Reality Show Alums Set to Dazzle in DREAMGIRLS

By: Dec. 13, 2009
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The sheer popularity of reality TV talent competitions, such as 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'American Idol' is no longer undermined: these shows have proven to be global platforms capable of launching emerging talent to millions of living rooms across the world. But while the foray into everyday water-cooler talk may be fleeting for many contestants, some find a niche to showcase their talent elsewhere, namely the stage.

Reality show alums Syesha Mercado (who garnered third-place in 'Americal Idol') and Shane Sparks (a hip-hop choreographer with 'So You Think You Can Dance') are both part of the national touring production of 'Dreamgirls' which opens Wednesday in Baltimore. Mercado will play Deena, a character based on the life of Supremes singer Diana Ross. Sparks,while admittedly reluctant to become involved with a Broadway show, is the co-choreographer for the production. While neither had experience in musical theatre, director Robert Longbottom was determined to give Mercado and Sparks a fair chance.

Longbottom tells the Baltimore Sun, "I wanted the most talented people I could find on stage and behind the scenes," he says. "The bar was set very high. These roles need to be played by very young women, and very young women don't have a lot of production credits. There just aren't that many people walking around Broadway who have the chops to pull off this show."

To read the rest of the story in the Baltimore Sun, please click here.

'Dreamgirls' runs Wednesday, December 16 through December 27 at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Please note there will be no show Dec. 24. Tickets cost $20-$65. Call 410-547-7328 or visit france-merrickpac.com.

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, Patrice Covington, 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.

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 deign by Acme Sound Partners, and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch. DREAMGIRLS features music by Henry Kriegerand lyrics and book by Tom Eyen with additional material by Willie Reale. DREAMGIRLSis produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.??The original Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS opened December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre and won six Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards in 1982. Itclosed on Broadway August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. 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. The film won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, and two Screen Actor's Guild Awards in 2007 in addition to a Grammy Award for Best Song written for a Motion Picture ("Love You I Do"). The most popular song from the film, "Listen," has been incorporated into the new stage version of DREAMGIRLS as a stirring Act II duet for Deena and Effie. This all-new production of DREAMGIRLS premiered at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater in New York City on November 22, 2009, before embarking on an international tour.

 



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