Dreamgirls The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.

London's West End theatre scene is set for some significant changes with six major musicals due to close by early 2019. Drew McOnie's production of Baz Lurhman's Strictly Ballroom is the latest show to announce it will close in London's West End. The show follows Mel Brookes' monster musical comedy Young Frankenstein which despite fabulous reviews closed a few weeks ago after a short run at the Garrick Theatre. Here's a list of six musicals due to close in early 2019. 1. Strictly Ballroom - The Musical Baz Luhrmann's musical comedy exploded onto the West End with an excess of sequins and a kaleidoscope of colour. Based on the hit Aussie film from the 90s, Strictly Ballroom was more musical comedy than a show about ballroom dancing. Featuring direction and choreography from Drew McOne, a hit pop score and star casting in the form of Will Young and Matt Cardle, Strictly Ballroom should have lasted longer than seven months. Strictly Ballroom is playing until 27 October 2018 at Piccadilly Theatre, London   2. Kinky Boots - The Musical Following four fabulous high-kicking years, Kinky Boots leaves the West End with its head held high and its best foot forward. Winning three Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Actor in a Music for Mat Henry, the show has a book by four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper. Kinky Boots will play its final dazzling performance in London on 12 January 2019.   [caption id="attachment_51520" align="alignright" width="300"] 42nd Street - cBrinkhoff & Moegenburg[/caption] 3. 42nd Street The West End revival of Broadway's biggest song and dance show comes to an end on 5 January 2019. Playing on the West End biggest stage, 42nd Street features hundreds of outfits as dazzling as its musical numbers, and the biggest and most spectacular tap numbers in London. 42nd Street has had a good run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lance but has come to a natural end! Final performance 5 January 2019.   4. Chicago A surprise West End revival, Chicago returned to the London stage with a very starry cast including American Cuba Gooding Jr and Ruthie Henshall. Long a staple of the West End, this revival was only meant to run for a limited time and makes way for the West End premiere of Come From Away. CHICAGO is booking at the Phoenix Theatre until 5 January 2019.   [caption id="attachment_50342" align="alignright" width="300"] Dreamgirls | Photo: Brinkhoff Mögenburg[/caption] 5. Dreamgirls It took 35-years to make it to the West End and it will be sad to see these ladies go. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, it follows an extraordinary story about three talented young singers on a musical rollercoaster ride through the realities of show business in the turbulent 1960s. With spine-tingling vocals and high energy dance numbers, this spectacular musical production soars with the classic songs, ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’. Dreamgirls makes way for the West End premiere of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical. Dreamgirls final performance is 12 January 2019 at the Savoy Theatre, London.   6. Motown - The Musical Motown The Musical tells the story behind the hits as Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of a generation. Featuring over 40 Motown hits including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name of Love, My Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine, Motown will have you dancing in the street. Motown will have run for just over 3 years when plays its final performance on 20 April 2019 at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Dreamgirls The Musical is to close in the West End following a 2 year run at the Savoy Theatre. The show, which opened in November 2016 with former Glee star Amber Riley leading the cast as Effie White will have its final performance on 12 January 2019. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of three young girls who form a singing act in 1960's Chicago, and is loolsly based on Diana Ross and The Supremes. Producers also announced a UK tour will follow, with dates to be announced in due course. Moya Angela, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Brennyn Lark and Marisha Wallace currently perform the lead role of Effie White. The legendary Broadway musical opened in 1981 picking up 6 Tony Awards, however it took 35 years to make its way to London's West End.  Find tickets to Dreamgirls Dreamgirls is currently booking until 12 January 2019 at the Savoy Theatre.

American actress Amber Riley is to leave the London production of Dreamgirls next month. Riley who is best known for her role on US series Glee, has performed the lead role of 'Effie White' since it opened last year at the Savoy Theatre. Her performance stunned critics and she went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. A new cast will take over from 20 November 2017 with the role of 'Effie' being played by by Marisha Wallace, Karen Mav and Moya Angela. Wallace and Mav already perform the role, and Angela joins the cast having played the character in the North American tour revival of the show. Angela's theatre credits include the original Broadway cast of Ghost the Musical, In Transit, and the North American touring production of Disney's The Lion King. Producer Sonia Friedman said: “The thrill of Dreamgirls is to experience the brilliance of the human voice. Effie White is arguably the biggest sing in musical theatre history, which is why we have cast three extraordinary vocalists to play this iconic role.” Also joingin the cast will be Broadway actress Brennyn Lark as Deena Jones, Tosh Wanogho-Maud as Jimmy Early, Durone Stokes as C.C. White, Delroy Brown as Marty and Kimmy Edwards as Michelle Morris. Asmeret Ghebremichael will continue to play Lorrell Robinson, with Joe Aaron Reid continuing in the role of Curtis Taylor Jr. Buy tickets to Dreamgirls Dreamgirls is currently booking until 2 June 2018 at the Savoy Theatre, London.

