in Jazz a la Carte at the Apollo Theater w/
Savion Glover. Regional favorites: Goodspeed Opera House's
Norma Terris Theatre – Amazing Grace (Tyler); Merry-GoRound Playhouse – Hairspray (Seaweed); Hangar Theatre –
RENT (Angel); Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center – Goddess
(Omari); Baltimore Centerstage – The Wiz; Hangar Theatre –
Hair. Video: The Broadway Warm-Up. TV: TV Land Awards
w/ Liza Minnelli. Commercials: Daffy's Dance; Joe's Crab
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Shack. Many thanks to Chris, Kent, family, DAH and DDO!
B.F.A. Ithaca College.
Antoinette Comer
Stepp Sister 1/Michelle Morris
Antoinette is excited to be performing in one of her favorite
shows again! She comes directly off of the national tour of
Mamma Mia! (Lisa). Other favorite credits include: Dreamgirls,
Hairspray and The Jungle Book. Many thanks to God, her
family (Mom, Dad, Colette, Dominique and Koby) and all of her
friends! Proverbs 16:9.
Rodney Hicks
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Previously at PCS, Rodney played Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in
The Mountaintop and Curly in Oklahoma!. Broadway credits
include The Scottsboro Boys (Clarence Norris/OCR), RENT
(Benny/Closing Cast/Live on Broadway DVD), Jesus Christ
Superstar (Peter/2000 Revival) and RENT (Paul &
Others/Original Cast). Off-Broadway credits include The
Scottsboro Boys, Jacques Brel is Alive (2006 Revival Cast),
From My Hometown and RENT. Select regional theater credits
are Big River (Jim/Footlight & Seattle Critics Choice Award
Leading Actor), The Scottsboro Boys (Haywood
Patterson/Philadelphia Barrymore Award Leading Actor), King
Lear, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Lobby Hero. TV credits are
Leverage, GRIMM, Hope & Faith, Law & Order: C.I., Student
Affairs -Pilot (Series Regular) and NYPD Blue. Life is beautiful.
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David Jennings
Jimmy (James Thunder) Early
David Jennings is excited to return to Dreamgirls after starring
as Curtis Taylor, Jr. with Frenchie Davis (West Coast tour) and
opposite original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday at Atlanta’s Fox
Theater. David was most recently seen on Broadway in After
Midnight, starring Fantasia, Toni Braxton and Patti LaBelle. His
additional Broadway credits include Hands on a Hardbody,
Brooklyn the Musical (original Streetsinger), and The Genius of
Ray Charles on London’s West End. National credits include
Ragtime (Coalhouse), Miss Saigon (John), Porgy & Bess
(Porgy), Sister Act (Sgt. Eddie Souther) and as the replacement
for BeBe Winans in the concert tour of Civil War. On screen,
David guest starred on the F/X television drama The Shield, on
the CBS special Christmas at the Grove, in comedy sketches for
NBC’s The Tonight Show and in the films The Sleepless and
Burning Sands. David also received a Grammy nomination for
his performance on the 30th Anniversary recording of Ain’t
Misbehavin’ with Ruben Studdard and has performed with
Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Harry Connick, Jr. and a host of
music royalty. Additionally, David gave a special New Year’s
Eve performance before the King of Morocco at the Royal
Palace in Casablanca and entertained for 4th of July festivities at
the White House.
Terry Lavell
Little Albert/Jerry Norman/Tuxedo/Mr. Morgran/Ensemble
Terry Lavell is a native of New Orleans, LA. Broadway: La
Cage Aux Folles (Mercedes) 2010 Tony Award winning revival,
OBC and cast recording. Broadway National Tours: La Cage
Aux Folles (Mercedes) First National Tour, Hairspray
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(Seaweed) in Las Vegas, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Adrian). Regional
Credits: Forum (Gymnasia) for Bay St. Theater, Aida at
Fullerton Civic Light Opera and Boys From Syracuse (Seress) at
Baltimore Center Stage. Terry has also been seen in
NYMF/Fringe festival productions of Castronauts, Scandalous
People and Invisible Life to name a few. TV/Film: Sex in the
City, The Dave Chappelle Show, Happy Life: The Film and
Sheena. Terry has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State
University, LA. Check my single Born This Way, available on
iTunes/YouTube.
