Jennifer Hudson has announced that she will be producing a new “Dreamgirls” show on Broadway.
Hudson confirmed the news on her talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show.
“This fall, Dreamgirls is coming back to Broadway for the very first time since its opening 45 years ago in 1981,” she excitedly shared. “Now, it’s being reimagined for a whole new generation, which I am so excited about.
”Now, I finally get to tell you that I am a producer on the team for the revival of this iconic musical,” she continued. “There’s going to be so much more to share in time. But I’ve been having so much fun working with this amazing team. And I cannot wait to share the incredible production this fall.”
Hudson won an Academy Award for portraying Effie White in the film version of the Broadway show.
Additionally, Camille A. Brown, a five-time nominee, directed and choreographed the Broadway revival. She previously worked on musicals such as Hell’s Kitchen and Gypsy.
THE ORIGINAL RUN WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS
The original Broadway run of Dreamgirls was a game-changer in musical theater. Opening on December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre, the production was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett.
The cast was comprised of Jennifer Holliday as Effie White, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, and Loretta Devine as the eager Lorell Robinson. Ben Harney played Curtis Taylor Jr., Cleavant Derricks played “Thunder” Early, and Obba Babatundé played C.C. White.
The show was a critical success, earning 13 Tony Award nominations and winning six, including Best Book, Best Choreography, and acting awards for Jennifer Holliday and Ben Harney.
In 2006, Hudson starred in the cinematic adaptation of the musical. Portraying Effie White, the lead singer ousted from her group, Hudson channeled a raw, visceral vulnerability that turned the character into a symbol of resilience. Her rendition of the iconic ballad “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” became the film’s emotional centerpiece. Eventually, Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.