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Dreamgirls

also known as One Night Only
15 productions 29 recordings 1979 – 9999 Eyen/Krieger

Workshop (1979)

performed as One Night Only
1979 Workshop) {aka One Night Only} Full Show Audience
Nell Carter (Effie)
Dreamgirls (1979; Workshop) {aka One Night Only} [ID2947508]

Pre-Broadway (1981)

Opened Nov 24, 1981 · Shubert Theatre, Boston
1981 Pre-Broadway Cast - Boston Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (1981; Pre-Broadway Cast - Boston) [ID2947509]

Original Broadway Production (1981)

Opened Dec 20, 1981 · Imperial Theatre, New York
Dec 20, 1981 Original Broadway Cast - Opening [Sound System] Opening Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
NoteRemastered
Dreamgirls (1981.12.20; Original Broadway Cast - Opening [Sound System]) [ID2947510]
Dec 20, 1981 Original Broadway Cast - Opening [Sound System][Raw] Opening Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
NoteRaw, directly from the original cassette.
Dreamgirls (1981.12.20; Original Broadway Cast - Opening [Sound System][Raw]) [ID2947511]
1981/1982 Broadway - Jennifer Holliday Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (1982; Broadway - Jennifer Holliday) [ID2947512]
Apr 1982 Full Show Audience
Jennifer Holliday (Effie Melody White), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena Jones), Loretta Devine (Lorrell Robinson), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James "Thunder" Early), Obba Babatundé (C.C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle Morris), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Marty Madison)
Dreamgirls (1982-04; Broadway) [ID2951289]
Dec 4, 1982 Broadway - Holliday's Last [Sound System][Raw] Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Linda Lelliani Brown (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
NoteRaw, directly from the original cassette. Jennifer Holliday's final performance.
Dreamgirls (1982.12.04; Broadway - Holliday's Last [Sound System][Raw]) [ID2947514]
Dec 4, 1982 Broadway - Holliday's Last [Sound System] Full Show Sound System
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Linda Lelliani Brown (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorell), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Obba Babatundé (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
NoteRemastered. Jennifer Holliday's final performance.
Dreamgirls (1982.12.04; Broadway - Holliday's Last [Sound System]) [ID2947513]
Apr 23, 1985 Full Show Audience
Roz Ryan (Effie Melody White), Deborah Burrell (Deena Jones), Loretta Devine (Lorrell Robinson), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor Jr.), Terry Burrell (Michelle Morris)
Dreamgirls (1985-04-23; Broadway | Roz Ryan) [ID2951253]

1st National Tour (1983)

Opened Mar 20, 1983
1983 1st National Tour - Lillias White Full Show Sound System
Lillias White (s/b Effie), Linda Lelliani Brown (Deena), Arnetia Walker (Lorell), Larry Riley (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Clinton Derricks-Carrol (James Thunder Early), Lawerence Clayton (C. C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle)
Shubert Theatre (Los Angeles)
NoteThe location is guessed. Jennifer Holliday opened the show in LA. After the LA run, she left and Lillias White took over. Therefore, this could be as a standby or on one of the other two stops on the tour.
Dreamgirls (1983; 1st National Tour - Lillias White) [ID2947515]
Apr 23, 1984 Broadway - Roz Ryan Full Show Audience
Roz Ryan (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena Jones), Loretta Devine (Lorrell), Weyman Thompson (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James Thunder Early), Lawrence Clayton (C. C. White), Theresa Burrell (Michelle)
Imperial Theatre (New York)
Dreamgirls (1984.04.23; Broadway - Roz Ryan) [ID2947516]

International Tour (1985)

Opened Oct 8, 1985
Jul 1986 International Tour - Toronto - Sharon Brown + Bonus Full Show Audience
Sharon Brown (Effie), Deborah Burrell (Deena), Arnetia Walker (Lorell), Weyman Thompson (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Herbert L. Rawlings (James Thunder Early)
Meridian Hall (Toronto)
NoteIncludes some bonus tracks.
Dreamgirls (1986.07; International Tour - Toronto - Sharon Brown + Bonus) [ID2947517]
1987 International Tour - Sharon Brown - Toronto Full Show Audience
Sharon Brown (Effie)
Meridian Hall (Toronto)
Dreamgirls (1987; International Tour - Sharon Brown - Toronto) [ID2947518]

International Tour (Broadway Stop) (1987)

Opened Jun 28, 1987 · Ambassador Theatre, New York
This is often referred to as a "return engagement". It was, however, an extended stop for the international tour.
Jun 28, 1987 Broadway - Lillias White - Opening Opening Full Show Audience
Lillias White (Effie), Alyse Gyse (Deena), Arnetia Walker (Lorell), Weyman Thompson (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Herbert L. Rawlings (James Thunder Early), Kevyn Morrow (C. C. White)
Dreamgirls (1987.06.28; Broadway - Lillias White - Opening) [ID2947519]

Regional Tour (1988)

Opened Jun 13, 1988
Often listed as the North Shore Music Theatre production. The run at NSMT was a stop on a short tour that also stopped at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth and Sacramento Music Circus.
Summer 1988 North Shore Music Theatre - Cheryl Barnes Full Show Sound System
Cheryl Barnes (Effie), Theresa Hayes (Deena), Connie A. Jackson (Lorell), Tony Franklin (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Phillip Gilmore (James Thunder Early), Kevyn Morrow (C. C. White), Linda Lloyd (Michelle)
North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA)
Dreamgirls (1988; North Shore Music Theatre - Cheryl Barnes) [ID2947520]

Touring Revival (1997)