@tdlavell To God be The Glory, love to GBM and mama....
BOOKED!
Don Kenneth Mason
Tru-Tone/Tuxedo/Wayne/Ensemble
Don Kenneth Mason is thrilled to return to Portland Center
Stage! His previous credits include Munkustrap (the gray cat) in
Cats (Broadway Rose Theatre), Zachariah in Blood Knot
(Profile Theatre, Drammy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor),
Dream Curly (and Fred!) in Oklahoma! (Portland Center Stage).
Regional credits: Guys & Dolls (Rusty Charlie), Camelot (Sir
Sagramore), Kiss Me, Kate (Paul), 42nd Street, Once on the
Island, Radio City Christmas Across America and Tokyo
Disney. Don has written and performed his one-man show,
Diary of an Out-of-Work Actor, as well as two one-act plays,
Waiting and Dream a Little Dream. He is both a proud member
of Actors’ Equity Association, as well as the proud Company
Manager of PCS. All my love to Bruce and Buddy.
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Gerrin Delane Mitchell
M.C./Ensemble
Gerrin Delane Mitchell has been busy with performances
through Portland Center Stage’s educational program, All's Fair
in Love and Shakespeare. Favorite recent roles include
Stevedore in Show Boat, Mowgli in Jungle Book, Seabee
Richard West in South Pacific, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's
Dream, Trash in Spaced Out: The Alien Abduction Musical and
(...) with Fuse Theatre Ensemble. You may have also seen him
in JAW 2014! Gerrin is a proud graduate of the University of
Central Oklahoma. He advanced his graduate performance study
at Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue
Lake, CA. This performance is dedicated to his Mom for her
unfailing encouragement to pursue his dreams.
Tatianna Mott
Stepp Sister 2/Ensemble
Tatianna is elated to be making her PCS debut in one of her
favorite musicals, Dreamgirls. Upon receiving her B.A. in
Theatre from Duke University, Tatianna studied at UCL in
London, UK and at the Michael Howard Studios Conservatory
in N.Y. Credits: Sophisticated Ladies (Cotton Club, N.Y.),
Hairspray (Actors Playhouse, FL. and STONC, CT.), Avenue Q
(Smithtown PAC, N.Y. - directed by OBC member Rick Lyon),
and For Vixens Who've Considered Homicide When the Video
was Too Much (Off-Broadway). www.tatiannamott.com
Larry Owens
Tiny Joe Dixon/Stage Manager/Ensemble
Larry is thrilled to bring Dreamgirls to Portland! He originated
the role of Darnell Parnell in the musical Fat Camp at NYMF
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(dir. Alex Timbers), The Cleveland Playhouse and OffBroadway's American Theatre of Actors. NEW YORK: Jesus
Christ Reality Star (Judas), Upright Citizen's Brigade; Three
Wishes for Sondheimas (Bass/Foxxy Sondheim), 54Below; Hit
List (Ensemble), 54Below. REGIONAL: Grease (Roger),
MUNY. READINGS: Incompetent Scumbags (Marion Barry),
dir. Alex Timbers; Fly (Lost Boy), dir. Jeffrey Seller.
CONCERT: If It Only Even Runs A Minute (Gospel at Colonus),
Rocker’s Anonymous; NYMF’S Next Broadway Sensation.
TELEVISION: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He is a
playwright and author of The Musical Theatre Dictionary.
TRAINING: Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Special thanks to this
brilliant Creative Team, my family, and DHA. All you gotta do
is dream! Twitter: @LARRYtweeted; Instagram: @larryo;
Website: www.larryowens.net
Mary Patton
Deena Jones
Mary Patton is thrilled to be doing her favorite show again as
Deena Jones. She was last seen in the First National Tour of
Sister Act as a Deloris Van Cartier u/s and Ensemble. Mary also
played the role of Lorrell Robinson in the National Tour of
Dreamgirls. Singing has taken her to many places around the
world and she is thankful for every opportunity. Special thanks
to her husband Marcus.
