Dreamgirls at NCT Has It All: Spectacle, Music, Dance,
and a Compelling Backstage Story About the Rise of
a Black-Girl Super-Group Like The Supremes

The original lineup for The Dreams in the North Carolina Theatre's production of Dreamgirls includes (from left) Joy Woods as
Deena Jones, Tamara Jade as Effie White, and Najah Hetsberger as Michelle Morris (photo by Curtis Brown Photography)

WARNING: This review contains "spoilers."

The North Carolina Theatre's current production of Dreamgirls, directed by Christopher D. Betts and co-choreographed by Betts and Amy Hall Garner, with additional choreography by Mya King and music direction by Ilana M. Atkins, offers spectacle, music and dance, and a strong story about overcoming institutional racism -- especially appropriate for Black History Month. What else could you want for your money! Dreamgirls has been a hit since it opened on Broadway in 1981.

To summarize, leaving out several subplots, the story opens as three young women from Chicago, who call themselves The Dreamettes, arrive in New York City's Apollo Theater just in time to compete in an amateur contest. Buxom lead singer Effie White (played by Tamara Jade) and her two girlfriends, Deena Jones (Joy Woods) and Michelle Morris (Najah Hetsberger), perform "Move," written by Effie's brother C.C. White (Jovan E'Sean).

They will have to beat the sizzling act of The Stepp Sisters (Chanda Branch, Deanna Richards, Soraiah J. Williams, and Carlita Victoria); solo singer Li'l Albert (Sai Graham); and Tiny Joe Dixon (Matthew Monroe). Li'l Albert wins the contest, but for The Dreamettes the sting of losing is tempered by the arrival of ambitious young music producer Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Erick D. Patrick), who sees possibilities in The Dreamettes.

Saint Aubyn (center) stars as James Brown-like singer and showman James "Thunder" Early (photo by Curtis Brown Photography)

Curtis persuades the group to hire him as manager/agent, as well as take on C.C. as the song writer. Curtis soon proves his worth by getting The Dreamettes a gig as backup singers for major Black star James "Thunder" Early (Saint Aubyn). James is impressed with The Dreamettes' sound and moves.

A ladies' man par excellence, James is also taken with The Dreamettes', ahem, physical attractions. James and The Dreamettes' careers go upward quickly, but they are still confined to the "ghetto" of rhythm and blues. C.C. writes a hit song, "Cadillac Car"; but before the group can even record it, a White group does a cover of C.C.'s song that rockets to the top of the pop charts.

Curtis tells The Dreamettes that they have to drop the R&B style that they know and perform so well. Instead, they'll need to "act White" to get to the top of the pop charts and make some big money.

To change the group's sound, Curtis announces that Deena, not Effie, will be The Dreamettes' lead singer; and James will start being slow, smooth, and calm on stage. Hurt and insulted, Effie quits the group.

James is the sort of performer for whom outrageous and over-the-top is never too much. He can't last three minutes on stage being slow, smooth, and calm. Curtis tells him to go his own way.

Lorrell Robinson (Nya), a replacement for Effie, is hired; and with Deena singing lead, The Dreams (as they have been retitled) go to the top of the pop charts. Meanwhile, Effie's career goes further and further downhill.

Joy Woods (center) stars as The Dreams' lead singer Deena Jones, who leaves the group to go solo (photo by Curtis Brown Photography)

For seven years, The Dreams and Deena produce hit after hit. Finally, Deena tells Curtis -- now her husband -- that she is going to leave him and the group to sing her own music solo.

Soon after, in a move towards reconciliation, Deena introduces Effie to The Dreams' latest concert audience and brings her onstage to perform with them. For the finale, Deena announces that this will be the last time that The Dreams sing together as a group.

The cast performances are all outstanding. It seems unfair to choose one actor over the other. As for theater techies, this is a dream-show if the budget allows it. Costumer Iris Ponce Lloyd's creations are appropriately sleek and glitzy. The sets are simple, yet easily changed and convertible from one use to the next.

Hair-and-wig designer Rueben D. Echoles' work, combined with Lloyd's costumes for Saint Aubyn's character James "Thunder" Early, are masterful; and Aubyn does them credit, turning in one of the most energetic performances that this reviewer has seen in a long time.

This is a production that, as I said to begin with, has it all. What else could you want? (Well, cheaper parking and lower-priced drinks at the theater bars -- but don't let that keep you from seeing this show.)

Tamara Jade as Effie White brings the house down with "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (photo by Curtis Brown Photography)

Henry Kieger and Tom Eyen's DREAMGIRLS (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-12), directed by Christopher D. Betts and choreographed by Betts and Amy Hall Garner, with additional choreography by Mya King and music direction by Ilana M. Atkins, and starring Joy Woods as Deena Jones, Nya as Lorrell Robinson, Saint Aubyn as James Thunder Early, Tamara Jade as Effie White, Najah Hetsberger as Michelle Morris, Erick D. Patrick as Curtis Taylor Jr., Jovan E'Sean as C.C. White, and Trevor Johnson as Marty, plus an Ensemble that includes J. Mahal, Juwon Perry, Matthew Monroe, Sai Graham, Gerard M. Williams, Kameron Askew, Trevor Neal, Deanna Richards, Soraiah J. Williams, Carlita Victoria, Laiya Parker, Mya King, Chanda Branch, and Stephan Emmanuel and two Swings: Destiny Diamond McNeill and Andrew Coleman (North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh). DIGITAL PLAYBILL: https://nctheatre.com/sites/nct/files/2023_Dreamgirls_Web%5B1%5D.pdf. VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/nctheatre. 2023 SEASON: https://nctheatre.com/show-season/202021-season. THE PRESENTER: https://nctheatre.com/, https://www.facebook.com/nctheatre, https://www.instagram.com/nctheatre/, https://twitter.com/nctheatre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Theatre, and https://www.youtube.com/user/nctheatre. THE VENUE: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/venues, https://www.facebook.com/DECRaleigh, https://www.instagram.com/DECRaleigh/, https://twitter.com/DECRaleigh, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUCPC9naUI3G8vHw0K8Qnew. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/getting-duke-energy-center. KNOW-BEFORE-YOU-GO INFORMATION: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/know-before-you-go-information. DREAMGIRLS (1981 Broadway and 2016 West End Musical): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/dreamgirls-3192, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1561090/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamgirls. HENRY KRIEGER (Music): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/henry-krieger-12011, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/14595, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1561090/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Krieger. TOM EYEN (Book and Lyrics): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tom-eyen-8902, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/15290, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0264132/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Eyen. NOTE: Arts Access, Inc. of Raleigh will audio-describe the show's 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11th, performance. TICKETS: $35 and up, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. GROUP RATES (10+ tickets): 919-831-6941 or groups@nctheatre.com. INFORMATION: 919-831-6941 or boxoffice@nctheatre.com. DONATE TO: North Carolina Theatre. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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