The London cast recording of hit musical Dreamgirls will be released in April 2017. The double-album was recorded live during a performance at the Savoy Theatre last month, and features hit songs from the musical including "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going", "I Am Changing", "Listen" and "One Night Only". Click here to book tickets to Dreamgirls The original London cast recording features Amber Riley in the role of Effie White, as well as Liisi LaFontaine, Ibinabo Jack and Tyrone Huntley. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls charts the story of a female singing trio from Chicago called The Dreams in the '60s and '70s. Click here to purchase the album The cast recording is released on 14 April 2017. Dreamgirls is booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre.

A reviews round-up of Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre Thirty-five years after storming Broadway, the smash-hit musical Dreamgirls has finally opened in London's West End. The musical charts the rise of an American R&B “girl” group with distinct similarities to Diana Ross and the Supremes. Featuring classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’ and ‘One Night Only’ the musical was famously made into a film starring Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Fox. Glee's Amber Riley stars as Effie White, the lead singer of The Dreams who is sidelined for the prettier and less talented Deena Jones played American Liisi LaFontaine. Riley's power-house vocals and assured stage presence delivers a dazzling performance as do Liisi LaFontaine and Ibinabo Jack who hold their own. Tim Hat's design and Gregg Barnes costumes are well received for their scale, detail and splashes of 'outrageous colour' and as in Nicholaw's Aladdin, Swarovski have partnered with the design team and the million plus Swarovski crystals give plenty of dazzle. Wth book and lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger, the production is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier award-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Something Rotten!), with design by Tim Hatley, costume by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by Richard Brooker. Here's a round-up of the reviews. Dreamgirls is booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls  

West End musical Dreamgirls release productions images of Amber Riley and cast. The long awaited West End production opens tonight at London's Savoy Theatre. Dreamgirls is based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, and James Brown in the sixties. The cast features Amber Riley (Effie White), Liisi LaFontaine (Deena Jones), Ibinabo Jack (Lorrell Robinson), Joe Aaron Reid (Curtis Taylor Jr), Adam J Bernard (‘Jimmy’ James Thunder Early) and Tyrone Huntley (C.C.White). Dreamgirls is currently booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Images have been released of the first day of rehearsals for the eagerly awaited Broadway musical Dreamgirls. The UK premiere of Dreamgirls stars American actress and singer Amber Riley stars as Effie White alongside Liisi LaFontaine as Deena Jones and Ibinabo Jack as Lorrell Robinson who make up the soulful singing trio ‘The Dreams’. Joe Aaron Reid will play Curtis Taylor Jr, Adam J. Bernard will play Jimmy Early, Tyrone Huntley will play C.C. White, Nicholas Bailey will play Marty and Lily Frazer will play Michelle Morris with Ruth Brown and Karen Mav alternating the role of Effie White at performances when Amber Riley is not scheduled to perform. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’ and ‘One Night Only’. The production is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award®-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set Design by Tim Hatley, Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker and Hair Design by Josh Marquette. The Musical Supervisor will be Nick Finlow, the Orchestrator will be Harold Wheeler, with Additional Material by Willie Reale. Dreamgirls begins preview performances from 19 November 2016 (Opening Night 14 December 2016) and is booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

