[.ca] Dreamgirls: in Concert

From Amazon.com:
A Chorus Line may be better known, but Dreamgirls was a towering achievement for director Michael Bennett. Loosely based on the Supremes' story, the 1982 musical told a typical show-biz tale of fame, backbiting, and survival. As is often the case for one-night only events, the cast in this concert version (recorded in New York on September 24, 2001) is led by an eye-popping assortment of Broadway powerhouses: Lillias White (The Life), Audra McDonald (Ragtime, Marie Christine), and Heather Headley (Ragtime). McDonald reveals a previously undisclosed comic streak, while Headley confirms her status as a rising star. Reprising the role of Effie Melody White (created by Jennifer Holliday), White belts the classic "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." But the beauty of Dreamgirls is that it's so packed with catchy, Motown-influenced R & B numbers that each lead can sink her teeth into some prime material and get a turn in the spotlight. This double-CD set really makes you wish you'd been there when the show was recorded: you can hear the crowd going berserk at times, and the temptation is strong to do the same thing in the comfort of your living room. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Not a dream cast for Dreamgirls...:
We waited two decades for all of this music to finally be recorded, and for that alone this CD is worth buying. The original Broadway cast recording was a truncated version of the show, and even though it gave a good representation of the dynamic performances given on stage, it was less than half of all the music from the show. For all theater fans, to now hear the dramatic structure of these scenes and hear the songs in the context of the story is a revelation. It is just a shame that this was recorded with this cast in a semi-staged concert setting. It is not fair to make direct comparisons between the two recordings because this new cast did not receive the direction that a fully staged production would provide, so ultimately, the performers are "outside" their roles - acceptable for a one night concert where a person is going to just enjoy the music, but not acceptable as a recorded document of the show. However, even under these circumstances I wonder how some of these people (pretty much the cream of the crop when it comes to stage performers) could be cast in roles that are unsuited to their abilities. No one deserves to be compared to Jennifer Holliday, the original Effie - her singing is one of a kind, and the song "And I Am Telling You" made her an instant star. On her own merits, Lillias White is a great Effie. She played the part around the country and also on Broadway when they brought the road company back for a brief run at the Ambassador theater. Her experience really shows - from youthful hope to emotionally destroyed, she hits all the marks. Though she does not possess the searing high notes or gospel belt of Ms. Holliday, her way with this music is excellent. You know exactly what Effie is feeling at every moment, and her jazzy riffs and personal phrasing make the part come alive. Unfortunately to my ears, the rest of the cast just doesn't connect with the music very deeply, and that is vital to bring this type of show to life. Heather Headley comes the closest to capturing the fire and spicy quality of Lorelle, and she has a fantastic voice. But the super talented Audra McDonald is totally miscast as Deana. More rehearsal time and a stronger music director would have helped her tone down her basically operatic sound to the smooth line needed for this "Diana Ross" type role. On the recording she comes off too heavy and theater-like, and this throws the balance off in the tightly harmonized motown type songs she is supposed to lead in. The men are mostly neutral, with good voices, but they lack in personality. However, Billy Porter is totally a JOKE as James "Thunder" Early. He is far too effeminate and under-powered to take on a part like this, and at several key moments he simply has to resort to screaming to make any kind of dramatic impression. Considering he has several major numbers that he is featured in, this was a big, big mistake by whoever cast this show. He in no way communicates the musical style, passion, or wild energy of his character. But still, how lucky we all are to have this entire score finally preserved. The orchestra sounds perfect, and the recording technicians did an excellent job balancing the sound and keeping the feel of the live performance. Even with certain roles underplayed or inappropriately cast, I am glad to have this CD.

Billy Oh Billy Oh Billy.....:
...this Actor's Fund benefit was so ... good, they're reviving it on Broadway in 2004. Audra McDonald is her usual gorgeous self (physically and vocally) and once Lilias White gets through "And I Am Telling You...." (who can compete with the Holliday memories, anyway), she relaxes and takes off like a rocket. And Norm Lewis must be the most undervalued Broadway performer today. But, kids, the rocket in the pocket of this show is Mr. Billy Porter -- a transcendent, sexy, roof-blowing, star-making performance. Jimmy's got SOUL indeed. I show a video of this in a class I teach on musical theater and even my Western Michigan students (in an area where there are, like, 5 black people altogether) are blown away by this video and these performers. Highest recommendation.

AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING PERFORMANCES!!:
This Dreamgirls Benefit Concert was a DREAM come true. Hundreds of Broadway Divas lined the stage to belt their hearts out for this "One Night Only" event. In turn we are now blessed with this definitive, complete recording of this cult classic, dialogue and all. This is one of my favorite cds to listen to on long road trips because you take the entire journey, or highs and lows along with them. And there are MANY highs and lows on this cd! Let me start at the beginnging. The excitement, the energy is all reflected on this cd. Every interpretation is rich and sincere. It sounds like you're listening to a reading. All the actor's performances are nearly flawless, and that's not shocking seeing the AMAZING cast that was assembled for this event. Lilias White, the Diva behind "The Life" among others is Effie Melody White and a force to be reckoned with. Her Effie is night and day to Holliday's Effie. Holliday held back all throughout Act One with the exception of "Move" and then knocked us out in "And I'm Telling You" but White does not hold ANYTHING back! She's brassy, she's pushy, she's the Diva Effie. Now who knows which interpretation is preferred, but I prefer White's entire interpretation as opposed to Holliday's. White can also act and emote rings around Holliday's powerhouse voice. You can feel White all throughout the story. From the meeker subtle diva, to the diva fighting for her place in the group, and secretly fighting to keep the father of her child. It's White's nonchalant ghetto-divaness that makes this all work. We feel hometown, mo-town, singing doo wops on the fire hydrants. The hometown feel is amplified by Heather Headley's hilarious portrayal of Lorell. Although Headley's vocals are far from the ease and intensity of Devine's Lorell, Headley is heads above on the acting and performace. Her transformation from shy middle girl to pissed off group member to independant woman is awesome! Headley's strongest moments are the fighting dialogue scenes and the songs where the Dreams are singing together. Headley is not afraid to be the top belter and hit those impossible harmonies. Her "Ain't No Party" isn't very strong, and flat at some points, yet is still effective because of her performance and acting for the song. Most effective in the fight scene towards the end of Act I. She hits the most amazing notes. I am STILL amazed at how much I LIKE Audra's Deena Jones. I, like so many others, didn't think she was right for the part, but I think Audra proved us all wrong. What part IS she wrong for!!?! Her acting is probably the best on this cd. Audra's intensity shines through, from her meek beginning to Superstar Deena-Diva. "I Don't Keep dragging everybody down! I Keep Working for you baby!" Her acting is fierce. And her smooth vocals seem so appropriate for Deena, much more so than the original. All three Dreamgirls seemed to take much more of a journey when brought to life by these three Tony Ward Winning knock-outs. The men on this cd are just as good as the woman. Curtis is played by the sensational Norm Lewis of Side Show. An intense actor with a golden voice and sincere deliveries. Billy Porter's over the top portrayal of the James Brown-esque Jimmy is amazing. You really know why all of these characters are famous for their voices and performances. Not only can Billy sing like no other, but his acting was very strong too, starting off as the hilariously bawdy "It-Man" to the begging and scrounging, lost and struggling performer. Darius De Haas plays the smooth sounding CC, and gets to play around with the vocals to show off his amazing range. The ensemble is a Who's Who of Broadway newcomers! Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Patrick Wilson, Orpheh, Shoshanna Bean to name a few, which gives us the full impact of the powerful score. The Pit Singers add all the intensity and the excitement to the scene, and man, what voices these women have got. All in all Dreamgirls the Benefit concert is a must have. Some might say it will never be better than the original cast recording, that may be so, but this is the full score, the full show, with an amazingly talented, well acted and performed cast. You couldn't ask for anything better.

A Reality Check...A Serious One:
Yes I understand that some people can not seem to get over the fact that this is an ENTIRELY different cast of talented people and that it is completely ignorant to compare them to the original. If they wanted the orginal cast to come together they would have done so. Is is so hard to believe that by chosing these up and coming stars that an entirely new audience has been brought into the allure that is Broadway? Yes Jennifer personifies Effie, but give Ms. White credit. She was brave enough to step into those impossible to feel shoes and she held her own. I absolutely adore Heather Headly. She is easily one of the most talented actress on Broadway. Her ability to embrace her characters is astounding. To meet her backstage you almost expect her to be Lorelle . If you have not had the pleasure of seeing her live, save your judgements. The biggest surprise to me was Ms. McDonald. I throughly enjoyed her. I am astounded at the reaction of most of these reviews. She may have a strong vibrato, but honey, I sing opera and the comparisons are not founded and strike me as utterly ridiculous. For all the people that felt she was TOO operatic, go and sit through a three hour opera and then tell me if you still feel the same. That is a maturity and training in a voice that is a blessing. I understand that Diana Ross is who the role is based on, but consider times change. Just bc it doesn't fit your exact mold of what you think it should be doesn't mean that these ladies deserve any less respect.

A DREAM MISSED:
i WAS SO EXICTED TO RECEIVE THIS IN THE MAIL, AND ALTHOUGH THE MUSIC IS ON POINT SOME OF THE MUSCIAL NUMBERS FALL SHORT. HEATHER HEADELY DOES NOT COME CLOSE TO THE FIREY lORRETA DIVINE,MCDONALD, ALTHOUGH A GREAT ACTRESS MISSES SOME OF THE SOFT SOUNDS THAT WERE INTENDED FOR DEENA JONES, I STLL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA TO DO, I HAVR BEEN LONGING FOR THIS SINCE THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF DREAMGIRLS BACK IN THE EIGHTIES. THIS IS STILL A MUSICAL THAT WILL NEVER DIE.

• I'm Looking for Something, Baby
• Goin' Downtown
• Takin' the Long Way Home
• Move (You're Steppin on My Heart)
• Scene: Fifty bucks says the Dreamettes don't win
• Fake Your Way to the Top
• Scene: It ain't working, Marty
• Cadillac Car
• Cadillac Car (On the Road)
• Cadillac Car (Recording Studio)
• Scene: I don't believe they can do that
• Steppin' to the Bad Side
• Scene: I'm working on a long shot
• Party, Party
• I Want You, Baby
• Scene: I'm a woman now
• Family
• Scene: What are you doing to that girl?
• Dreamgirls
• Press Conference
• Heavy
• Walkin' Down the Strip/Scene: Las Vegas
• It's All Over
• And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
• Opening Act II: Dreams Medley
• Scene: Effie White is the best singer you're gonna find
• I Am Changing
• Vogue Sequence
• When I First Saw You
• Ain't No Party
• I Meant You No Harm
• The Rap
• I Miss You, Old Friend
• One Night Only
• One Night Only (Disco Version)
• I'm Somebody
• Hard to Say Good-bye
• Dreamgirls (Reprise)