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CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR
A NEW PRODUCTION OF
THE GROUNDBREAKING MUSICAL
SYESHA MERCADO is DEENA JONES
ADRIENNE WARREN is LORRELL ROBINSON
MARGARET HOFFMAN is MICHELLE MORRIS
AND INTRODUCING
MOYA ANGELA as EFFIE WHITE
WITH
CHAZ LAMAR SHEPHERD as CURTIS TAYLOR, JR.
CHESTER GREGORY as JAMES “THUNDER” EARLY
TREVON DAVIS as C.C. WHITE
MILTON CRAIG NEALY as MARTY MADISON
STRICLY LIMITED PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT
4 WEEKS ONLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
HARLEM’S LEGENDARY APOLLO THEATER
NOVEMBER 7 - DECEMBER 6, 2009
PRIOR TO NATIONAL TOUR
New York, NY - Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater
Foundation, Inc. announced casting today for the premiere engagement
at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the
groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls will introduce Moya Angela as
Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena
Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as
Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr.,
Chester Gregory is James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C.
White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also
features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha
Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric
Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany
Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith
and Marc Spaulding.
The national tour of Dreamgirls premieres at Harlem’s legendary
Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday,
November 7, 2009, and opens Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks
only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009. Dreamgirls will be a
highlight of the Apollo Theater’s 75th Anniversary celebration in
2009. Dreamgirls is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom
with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner,
costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken
Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, media design by
Howard Werner for Lightswitch and is produced by John Breglio for
Vienna Waits Productions. Following the Apollo Theater engagement,
the national tour of Dreamgirls will play Baltimore, Pittsburgh,
Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Los Angeles,
Seattle, Portland, Costa Mesa, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and more.
For more information, please visit www.dreamgirlsonstage.com.
“When we started planning this new production, I knew it was time to
finally bring Dreamgirls to the Apollo. Throughout its history, the
Apollo has been known as a proving ground where new talent has been
discovered and nurtured and careers have been launched,” said
producer John Breglio. “And that’s what Dreamgirls is all about. The
very first scene in Dreamgirls takes place right here at the
Apollo’s famous Amateur Night. What better place to launch a new
production of this groundbreaking show?”
Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of an up-and-coming 1960’s
girl group from Chicago, and the triumphs and tribulations that come
with fame and fortune. The original Broadway production of
Dreamgirls opened December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre and won
six 1982 Tony Awards. Dreamgirls closed on Broadway August 11, 1985,
after 1,522 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Academy Award
nominee Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tony and Grammy-Award
winner Tom Eyen. The original Broadway production was directed by
Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters.
Dreamgirls was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures
and Paramount Pictures, and opened in December 2006.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary season in 2009-2010, the legendary
Apollo Theater has been a driving force in shaping America’s music
and cultural landscape and has played a major role in the emergence
of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B,
gospel, blues, soul and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan,
Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys
Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others
began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. A distinctly
American landmark, it is the one of the only institutions in the
nation equally devoted to showcasing both emerging talent and
legendary performers on the same stage, thereby creating an
exceptional community of musicians and artists. Based on its
cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received
state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
The Apollo Theater Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation founded
in 1991, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the
Apollo Theater. The Apollo’s mission is to honor the influence and
advance the contributions of African-American artists and advance
emerging creative voice s across cultures and artistic media through
the Apollo Experience of world-class live performances and
educational programs. The Apollo is located in the heart of Harlem
at 253 West 125 Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (7th Ave.)
and Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave.), and is easily accessible by
public transportation via the A, B, C, D, 2, and 3 trains. For
further information, visit www.apollotheater.org.
Biographies
Moya Angela (Effie White) joins the cast from The Lion King’s
Gazelle and Cheetah tours (Disney). Her roles included Rafiki and
Shenzi. She is a native of Indianapolis, IN where she won two Encore
Awards in her roles as Sara in Ragtime and Adapearle in The Wiz.
Moya will be making her NYC debut.
Syesha Mercado (Deena Jones) As a recording artist, Syesha released
a single with two-time Grammy nominated jazz legend Boney James and
has begun preparations for her first record, collaborating with a
host of prominent writers and producers, including Grammy-winner
Diane Warren, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, Steve Diamond, Chris Rojas,
and many more. She came to national attention as the second
runner-up in the seventh season of Fox’s “American Idol.” She also
participated in the subsequent “American Idol” LIVE Tour 2008,
performing 53 concerts in 49 cities both in the United States and
Canada. Syesha attended the Manatee School for the Arts, and was a
theater major at Florida International University in Miami.
Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor, Jr.). Philadelphia's Chaz
Shepherd has co-starred in many TV shows (7th Heaven, The Parkers,
The Game...) and as Harpo on Broadway's The Color Purple. After
being on the Billboard charts 3 times in 2009, Chaz's soul/R&B album
will be released during the Dreamgirls tour. Chaz's gospel work was
Grammy nominated in 2009.
Chester Gregory (James “Thunder” Early) an award-winning
actor/performer/singer/songwriter, is ecstatic about being "Jimmy"
in Dreamgirls and returning to the World Famous Apollo Theater where
he made his NY debut as "Jackie Wilson" in The Jackie Wilson Story
(Jeff, AUDELCO, BTAA and Black Excellence Awards). Broadway:
Hairspray (Seaweed), Cry-Baby (Dupree) and Tarzan (Terk). Other
credits include Hairspray (Movie) and performing for Michael
Jackson. Chester has a BFA from Columbia Chicago. His music is
available at www.ChesterGregory.com.
Adrienne Warren (Lorrell Robinson) is a recent graduate of Marymount
Manhattan College. New York Theatre: The Wiz (Dorothy understudy for
Encores! Summer Stars). Regional: Little Shop of Horrors, Cats, Big
River, and the 25th anniversary of Dreamgirls starring Jennifer
Holliday. Training: Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project. Trans
Siberian Orchestra 2008-2009 Winter Tour (Featured Vocalist).
Trevon Davis (C.C. White) is thrilled to be a part of this
production of Dreamgirls. A talented vocalist and songwriter, Trevon
continues to make a name for himself with his casting as C.C. He was
one of the seven finalists on BET’s Sunday Best, hosted by Kirk
Franklin, and he also appeared in MTV’s hit series Making the Band,
produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Margaret Hoffman (Michelle Morris) recently graduated from Sam
Houston State University, obtaining a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.
While attending school, Margaret has performed in several theatrical
and entertainment events at the premiere theatres of Houston, TX,
such as The Ensemble Theatre and Theatre Under The Stars.
Milton Craig Nealy (Marty Madison) is happy to be a part of this new
production of Dreamgirls, having been in the original Broadway and
1987 revival productions. He also created the roles of Agwe in Once
on This Island and Four-Eyed Moe in Five Guys Named Moe on Broadway.
Other Broadway credits include: Caroline, or Change, John in Miss
Saigon (as well as the London and Australian productions), Mail and
the revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’. National tours: The Full Monty
(also in Australia), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (20th
anniversary tour) and Sing, Mahalia, Sing, starring Jennifer
Holliday. Milton won the Best of Westword Award for his performance
as Jacob in La Cage Aux Folles. Films include “The Blues Brothers.”
Dreamgirls
National Press Contact: Michael Hartman / Wayne Wolfe / Matt Ross
(212) 398-1800
mross@thehartmangrouppr.com
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