An exclusive new video has been released in advance of the long-awaited UK premiere of Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre later this year. Dreamgirls Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw and star of the new production American actress Amber Riley discuss the joys and challenges of performing the role of ‘Effie White’ before Riley sings ‘I Am Changing’ from the musical’s score. An iconic Broadways musical, Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous. Dreamgirls will run from 19 November 2016 and is currently booking until 21 January 2017 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Further casting has been announced for the long-awaited West End premiere of Dreamgirls The Musical. American Liisi LaFontaine and London-based Ibinabo Jack will join Glee’s Amber Riley to complete casting of The Dreams. LaFontaine will play Deena Jones, Ibinabo Jack will play Lorrell Robinson with Riley playing Effie White. Also joining the cast are Joe Aaron Reid (In the Heights) as Curtis Taylor Jr, Adam J Bernard (Thriller Live) as ‘Jimmy’ James Thunder Early and Tyrone Huntley as C.C.White. Loosley based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls charts the journey of a fictitious girl group from 1960’s Chicago as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous. The story became a world-wide hit film in 2006 starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Fox and Eddie Murphy. Dreamgirls begins preview performances from 19 November 2016 (Opening Night 14 December 2016) and is booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls  

Further casting has been announced for the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls. Ruth Brown and Karen Mav will rotate performances on Wednesday evenings, playing the role of Effie White for one performance per week between them. Brown and Mav will be familiar to UK audiences as both have been contestants on UK talent shows. Brown found fame in the first series of BBC's The Voice, reaching the semi-finals under the mentorship of Tom Jones, whilst Mav was a contestant on the 2015 series of The X Factor. Producer Sonia Friedman said: "This is fantastic news for the production. Casting Amber Riley is of course thrilling as she is the most extraordinary talent to star in our show, but now to be able to announce that Ruth Brown and Karen Mav will be joining the show, to cover Amber and share performances on the night that Amber will not be on is just fantastic." Dreamgirls will run from 19 November 2016 and is currently booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Tickets are now on sale for iconic Broadway musical Dreamgirls at London's Savoy Theatre. Thirty-five years after the ground-breaking original Broadway production, DREAMGIRLS  will receive its UK Premiere in December 2016, previewing from 19 November 2016 at the Savoy Theatre. Tickets are now on sale to the general public

