'Dreamgirls' Opens at Dream Home: The Apollo

The latest revival of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls will begin its national tour at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. The decision to open the tour at the Apollo (where the musical begins and ends) would seemingly make perfect sense.

Producer John Breglio, however, recalls the public’s initial reaction: “Everybody thought I was crazy.” But as Breglio commented, “I knew it was time to finally bring Dreamgirls to the Apollo. Throughout its history, the Apollo has been known as a proving ground where new talent has been discovered and nurtured and careers have been launched; and that is what Dreamgirls is all about.”

However, the Apollo, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, presents many logistical problems for a modern musical:

The Apollo has no pit for an orchestra, a relatively narrow stage, and a very small backstage area. Performers exiting the stage run into other actors coming out. (“We had a traffic jam,” an actor explained to director Richard Longbottom after a delay during a recent rehearsal.) Yet the production has found its way through all of these challenges. The orchestra is in a separate room on the second floor, and the conductor watches the stage on a computer screen as actors watch monitors for the conductor’s cues. Beneath the stage, a waiting room has been converted into a dressing room and is filled with more than 580 outfits and 184 wigs.

These sacrifices are worth the energy of performing at the Apollo. Syesha Mercado, who plays Deena Jones, tells the Times, “The moment that we got here we could feel all the energy of the performers who came before us.” Adrienne Warren (Lorrelle Robinson) recalls, “I remember watching ‘Amateur Night’ (at the Apollo) when I was a little girl, and imagining myself a singing star.”

And as associate director at the Apollo Nina Flowers says, “The Dreamettes are all the girls who have been up here on that stage; they’re part of the Apollo legend. It’s their story.”

Dreamgirls began previews Nov. 7, before an official opening Nov. 22. The musical will have a four-week limited run at the Apollo before beginning its national tour.

Back Stage published several casting notices for this touring production of Dreamgirls. Did any Back Stage readers audition and/or get cast? Leave your comments below to let us know!

 Photo: The cast of Dreamgirls at The Apollo

-Alexa Trummer