Nattalyee Randall
Effie Melody White
Nattalyee is so excited to return to her dream role of Effie for
her Portland Center Stage debut. She just moved to New York
City two years ago from Springfield, IL (Land of Lincoln) and
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has a degree in Music and English Education from Western
Illinois University. Her favorite credits include: The Color
Purple (Church Lady Jarene), Hairspray (Motormouth),
Dreamgirls (Effie Melody White), Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator), RENT (Joanne Jefferson),
Suessical (Sour Kangaroo), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), HAIR
(Dionne), Ragtime (Sarah's friend), Dessa Rose (Dorcas) and
Big River (Alice's Daughter). Much love to LNT for ALWAYS
supporting my dreams and Dave for helping me land this
awesome job! @Nattalyee
Lexi Rhoades
Lorrell Robinson
PCS debut! New York: Sistas the musical (original cast, OffBroadway), Barefoot Persephone (New Dramatists, directed by
Kent Nicholson), Stardust Road (directed by Susan H.
Schulman), 54 - the musical Volleygirls (Equity workshop), The
Yellow Brick Road (TWUSA at the Lucille Lortel Theater),
ALKY and The ReRun Project (PIT). Regional: Smokey Joe’s
Cafe and Baby (PA Center Stage); Aida, Little Shop of Horrors
and Dreamgirls (West Virginia Public Theater). Film/TV: Black
Nativity (Fox Searchlight), Sistas the musical (DVD &
BETNetworks), Grease, You're the One That I Want! (NBC)
and Musical Theater Spotlight! (Big Ten Network). She has also
been featured on Broadway.com's Fresh Face! Lexi holds a
B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Penn State. Love and thanks to
all whom have supported me over the years and big love and
thanks to my manager, Susan Campochiaro Confrey of CBU
Management.
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Tyrone Roberson
Marty
Tyrone Roberson is excited to be returning to Portland Center
Stage for their production of Dreamgirls in the role of Marty.
Tyrone's credits include: Tom Collins in RENT (Bristol
Riverside Theater), Cord Elam in Oklahoma! (Portland Center
Stage), Urban NYC Guy in Grim, Grimmer & Grimmest
(Theater Emory, Atlanta). Tyrone's extended credits include
opera, film, television, voice overs and recordings. Tyrone is
grateful to God, his Mom and family. Special thanks to my
Manager, Susan Compochiaro Confrey (CBU Management) for
believing in me and encouraging me to move back to NYC.
Tyrone is Ready to Rock This Show.
Calvin Scott Roberts
C.C. (Claridge Conrad) White
Hello, Portland! Calvin Roberts is beyond excited to make his
debut at Portland Center Stage! Originally from Dallas, TX.,
some of Calvin’s regional credits include: Leroy/Herb, By the
Way, Meet Vera Stark (WaterTower Theatre); Joe/The Folk,
Spunk (WaterTower Theatre); Thomas Hodge, Honky
(WaterTower Theatre); Moose, Crazy For You (Theatre Three);
Sabu, The Producers (Uptown Players); Smokey Joe’s Cafe
(WaterTower Theatre); King, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
(DCT National Tour); The Wiz (DTC); Willy, Flora, the Red
Menace (Lyric Stage); Ensemble, Drowsy Chaperone (Theatre
Three); Labourer/Undertakers Man, A Christmas Carol (Dallas
Theater Center). Other theatrical credits include: Salerio,
Merchant of Venice and Lucius, Julius Caesar (Shakespeare
Dallas). Thank you to my family for all their love and support.
www.calvinscott-roberts.com
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Shalanda Sims
Charlene/Joann
Shalanda Sims is a vocalist, writer, director, producer and
instructor who has penned and produced nine plays within the
last eight years. She is the founder of her own theater company
and the creator of Who I Am; Celebrating Me. She studied
theater at University of Portland, English at Portland State
University and has toured the country as a lead singer in a
professional choir. Her most recent work is the original play
Vanport, which she wrote and directed in 2013. Most recently,
she was seen in Portland Opera’s Pirates of Penzance as Isabel.
Shalanda thanks God for every open door, her husband and
children for their unfailing love and encouragement and her
community village for their continued support.
Allyson Tolbert
Stepp Sister 3/Ensemble
Allyson was most recently seen on the First National Tour of
Catch Me If You Can. Originally from St. Petersburg, FL.,
Allyson received her B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance
from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Previous tours
include Mel Brooks’ The Producers and Disney's Beauty and
the Beast. Favorite regional productions include: Damn Yankees
(Lola); Singing in the Rain (Zelda Zanders); Smokey Joe's Cafe
(BJ). Much love and thanks to my friends for all of their
undying support. ATB and the amazing Todd E. My family and
most importantly my Mom for always believing in me and my
dreams.