Thirty-five years after the ground-breaking original Broadway production, the sensational and iconic musical DREAMGIRLS makes its UK premiere at the Savoy Theatre starring Amber Riley (Glee) as 'Effie White'. Long touted and denied by the creative team behind Dreamgirls that there is any connection between the musical’s plot and the Supremes life stories, there do appear to be quite a few striking similarities between the two. Why deny it? Well Berry Gordy, Diana Ross and The Supremes might not be as litigious as Barbra Streisand (look at the length Buyer & Cellar went to avoid a lawsuit) but it’s pretty obvious it boils down to litigation. Let’s look at the similarities: Both started off as ‘ettes’, The Supremes were originally the Primettes, the Dreams started out as Dreamettes. The original lead singers of both groups Florence Ballard and Effie White were replaced by Diana Ross and Deena Jones who were chose to take lead vocal because of their distinctive, softer commercial voices. Deena Jones is coached to be the spokesperson for the Dreams during press conferences, just as Diana Ross was for the Supremes. The press was instructed to refer to Diana Ross as "Miss Ross," just as the press are instructed to refer to Deena Jones as "Miss Jones." The love affair between Deena Jones and Curtis Taylor Jr. was modeled on Diana Ross and Berry Gordy Jr.'s love affair which eventually led to his emphasis on her career rather than that of the group. This is also referenced in Berry’s own musical Motown The Musical. The storyline of Lorrell Robinson and James "Thunder" Early's relationship resembles Mary Wilson's relationships with fellow Motown artists. Florence Ballard became jealous and hostile towards Diana Ross when she was sidelined in favour of Ross. Effie White reacts in a similar manner when Deena Jones is pushed forward as the star of the Dreams.  Florence Ballard missed performances, recording sessions, allegedly "faked" illnesses, and gained weight, all of which resulted in her being fired from the group in Las Vegas in 1967. The character of Effie White goes through the same experience. Cindy Birdsong went on to perform with the Supremes the same night Florence Ballard was fired, just as Michelle Morris goes on to perform with the Dreams the same night Effie White is fired. The Supremes became "Diana Ross & the Supremes" in 1967 while in Las Vegas. The Dreams became "Deena Jones & the Dreams" in 1967 while in Las Vegas. Diana Ross left the Supremes in 1970 to pursue other projects such as film work, in 1972 she starred in her first motion picture, the Motown-produced Lady Sings the Blues. The character of Deena Jones leaves the Dreams in 1972 to pursue a career as an actress. Dreamgirls plays from 19 November 2016 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Hot on the heels of her former Glee co-star Dianna Agron, Amber Riley is to make her West End debut in the UK premiere of Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre. Riley who is best known for playing the powerhouse sole diva Mercedes Jones in six seasons of Ryan Murphy’s musical comedy series Glee, will play soulful singer ‘Effie White’ in the production. On today’s announcement Riley said: “I am so honoured and excited to not only be playing such an iconic role, but also to be working with Sonia Friedman and Casey Nicholaw. Working on the West End is now a dream realised, I just feel like this is going to be something special!” Riley is no stranger to the stage, her numerous theatre credits include Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Into the Woods and Mystery on the Docks with the Los Angeles Opera and in November 2012, she made her New York stage debut to rave reviews in New York City Center’s Duke Ellington’s Cotton Club Parade. Amber's additional television appearances include playing ‘Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North’ in the NBC live performance of the musical, The Wiz and competing in Dancing with the Stars, which she won in 2013. Sonia Friedman, whose company presents Dreamgirls in the West End said: “This great, now classic American musical is coming to London at long last, and I couldn’t be more excited to confirm that Amber Riley will be joining the cast of Dreamgirls for the West End season. Having met Amber and having had the privilege of hearing her sing two of the iconic songs from Dreamgirls: ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ and ‘I Am Changing’ – I was left with goosebumps, tingles and tears; I was completely knocked out by this talented performer. London is very lucky to be the first to see her Effie.” Inspired by R&B music acts in 1960s America. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio, from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous and features the classic songs ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going’, ‘I Am Changing’ and ‘One Night Only’. Already a Broadway legend, Dreamgirls became a world-wide hit film in 2006 starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé , Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson. Hudson who portrayed Effie White won the Best Supporting Oscar for her performance. Dreamgirls is booking until 10 February 2018 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Iconic Broadway musical Dreamgirls to open at the Savoy Theatre starring Amber Riley. The long awaited West End premiere of iconic musical Dreamgirls is almost over, with the announcement that Amber Riley has been cast in the key role of Effie. Sonia Friedman, who owns the West End rights to the production mentioned earlier this week that Dreamgirls would likely begin previews in November 2016, however it is now confirmed and the production will open at London’s Savoy Theatre. The production will be choreographed and directed by Olivier and Tony-Award® winning Casey Nicolaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Something Rotten!), with Tim Hatley creating sets; while Gregg Barnes is in negotiations to design costumes. Friedman said “This great, now classic American musical is coming to London at long last, and I couldn’t be more excited. This new production will begin performances later this year, directed by the brilliant, multi-award winning Broadway director Casey Nicholaw.' Casey Nicholaw said “I am beyond thrilled to be directing and choreographing Dreamgirls in the West End. It was one of the first shows I saw when I moved to New York in 1982 and has been my favourite show ever since. We've begun to assemble a terrific cast of actors here in the UK. We also have a terrific design team lined up - it's going to be a smart and sexy production. I'm so excited about working with Amber. I loved her on Glee and when her name came up for this, I thought - Wow, I think she could be incredible - and then when she came in to audition for us, she blew us away!” Amber Riley, who makes her West End debut, is most known for playing the powerhouse sole diva Mercedes Jones on six seasons of Glee. According to reports her audition for the role was mesmerising. Full casting is still ongoing Dreamgirls charts the rise to the top of the Dream, from schoolgirls to international stardom, mirroring to some extend Diana Ross and the Supremes and her relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy. With book and lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony Awards®. The West End production will be a complete reimagining of the original and will include the hit song ‘Listen’ from the Dreamgirls film starring Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. Dreamgirls will open in December 2016, previewing from 19 November 2016 at the Savoy Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls

Legendary Broadway musical Dreamgirls is finally coming to the West End – it only premiered in New York in 1981. It’s taken over 30 years, but legendary Broadway musical Dreamgirls is finally coming to the West End. Sonia Friedman Productions has secured the rights to a full West End production and it is rumoured that Casey Nicholaw who did Book of Mormon and Aladdin will direct. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls tells the story of a black record company and its star group “The Dreams” rise to stardom in the Sixties. Dreamgirls was made into smash hit film starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Fox and Eddie Murphy in 2006. It has been noted that Dreamgirls has significant similarities to story of Diana Ross and the Supremes and Motown records. Casting, theatre and specific dates are in the early stages of planning however it is anticipated it will be in late 2016 or early 2017. BOOKING Book tickets to Dreamgirls