Village Theatre’s ‘Dreamgirls’ features show-stopping tunes

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 6, 2017

When I was in first grade at Mountlake Terrace Elementary, a trio of sixth-grade girls sang a Supremes tune in the school talent show.

The girls weren’t especially talented, as I remember, but the song they performed was a show stopper. Literally.

“Stop.” Big pause, as they raised their right palms. “In the name of love.” Short pause, as they crossed their hands over their chests. “Before you break my heart.”

“Think it oh-over.”

Thinking it over as I watched Village Theatre’s production of “Dreamgirls,” I realized I probably was like a lot of kids who fell for the Supremes at an early age. They were sweet, glitzy, talented and almost as popular as The Beatles. OK, maybe I didn’t get the lyrics, but the “Stop” thing was cool and the R&B was danceable, even for a girl in saddle shoes and a wool skirt.

“Dreamgirls” — which premiered on Dec. 20, 1981 — is inspired in part by the story of the Supremes, Motown Records’ signature act. In the musical, however, the Dreams are from Chicago, not Detroit.

“Dreamgirls” won six Tony awards and introduced a new style of singing in the theater. Now, 35 years after the start of its Broadway run, the musical is in the good hands of the folks at Village.

Veteran director Steve Tomkins, a fellow baby boomer, recalls Motown from the 1960s the way I do. Many of the obstacles that stood in the way of black performers trying to enter the world of TV, radio, movies and recorded music “were swept away with the rush of the Motown sound” — which captured the heart and soul of young Americans, Tomkins said.

The Civil Rights Movement was at its height. White artists, such as Elvis Presley and Pat Boone, did covers of black singers’ songs and they ended up with the fame. In many ways, the show’s relevance today regarding sexism and racism is as strong as ever.

And the Village cast is outstanding.

Angela Birchett plays Effie White, the leader of the Dreamettes girl group. Birchett has played Broadway in the revival of “The Color Purple,” toured the country in a myriad of musicals and is a recording artist.

I thought several audience members might fall out of their seats during her everything-she-got version of “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going” — which was Billboard’s No. 1 R&B single (by Jennifer Holliday) in 1982 and added to Jennifer Hudson’s “American Idol” fame in the 2006 movie version, also starring Beyoncé.

Lauren Du Pree plays Deena Jones, who replaces the chubbier Effie as the leader of the Dreams. Du Pree was fabulous in Village’s production of “My Heart is the Drum” and she is here, too.

Alexandria Henderson, a favorite regional actor, plays Lorrell Robinson, the third Dreamgirl and girlfriend of fellow singer Thunder Early.

Former Village KidStage actor, and another “My Heart is the Drum” veteran, Joell Weil plays Michelle Morris, who joins the Dreams after Effie leaves.

The men include John Devereaux, fresh off the 20th anniversary national tour of “Rent,” who plays Curtis Taylor, the manager of the Dreams; Seattle-based actor Nathaniel Tenebaum, originally from London with a long list of credits, as the singer James “Thunder” Early; longtime Village favorite Ty Willis as Thunder’s manager, Marty; and regional actor Charles Simmons, who plays composer CC White, Effie’s brother.

The ensemble is primarily from the pool of fine actors who grace the stages of Village, the 5th Avenue and many others.

As always with Village, the set, sound, lighting, costumes, orchestra and choreography all are top-notch. A special shout out this time, however, goes to costume designer Karen Ledger for the shimmering Dreamgirl gowns.

If you are a baby boomer like me, you will love this show. If you are younger, you will enjoy this show because of its fine musicality and show-stopping tunes.

“Dreamgirls”

The Village Theatre production opens July 7 and continues through July 30 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays.

For tickets, call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org.