This was the Pittsburg production of Dreamgirls! Filmed in August of 2004. Frenchie Davis - Effie White Angela Robinson - Deena Ramona Keller - Lorrell David Jennings - Curtis Taylor Jr Andre Garner - C.C. White
Love...it....I saw this production in Pittsburgh at the time but was a diff Deena and Jimmy...Actually Billy Porter was Jimmy the night I was there...Awesome to see this!!!
I don't know what some of you just watched. Maybe because I watched the entire production on my phone but Frenchie Davis just sang her ass off as Effie White. I saw the original national tour production in Chicago summer of 1984 with Jennifer Holliday reprising the role of Effie after winning the Tony. I have also had the pleasure of hearing Jennifer Holliday sing And I'm Telling You at two additional events, one of which they coerced her to sing a command impromptu performance with no rehearsal, sound check, or even a run through with the band and she still knocked it out of the park. She has literally sang this song at least a thousand times and it is still as perfect as she was on Broadway. I've also seen several summer stock, university productions, and regional performances of Dreamgirls. Frenchie White's vocals are the closest to Jennifer Holliday than anyone else I've seen, including Jennifer Hudson. Amber Riley came really close and deserved the Olivier Award she received for the original London West End production but Frenchie Davis managed to sustain notes even longer than the original. She has three of the hardest songs in the musical and was excellent in all of them.
She does Deee-liver 💯watching from the wings during the Build of this version and it’s three city tour 1/4/2004- build , previews and all> 90 days in all ( Sacramento, San Jose, and @5thAveTheatre )it was amazing to watch her knock it out to the last row night after Night with a 8 per wk/ 5show weekend 🎭 Frenchies vocal chops are 👑due Respect 🔥🥳& happy 50 years #Dreamgirls
It was a good performance and her vocals were excellent. Jennifer Holliday set an impossible bar to pass. But Frenchie definitely came closer than Jennifer Hudson.
@haineshisway I'll take her a million times over Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer got where she was by having her family massacred. Not because she's a great talent. Jennifer Hudson was trying to impersonate Jennifer Holiday and failed miserably.
@chrisjacobs7417 I don't know who Frenchie is, but she's better than Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer is overrated and obnoxious. She over sings and was the worst Effie.
The one who played Deena should have played Effie. Her voice is much more powerful than the one who played Effie. To be honest, I was not impressed with her lyrical interpretation of the role of Effie
@@miangelslaughter6556 not entirely because effie is supposed to be the one with the powerful voice, but at the same time it wouldn’t make sense because deena is supposed to be thin and more appealing than effie.
So what do we have here? An exact clone of Michael Bennett's production and his and Michael Peters' choreography. I hope both were credited thusly in the program. BUT, and it's a BIG but with these kinds of recreations - it lacks Mr. Bennett's precision - you can see it in every single number, but especially in Steppin' to the Bad Side. Set seems scaled down as does cast size, but that's not the issue. Effie, who needs to electrify doesn't. That's all there is to it. She has zero energy and that sucks the energy right out of the show from her first entrance. Precision is everything in this show, from the smallest to the largest role, to the way the show moves, pace-wise and every other-wise and that's the job of whoever replicated this. But so many replicators don't understand how to direct actors and call for precision. But fun to see the original staging in a better-shot video than the terrible video of the original production. But as terrible as that video is, what comes across in every second of it is the ELECTRICITY on that stage.
The choreography and blocking come with the script, that's what royalties are paid for. Broadway Productions usually don't have any changes made when it's done Off-Broadway. The only difference is usually the Cast Members.
@@quandricorutledge This is not completely accurate and only certain musicals come with it, not all. You don't have to use either blocking or choreography in the case of Dreamgirls.
@@haineshisway An official touring company typically uses the same blocking and choreography as the original production (or in this case, the revival Broadway production), scaled to fit smaller stages including some theaters that don't even have flyspace. I have worked in ballet and when you put on a production, you use the original choreography unless it's a restaging which has to be approved by the producers. So, every performance of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker uses the same choreography as licensed by the estate of George Balanchine.
@@WuWei7 I've been in this business since before you were born, I understand how it works, but if you actually bother to read what I wrote, I said clearly I hope that Bennett and Peters were credited in the program as they must be and then I got to my REAL point, which is how lazy the recreation is. So, I should ask why you felt the need to make a response that actually has not a single thing to do with the point of my post.
@@haineshiswayI think they were just educating you bcuz you didn’t seem to know how it worked. This isn’t a community theatre production, this is a full scale professional production. When it’s such an acclaimed show, most ppl will want to see the original blocking/choreography, especially folks that didn’t have the chance to see it during its original run. Think about the other prominent Michael Bennet show A Chorus Line. Could you imagine seeing it without the original choreography?!?! I couldn’t even stomach it. That’s why the movie was so poorly received. Someone like me who was born after the original run ended, if I were to see ACL, I would want the original production to the T. Unless it’s like a fully reimagined version that’s purposely trying to be different, but those don’t usually work out for obvious reasons
This was the Pittsburg production of Dreamgirls! Filmed in August of 2004.
Frenchie Davis - Effie White
Angela Robinson - Deena
Ramona Keller - Lorrell
David Jennings - Curtis Taylor Jr
Andre Garner - C.C. White
I love this production! Ramona Keller’s vocals are stellar!