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Kira Batcheller
Sweetheart
Kira Batcheller is honored and excited to be making her debut
with Portland Center Stage. She is a Portland native and a recent
graduate from Western Oregon University with a B.F.A. in
Acting. Some of her credits include The Crucible (Abigail), The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), The
Liar (Lucrece) and Oliver! (Nancy). She wishes to thank her
friends and family for their continued love and support.
Joy Martin
Sweetheart
Joy Martin is beyond excited to make her debut with Portland
Center Stage! Recent regional credits include Evelyn Nesbit in
Ragtime, Anne in A Little Night Music and Leisl in Sound of
Music at Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. Favorite Portland
credits include Amneris in Aida, Lily in The Secret Garden, and
Mabel in Pirates of Penzance. Outside of theater she enjoys
rocking out as a singer and dancer in the band Con Bro Chill!
She graduated with a B.A. in Theater/Musical Theater from
Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.
Jameson Tabor
Dave
Jameson is a Cum Laude graduate from the University of
Oregon, with a bachelor’s in theater arts and minors in business
and music. He has performed professionally in Portland for 17
years in over 35 productions and multiple film shorts. Favorite
roles: The Baker in Into the Woods, Bobby Child in Crazy for
You, Frank Schultz in Showboat and Alexander in Alexander
and the Terrible, Horrible … (Drammy Award, 2001). He has
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been recognized as an outstanding composer and music director,
with three fully produced works – Masculism: The Mantastic
Musical Experience, Annelie in the Depths of the Night and the
sound-score for a movement-based adaptation of The Tempest.
Two new works are on their way. Love to his wife Jenna for her
unending support! www.jamesontabor.com.
“When Broadway history is being made, you can feel it,”
declared The New York Times when Dreamgirls made its debut
in 1981 at the Imperial Theatre. The production ran for an
impressive 1,522 performances, swept the Tony Awards and
propelled the careers of its stars. But much like the beloved girl
group whose fate so closely parallels the story, Dreamgirls had
its own humble beginnings.
Two of the creators - Henry Krieger (music) and Tom Eyen
(Book and Lyrics) - hadn’t enjoyed any mainstream success
prior to the debut of Dreamgirls. Neither of them could have
imagined their show would later be remade into an $80 million
Hollywood film. And Jennifer Holliday, who played Effie White
in the original production, was largely unknown when she
became involved in early workshops of Dreamgirls. Her own
Broadway aspirations were still relatively new, after someone
had heard her singing in a church choir and encouraged her to
try to make it on the Great White Way. With Dreamgirls,
Holliday found instant stardom. Her recording of “(And I’m
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Telling You) I’m Not Going” became a number one single on
the Billboard R&B charts in 1982.
25 years after the Broadway debut, the film version of
Dreamgirls helped to propel the career of another rising star;
that of the American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson. With no
film experience, Hudson was the up-and-coming actress Bill
Condon (the film’s director and screenwriter) wanted to mirror
the casting of Holliday in the original Broadway production.
Hudson’s success certainly matched that of Holliday’s, when
she became one of the few actresses in history to score an Oscar
for a film debut. In 2007, Holliday and Hudson took the stage
together to perform “And I’m Telling You” at the BET Awards,
bringing together two generations of dreamgirls whose lives
were transformed by the musical.
But it all began with The Supremes and Motown Records. The
Supremes were the first African American musical act to
achieve mainstream success. At their peak, The Supremes
rivaled The Beatles in popularity. In 1966, their album The
Supremes A’ Go-Go knocked Revolver out of the number one
spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was the first time an
album by an all-female group reached that number one spot. The
Supremes are still one of the most successful groups in history,
with 12 singles that reached number one on the Billboard Hot
100 chart.
Started by classmates who grew up in public housing projects in
Detroit, The Supremes signed to Motown Records in 1961.
Between 1961 and 1963, they released eight singles that didn’t
chart, earning themselves the nickname “the no hit Supremes.”
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It wasn’t until Berry chose Diana Ross as the official lead that
they had their first number one hit, “Where Did Our Love Go,”
in 1964. Four more number ones followed – “Baby Love,”
“Come See About Me,” “Stop, In the Name of Love” and “Back
In My Arms Again” – and they became international stars.