Opened Sep 30, 1997
Jan 13, 1998 National Tour (1997) Full Show Audience
B. J. Crosby (Effie), LaTonya Hall (Deena), Tonya Dixon (Lorell), Brian Everrett Chandler (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Kevin-Anthony (James Thunder Early)
Mechanic Theatre (Baltimore)
NoteB.J. Crosby's first performance
Dreamgirls (1998.01.13; National Tour - Baltimore - B.J. Crosby) [ID2947521]

Actor's Fund of America Concert (2001)

Opened Sep 24, 2001 · Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York
Sep 24, 2001 Actor's Fund of America Concert - Lillias White Full Show Audience
Lillias White (Effie), Audra McDonald (Deena), Heather Headley (Lorell), Norm Lewis (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Billy Porter (James Thunder Early), Darius deHaas (C. C. White), Tamyra Tunie (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2001.09.24; Actor's Fund of America Concert - Lillias White) [ID2947522]

Theatre of the Stars (2002)

Opened Jul 19, 2002 · Fox Theatre, Atlanta
Aug 2002 Theatre of the Stars - Atlanta - Jennifer Holliday Full Show Audience
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Alyse Gyse (Deena), Ramona Keller (Lorell), Norm Lewis (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Eugene Fleming (James Thunder Early), Joe Wilson, Jr. (C. C. White), Ginai Curry (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2002.08; Theatre of the Stars - Atlanta - Jennifer Holliday) [ID2947523]
Jul 19, 2007 Theatre of the Stars - Jennifer Holliday Full Show Audience
Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Cindy Hewon-Braggs (Deena), Brandi Chavonne Massey (Lorrell), David Jennings (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Eugene Fleming (James Thunder Early), Destan Owens (C.C. White)
Dreamgirls (2007.07.19; Theatre of the Stars - Jennifer Holliday) [ID2947528]

Touring Revival (2004)

Opened Jan 9, 2004
Feb 2004 National Tour - Seattle - Frenchie Davis [Sound System] Full Show Sound System
Frenchie Davis (Effie)
5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle)
Dreamgirls (2004.02; National Tour - Seattle - Frenchie Davis [Sound System]) [ID2947524]

Pittsburgh CLO (2004)

Opened Aug 10, 2004 · Benedum Center, Pittsburgh
Aug 10, 2004 Pittsburgh CLO - Frenchie Davis Full Show Audience
Frenchie Davis (Effie), Vanita Harbor (Deena), Montego Glover (Lorell), Norm Lewis (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Billy Porter (James Thunder Early), Ron Kellum (C. C. White), Manoly Farrel (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2004.08.10; Pittsburgh CLO - Frenchie Davis) [ID2947525]

Prince Music Theatre (2005)

Opened Dec 10, 2005 · Prince Music Theatre, Philadelphia
Dec 2005 Prince Music Theatre - Nova Payton Full Show Audience
Nova Payton (Effie), Chauntee Shuler (Deena), CJay Hardy Phillip (Lorell), Kevyn Morrow (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Eugene Fleming (James Thunder Early), Forrest McClendon (C. C. White), Alexis Sims (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2005.12; Prince Music Theatre - Nova Payton) [ID2947526]
Jan 10, 2006 Prince Music Theatre - Nova Payton Full Show Audience
Nova Payton (Effie), Chauntee Shuler (Deena), CJay Hardy Phillip (Lorell), Kevyn Morrow (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Eugene Fleming (James Thunder Early), Forrest McClendon (C. C. White), Alexis Sims (Michelle)
NoteThis is the complete show, there is an incomplete audio from December, but it isn't this one.
Dreamgirls (2006.01.10; Prince Music Theatre - Nova Payton) [ID2947527]

Touring Revival (2009)

Opened Nov 23, 2009 · Minneapolis
Jan 17, 2009 National Tour - Minneapolis - Moya Angela Full Show Audience
Moya Angela (Effie Melody White), Syesha Mercado (Deena Jones), Adrienne Warren (Lorrell Robinson), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor Jr.), Chester Gregory (James "Thunder" Early), Trevon Davis (C.C. White)
Dreamgirls (2009.01.17; National Tour - Minneapolis - Moya Angela) [ID2947529]
Nov 11, 2009 National Tour - New York - Preview Preview Full Show Audience
Moya Angela (Effie), Syesha Mercado (Deena), Adrienne Warren (Lorell), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Chester Gregory (James Thunder Early), Milton Craig Neely (C. C. White), Margaret Hoffman (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2009.11.11; National Tour - New York - Preview) [ID2947530]
Nov 12, 2009 National Tour - New York - Moya Angela Preview Full Show Audience
Moya Angela (Effie), Syesha Mercado (Deena), Adrienne Warren (Lorell), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Chester Gregory (James Thunder Early), Milton Craig Neely (C. C. White), Margaret Hoffman (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2009.11.12; National Tour - New York - Moya Angela) [ID2947531]
Nov 14, 2009 National Tour - New York - Moya Angela Preview Full Show Audience
Moya Angela (Effie), Syesha Mercado (Deena), Adrienne Warren (Lorell), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor), Jr.), Chester Gregory (James Thunder Early), Milton Craig Neely (C. C. White), Margaret Hoffman (Michelle)
Dreamgirls (2009.11.14; National Tour - New York - Moya Angela) [ID2947532]
Jan 19, 2010 National Tour - Chicago Full Show Audience
Moya Angela (Effie)
Dreamgirls (2010.01.19; National Tour - Chicago) [ID2947533]

Demo Recordings

Composer Demo Songs Only Studio
Tom Eyen, Henry Kreiger
Note5 Tracks
Dreamgirls (Composer Demo) [ID2947534]