Dreamgirls, Part 2: Revivals, the Film, and the Divas Who Define It

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Broadway Breakdown continues its deep dive into Dreamgirls, the musical that reshaped Broadway with its relentless staging, powerhouse vocals, and thinly veiled Motown parallels. In this second installment, host Matt Koplik and returning guest Jason Veasey dig into the show’s complicated afterlife: the Tony Award revival confusion of 1987, the iconic (and inconsistent) 2006 film adaptation, why Broadway hasn’t dared mount a full revival since, and the deeper legacy of Effie, Deena, and Lorrell beyond diva worship.

Guest IntroductionJason Veasey (@veaseyville) is an actor, singer, and thoughtful theater observer whose stage experience and love of Broadway history make him the perfect partner in unpacking Dreamgirls—from its racial politics to its impossible vocal demands to its cultural staying power.

Timestamps

00:00 – Cadillac Car, crossover politics, and race onstage

06:30 – Jennifer Holliday’s Effie and the impossible standard for Black women on Broadway

13:00 – The 1987–88 revival confusion and Tony Awards history

18:30 – Why Dreamgirls hasn’t returned to Broadway

20:30 – The West End production and the shadow of Michael Bennett’s staging

23:00 – Film musicals: Chicago vs. Dreamgirls, and what went wrong on screen

35:00 – “Listen” and the challenges of Act Two

46:00 – Michelle: the forgotten Dream, or feminist hero in disguise?

52:00 – Effie’s journey in Act Two and why casting is crucial

57:00 – Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar, Effie as an “award-bait” role, and the legacy of diva archetypes

Key People Mentioned

Creators: Tom Eyen (book/lyrics), Henry Krieger (music), Michael Bennett (director/choreographer)

Original Cast: Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorrell), Ben Harney (Curtis), Cleavant Derricks (Jimmy), Obba Babatundé (C.C.)

Later Stars & Film: Lillias White, Audra McDonald, Heather Headley, Kerry Butler, Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson

Directors/Choreographers: Michael Bennett, Casey Nicholaw, Rob Marshall (Chicago movie), Bill Condon (Dreamgirls movie)

Listener Discussion Questions

With a new Broadway revival of Dreamgirls just announced, do you think this one will finally make it—or will it go the way of past “almosts”?

Do you see Effie’s Act One or Deena’s Act Two as the true emotional center of the show?

What works better for you: the relentless theatricality of Bennett’s staging or the glossy Hollywood adaptation?

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