Despite the massive success, it was a rough road for The
Supremes, but they paved the way for all the legendary acts that
followed, along with all the future dreamgirls who dared to
dream.
- Claudie Fisher
Public Relations and Publications Manager
Tell us what you think of the show!
Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
#pcs_dreamgirls
Henry Krieger
Music
Henry Krieger began composing for Off-Off Broadway in his
twenties, a venue that led to his meeting with playwright-lyricist
Tom Eyen. Together with director-choreographer Michael
Bennett, they created the long running Broadway hit musical,
Dreamgirls, which opened at the Imperial Theatre on December
20, 1981. Dreamgirls won six Tony Awards, and Mr. Krieger
was nominated for his now-legendary score, for which he won
the Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album. Dreamgirls
generated new success with new audiences as a Dreamworks
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film written and directed by Bill Condon. The film was
nominated for eight Academy Awards, including three
nominations for Mr. Krieger for “Love You, I Do,” “Listen” and
“Patience.” He received a Grammy Award for “Love You, I
Do.” Side Show, his most recent Broadway musical, was
directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with book
and lyrics by Bill Russell. The musical received four Tony
nominations, including Best Score. In 2013, Side Show was
reimagined by director Bill Condon and received a coproduction at La Jolla Playhouse and the Kennedy Center.
Tom Eyen
Book and Lyrics
Tom Eyen was an American playwright, lyricist, television
writer and theater director. Eyen is best known for works at
opposite ends of the theatrical spectrum. Mainstream
theatergoers became acquainted with him in 1981 when he
partnered with composer Henry Krieger and director Michael
Bennett to write the book and lyrics for Dreamgirls. Produced
on Broadway in 1981, Dreamgirls was the biggest success of
Eyen's career. It was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards,
including two for Eyen: Best Book and, as lyricist, Best Original
Score. The show won six Tonys, including Best Book. It also
earned Eyen a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding
Lyrics. The original cast album won Eyen a Grammy Award as
lyricist, and one of the show's songs, "(And I’m Telling You)
I'm Not Going," sung by Holliday, became a top hit. When a
film adaptation of Dreamgirls by writer/director Bill Condon
was released in 2006 by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures,
the soundtrack became a number one hit, and two of Eyen's
songs from the soundtrack, "(And I’m Telling You) I'm Not
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Going," sung by Jennifer Hudson, and "One Night Only," sung
by Beyoncé Knowles, became hits again. Eyen's career started,
however, with avant garde plays and musicals that he wrote and
directed off-off Broadway in the early 1960s, which eventually
led to Off-Broadway success in the 1970s with the controversial
performance-art play The Dirtiest Show in Town and Women
Behind Bars, a camp parody of women's prison exploitation
films.
Michael Bennett
Conception/Original Director/Choreographer
Michael Bennett choreographed Promises, Promises; Coco;
Company; Follies (which he co-directed with Harold Prince);
and Seesaw (which he also wrote and directed). In 1973 he made
his debut as a dramatic director with Twigs, which starred Sada
Thompson. A Chorus Line, which he conceived, choreographed
and directed, won nine Tony Awards. In 1976 he and other
authors of A Chorus Line were awarded the Pulitzer Price for
drama. In 1979 he produced, directed and choreographed
Ballroom, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards and
won Mr. Bennett his sixth Tony. He won his seventh Tony
Award in 1981’s Dreamgirls, and directed its acclaimed 1985
Broadway revival. The film adaptation of Dreamgirls was
released in December 2006.
Chris Coleman
Director
Chris joined Portland Center Stage as artistic director in May
2000. Before coming to Portland, he was artistic director at
Actor’s Express in Atlanta, a company he co-founded in the
basement of an old church in 1988. Chris recently returned to
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Atlanta to direct Phylicia Rashad and Kenny Leon in Same Time
Next Year. Favorite PCS directing assignments include Othello,
Fiddler on the Roof, Clybourne Park, Sweeney Todd,
Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline (which he also adapted),
Anna Karenina, Oklahoma!, Snow Falling on Cedars, Ragtime,
Crazy Enough, Beard of Avon, Cabaret, King Lear, Cat on a
Hot Tin Roof, Man and Superman, Outrage, Flesh and Blood
and The Devils. Chris has directed at theaters across the country,
including Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare
Festival, ACT-Seattle, The Alliance, Dallas Theatre Center,
Pittsburgh Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop and
Center Stage in Baltimore. A native Atlantan, Chris holds a
B.F.A. from Baylor University and an M.F.A. from Carnegie
Mellon. He is currently the board president for the Cultural
Advocacy Coalition. Chris’ favorite things about Portland:
farmers markets, Timbers games, Salt & Straw ice cream, dog
parks, food carts and cars that stop for pedestrians.
Rick Lewis
Musical Director
Rick’s previous PCS shows are The Last Five Years, Fiddler on
the Roof (PAMTA nomination, Musical Direction), Somewhere
in Time, Sweeney Todd (Drammy Award, Musical Director),
Black Pearl Sings!, Oklahoma!, The Huntsmen (JAW), The
Imaginary Invalid, Sunset Boulevard, The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee, Ragtime (Drammy Award), Grey Gardens,
A Christmas Carol (Composer), Guys and Dolls (Drammy
Award), Cabaret, West Side Story (Drammy Award), The
Fantasticks and Bat Boy. He is the creator of the hit OffBroadway musicals The Taffetas, Have a Nice Day! and The
Cardigans (NYC Bistro Award, “Outstanding Musical
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Review”). Rick was musical supervisor for the West Coast
regional premiere of Next to Normal (Artists Repertory Theatre).
He was assistant conductor/vocal director for the pre-Broadway
workshop of Cy Coleman’s The Life. Rick has written for
Disney Live Family Entertainment, American Hawaii Cruises,
American West Steamboat Company, American Classic
Voyages and the Portland Spirit (Cinnamon Bear Cruise). He
has served as musical director for Susan Egan, Jody Benson,
Michael Maguire, Debbie Gravitte and the late Allan Jones.
Rick is a private vocal coach, concentrating on musical theater
audition and performance. www.rlewismusic.com.
Kent Zimmerman
Choreographer
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to
the imagination and life to everything.” Kent is honored to be
back at PCS. Last season, Kent made his choreography debut
with PCS’s Fiddler on the Roof. He has been seen on stage at
PCS in Ragtime, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and A
Christmas Carol, where he also served as associate
choreographer. Other associate choreography credits include:
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman, Cabaret, Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease and Wizard of Oz.
Other theater credits include: Annie Get Your Gun, Thou Shalt
Not (Broadway), The Producers (First National Tour, Los
Angeles, Las Vegas), Guys and Dolls (50th Anniversary),
Footloose (First National Tour), Show Boat (Third National
Tour, London), Spamalot, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago, A
Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Funny Girl, Peter Pan, White
Christmas and Randy Newman's Faust . He can also be seen in
The Shawshank Redemption, The Producers (film version) and
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My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs. Directly after
Dreamgirls opens, Kent will direct and choreograph Young
Frankenstein for Red Mountain Theater Company, where he
made his directorial debut earlier this year with La Cage Aux
Folles. Dreams do come true! Psalms 91:11
G.W. Mercier
Scenic Design
Skip’s previous Portland Center Stage shows are Fiddler on the
Roof, Anna Karenina, Sunset Boulevard, Ragtime, Grey
Gardens, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, West Side Story and The
Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow. In New York he designed Old
Hats at Signature Theatre which is moving to Broadway; Juan
Darien: A Carnival Mass (Tony and Drama Desk nominations),
Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Miracle Brothers, Five Course Love,
People Are Wrong, Wilder, Eli’s Comin’, Dream True (Drama
Desk nomination), True History & Real Adventures, You Don’t
Miss the Water, The Waiting Room, Bed & Sofa (Drama Desk
nomination), Por Knockers, The Party, Lady Bracknell’s
Confinement, Hannah, 1939, Urban Zulu Mambo, Catch Me If I
Fall, Groundhog, The Red Sneaks, The New Americans, Winter
Man, The Loman Family Picnic, The Tempest, Taming of the
Shrew, Macbeth, Lemon Sky, Evening Sky and Judgment. Recent
regional work includes Party Come Here, Urinetown, Our
Town, Rag & Bone, Measure For Measure, A Christmas Carol,
Guys & Dolls, The Time of Your Life (Bay Area Critics Award),
The Ballad of Little Jo, Vigil, Frame 312, Theopolis North and
Fuddy Meers. G.W. thrives collaborating with amazing writers,
composers, directors, partner designers and actors creating
original work or making established shows seem new. He and
his family live in Connecticut.
