Dreamgirls Broadway Revival: Jennifer Hudson to Produce New Production

Jennifer Hudson Returns to ‘Dreamgirls’ as Producer for Broadway Revival

Jennifer Hudson is expanding her role with the iconic musical Dreamgirls, returning to Broadway not as a performer, but as a producer. The announcement, made earlier this week on The Jennifer Hudson Show, marks a full-circle moment for the EGOT winner, nearly 20 years after her Oscar-winning portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation.

“This fall, Dreamgirls is coming back to Broadway for the very first time since its opening 45 years ago in 1981,” Hudson shared with excitement. “Now, it’s being reimagined for a whole new generation, which I am so excited about. Now, I finally get to tell you that I am a producer on the team for the revival of this iconic musical! There’s going to be so much more to share in time, but I’ve been having so much fun working with this amazing team, and wait to share the incredible production this fall.”

The Broadway revival will be directed and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, a five-time Tony nominee whose credits include work on Hell’s Kitchen and Gypsy. Details regarding specific dates and casting have not yet been released, according to the musical’s official website.

Dreamgirls originally premiered at New York City’s Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981, and ran for almost four years, closing on August 11, 1985. The original cast featured Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson, and Jennifer Holliday as Effie Melody White. A national tour followed in 1983, with Holliday continuing in her role as Effie. The musical has since seen numerous revivals and international productions, including a West End run featuring Amber Riley as Effie White.

The original Broadway production garnered significant acclaim, earning 13 Tony nominations and winning six awards, including for Best Book of a Musical, Lighting Design, Best Choreography, and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. The original cast recording also achieved success, winning a Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1983. Jennifer Holliday’s performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” earned her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Hudson’s Academy Award win for her role as Effie White in the 2006 film, which also starred Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, and Eddie Murphy, catapulted her to stardom. This Broadway revival marks Hudson’s third producing credit, following her involvement with “A Strange Loop” and “Smash.” She joins producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson on the project.

The musical tells the story of an R&B girls group navigating the challenges of fame and success. The 1981 production was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett.