The man who penned Kinesy and Chicago is now developing the film Dreamgirls, a tribute to the rise of Diana Ross and the Supremes. The good folks over at Cinescape give us this:
According to a story appearing in today’s Variety, the Oscar-winning screenwriter has already penned his first draft of the story, based on the book by Tom Eyen. The film will also include the music of Henry Krieger.
DREAMGIRLS was first a Broadway musical about a trio of young black female singers starting out with their careers in the early 1960s. If that story rings a bell in your memory it’s because the musical was an homage to the rise of Diana Ross and the Supremes.
The only thing that worries me is that on the surface it appears Condon is trapped on the success of Chigago and may just being trying to replicate the success of another musical. Admittedly, that’s a bit of a stretch for me to worry about at this early stage. Condon certainly knows his stuff, so let’s see how this one turns out.
I saw this show in January of 1982 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City and I sat in the front row center orchestra section.
The show was Spectacular, especially Ms. Jennifer Holliday!
Any movie made would be tough to compete with the original show.
In my opinion it would have be great if the Original Broadway Cast was allowed to pick the movie Cast
Remember ACT I SCENE 1 takes place in the Early Sixties at New York City’s World Famous Apollo Theatre.
The Actors Chosen should reflect that!
In other words, Who would a 1960 NYC Apollo Audience give standing ovations to?
What artists today can recreate the look and sound of the soul singers of the sixties?
In this era there was Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Barbara Mason, Ruby and the Romantics, Mary Wells, Otis Redding, The Impressions, The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, The Toys, The Temptations, Eddie Holman, Percy Sledge, Jerry Butler, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Clyde McPhatter, Aaron Neville.
The conk or processed hairdo was popular most of the male acts, so men being chosen for the film need to start growing their hair long enough for a conkalene process many months early.
I think that they should find TRENYCE from American Idol 2 to play the role of Diana Ross. She would be PERFECT!!!!
She can act and she LOOKS like Diana!