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Sydney Roberts
Costume Designer
Dreamgirls marks a happy return to Portland Center Stage.
Based in Atlanta, Sydney has been designing there and at
regional theaters since 1997 when she first worked on Love!
Valour! Compassion! with Chris Coleman at Actor’s Express.
Other Atlanta theater work: Alliance Theatre, Georgia
Shakespeare (Associate Artist), Aurora Theatre, Actor’s
Express, Horizon Theatre, Theatre Emory, Theatrical Outfit,
True Colors Theatre Company, among others. Regional:
Portland Center Stage, Geva Theatre (NY), Red Mountain
Theatre Company (AL) and Barking Legs Theatre (TN). Film:
Ruthie. Awards: Drammy for Best Costumes, The Devils,
Portland, OR and four Suzi Bass nominations in Atlanta. Sydney
was the Costume Designer and Shop Manager at the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga for a million years. She has taught
costume design at Emory University and is currently teaching a
costume design class at Oglethorpe University. Sydney is a
member of United Scenic Artists-829 and a graduate of the
University of Texas. She and Chris will team up again next
spring for a new play, Edward Foote, at the Alliance Theatre in
Atlanta.
Robert Wierzel
Lighting Designer
Mr. Wierzel has worked in theater, dance and opera, with artists
and directors from diverse disciplines and backgrounds, on
stages throughout the country and abroad. Currently on
Broadway, the play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill starring
Audra McDonald. Other productions include the musical Fela!
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(2010 Tony Award nomination; and at the Royal National
Theatre/London). Robert’s dance work includes 28 years with
Bill T. Jones and the BTJ/AZ Dance Company. Other recent
dance collaborations include A.B.T. (The Tempest), Sean Curran
(Dream'd in a Dream), Heidi Latsky (Three Pieces), Liz Gerring
(Glacier) and Andrea Miller/Gallim Dance (Fold Here). Mr.
Wierzel has worked extensively in the theater, including
A.C.T./San Francisco, Goodman Theatre/Chicago, Hartford
Stage, Center Stage/Baltimore, Chicago Shakespeare, Guthrie
Theatre, YRT, Long Wharf, The Old Globe and The Mark Taper
Forum, among many others. In addition, Mr. Wierzel has
worked with many opera companies, including Glimmerglass
Festival, NYCO, Paris/Garnier, Chicago Lyric, Seattle, Tokyo,
Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, San Diego, San Francisco,
Houston, Dallas, Austin, Miami, Washington DC, Minneapolis,
Virginia and Miami. Mr. Wierzel is an adjunct faculty member
at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Currently, he is in preproduction for the play Indian Ink, at the Roundabout Theatre
Company in NYC.
Casi Pacilio
Sound and Video Designer
Casi keeps busy with a variety of work and play in Portland and
around the country. PCS credits include The Last Five Years,
Othello, A Small Fire, Chinglish, Twist Your Dickens, The
Mountaintop, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, The North Plan,
Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline, Black Pearl Sings!, Opus,
futura (with composer Jana Losey), Ragtime (PAMTA Award
2010), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Alfred
Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, Snow Falling on Cedars, Crazy
Enough, The Little Dog Laughed, Sometimes a Great Notion,
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Cabaret, The Pillowman, I Am My Own Wife, West Side Story,
Celebrity Row and eight seasons of JAW. National shows:
Holcombe Waller Surfacing and Wayfinders; Hand2Mouth
Theatre credits: Left Hand of Darkness, My Mind is Like an
Open Meadow (Drammy Award 2011), Something’s Got Ahold
Of My Heart and PEP TALK. Other theatrical credits include
Squonk Opera’s Bigsmorgasbord-WunderWerk (Broadway,
PS122, national and international touring); I Am My Own Wife, I
Think I Like Girls (La Jolla Playhouse); Playland, 10 Fingers
and Lips Together, Teeth Apart (City Theatre, PA). Film credits
include Creation of Destiny, Out of Our Time and A Powerful
Thang. Recordings: Glitterfruit’s fruit snacks.
Emily N. Wells
Stage Manager
Emily is in her fourth season at PCS. Favorite shows have been
Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline, Venus in Fur and Twist
Your Dickens. Proud Equity member for 18 years, spent in
NYC, on tour and regionally. Highlights on Broadway include
Electra, Swan Lake and Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway credits
include Adrift in Macao; Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams
(with Nathan Lane and Marian Seldes); and String of Pearls at
Primary Stages. Other Off-Broadway credits are Floyd and Clea
Under the Western Sky at Playwrights Horizons and Summer of
the Swans and Sarah, Plain & Tall at the Lucille Lortel. She has
also stage managed readings and workshops for Playwrights
Horizons, NAMT and North Shore Music Theatre. She spent a
year and a half on tour as the PSM for Buddy: The Buddy Holly
Story. Regional theater work includes Ordway Center, Ogunquit
Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse and Theatreworks/USA, among
others. In June of 2014, Emily traveled to Memphis to be the
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Artistic Director for the Orpheum Theatre’s summer training
camps. She also advocates for patients with congenital heart
disease. www.achaheart.org
Marialena DiFabbio
Assistant Stage Manager
Maria is thrilled to be in Portland and working on this show.
East coast regional credits include: Satchmo At The Waldorf,
January Joiner, Ride The Tiger, Clybourne Park, My Name Is
Asher Lev, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and others at Long Wharf Theatre
in New Haven, CT. Richard II, Love’s Labour’s Lost
(Shakespeare & Co.). Portland credits include: Love’s Labour’s
Lost (Post5 Theatre), Revival (Fertile Ground), Dear Momma
and Twelfth Night (directed by the wonderful Avital Shira).
Love to family, friends and M.M.
Bailey Anne Maxwell
Production Assistant
Bailey Anne Maxwell is thrilled to be joining Portland Center
Stage this season. Bailey has most recently worked as a
Production Assistant with Artists Repertory Theatre on The
Motherf**ker with the Hat, Foxfinder, Ten Chimneys, The Lost
Boy and Seven Guitars. Bailey has recently enjoyed being the
Stage Manager on Tamer Tamed and the Assistant Stage
Manager on Taming of the Shrew with Portland Shakespeare
Project. She has also worked with Profile Theatre as a Stage
Management Apprentice on Buried Child and Eyes for
Consuela. Bailey is a Linfield College graduate and a proud
member of the EMC program.
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Scenic Painters
Shawn Mallory
Props Artisans
Teresa Pilar Huarte
Shawn Mallory
Carpenters
Matthew Jones
Greg Bennet
Phil Shaw
William Morfeld
Drafters
Maria Gerbino
Ben Crop
Costume Design Assistant
Paige Russell
Stitchers
Susi Jenkins
Foggy Bell
Kat Reid
Production Electrician
Conery MacRae
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Master Electrician
Alexz Eccles
Live Sound Engineer and Programmer
Em Gustason
Deck Sound
Molly Gardner
Office Assistant
Kaye Blankenship
Production Intern
Casey O’Hanlan
Lead Corporate Champion Umpqua Bank
From the lead actor to the light technician, from the front seats
to the back row, we’re proud to support every inch of Portland
Center Stage. Of course we’re writing this in hope that, as a
fellow lover of the theater, you’ll come and visit us. But for
now, sit back and enjoy the show.
Benson Industries, Inc.
Benson Industries, Inc. is a curtainwall contractor providing
external cladding for high rise buildings throughout the United
States and around the world, including the World Trade 1 in
New York.
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Benson is committed to our community, supporting non-profits
and the arts for over 50 years. We are sure you will enjoy the
season’s opening of Dreamgirls.
Curtis Thompson, MD & Associates
We are thrilled to support Dreamgirls as the first production of
the 2014-15 PCS season. We hope you enjoy not only the music
but also this compelling story about the challenge and hardship
of evoking change.
NW Natural
The theater, Thornton Wilder said, “is the most immediate way
in which a human being can share with another the sense of
what it is to be a human being.”
In that spirit, Dreamgirls takes us behind the music industry
façade to reveal the human forces that motivate, compel and
break hearts. A spectacular musical, it’s also an impressive look
at the souls behind the voices that brought joy to so many of us.
PCS – congratulations on another stellar show. You continue to
open our eyes to different truths.
-Gregg Kantor, President & CEO of NW Natural
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