I think they did an excellent job.
Love...it....I saw this production in Pittsburgh at the time but was a diff Deena and Jimmy...Actually Billy Porter was Jimmy the night I was there...Awesome to see this!!!
We did the show at the Pittsburgh Playhouse back in the 80s and Billy Porter was our Jimmy. He was going to CMU at the time.
@@echocheck very cool I bet that was awesome as well
Ramona Keller is the perfect Lorrell! Vocally and acting wise. Love her pingy soprano!
This production is very good. The costumes are nice, and the actors/actresses are on point. Thanks for posting. 😊
I don't know what some of you just watched. Maybe because I watched the entire production on my phone but Frenchie Davis just sang her ass off as Effie White. I saw the original national tour production in Chicago summer of 1984 with Jennifer Holliday reprising the role of Effie after winning the Tony. I have also had the pleasure of hearing Jennifer Holliday sing And I'm Telling You at two additional events, one of which they coerced her to sing a command impromptu performance with no rehearsal, sound check, or even a run through with the band and she still knocked it out of the park. She has literally sang this song at least a thousand times and it is still as perfect as she was on Broadway. I've also seen several summer stock, university productions, and regional performances of Dreamgirls. Frenchie White's vocals are the closest to Jennifer Holliday than anyone else I've seen, including Jennifer Hudson. Amber Riley came really close and deserved the Olivier Award she received for the original London West End production but Frenchie Davis managed to sustain notes even longer than the original. She has three of the hardest songs in the musical and was excellent in all of them.
She does Deee-liver 💯watching from the wings during the Build of this version and it’s three city tour 1/4/2004- build , previews and all> 90 days in all
( Sacramento, San Jose, and @5thAveTheatre )it was amazing to watch her knock it out to the last row night after Night with a 8 per wk/ 5show weekend 🎭 Frenchies vocal chops are 👑due Respect 🔥🥳& happy 50 years #Dreamgirls
Amazing story, I can't believe I never see in my life this is a great experience 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🙌🏾🎊
Angela Robinson aka Veronica from The Haves and The Have Nots❤️
Amazing, I was in highschool when this got fabulous reviews.
Thank you so much for uploading this! What a Treasure ❤
I remember it. I was BLESSED! to go to The LA Run Closing Night Party! 🍾🍸! WOW!
Going with the original Michael Bennett production! Love that.
This Effie is a perfect combination of Jennifer Holiday and Amber Riley
The one that played lorrell did a good job just wish that her and Jimmy did end up getting married
Marvelous!
BLACK ROYALTY AT ITS FINEST!GODSPEED 💜🔥💜🔥💜💜💜👑👑👑👑🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🔥🔥🔥🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Ramona Keller stood out to me the most! Period.
1:12:11 - "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going;"
Mediocrity in comparison to Holliday.
@@hinderless5811 I agree. I forget why I time-stamped this. But there's no comparison!
It was a good performance and her vocals were excellent. Jennifer Holliday set an impossible bar to pass. But Frenchie definitely came closer than Jennifer Hudson.
Frenchie has to be the most emotionless Effie in history
What do you mean?
@@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752 I'll tell you what she means - NO ENERGY.
@@haineshiswayright? I didn’t believe her pain at ALL.
@haineshisway I'll take her a million times over Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer got where she was by having her family massacred. Not because she's a great talent. Jennifer Hudson was trying to impersonate Jennifer Holiday and failed miserably.
@@roshelltannen9698Jennifer Hudson got the role of Effie before she lost her family. Her performance was nothing like Holliday's.
I thought Frenchie understood the assignment 🤷🏽♂️
She definitely didn't
Clearly not.
@chrisjacobs7417 I don't know who Frenchie is, but she's better than Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer is overrated and obnoxious. She over sings and was the worst Effie.
STEPPING‼️❗️‼️👏👏👏👏👏 *better in San Jose 😿
❤❤❤
1:39:35 what a shame the movie cut out Lorelle's "Ain't No Party" just to give Beyonce a couple of additional BS songs.
😂😂 right
Exactly & beYAWNce songs were BS I’d rather heard Lorell
Y’all in here being messy asf
Right
The one who played Deena should have played Effie. Her voice is much more powerful than the one who played Effie. To be honest, I was not impressed with her lyrical interpretation of the role of Effie
that literally would make no sense tho & just defeats the purpose
@@miangelslaughter6556 not entirely because effie is supposed to be the one with the powerful voice, but at the same time it wouldn’t make sense because deena is supposed to be thin and more appealing than effie.
I completely disagree.
I believe Effie 's voice was strong enough
@@malia0523 Thank you!
38:28
She sound great but the acting is a little mediocre. Jennifer was a bit more animated when she sang her song. Nonetheless, not bad.
1:19:00
1:33:40
Some of men were flat and sharp all over the place. I know its not about them but it's still jarring.
Nor impressed with Frencie's work in this role 😕
😮
Aww, i actually saw this production 🥹 before they added Listen lol
Is that Frenchie Davis?
yes it says at the start
So what do we have here? An exact clone of Michael Bennett's production and his and Michael Peters' choreography. I hope both were credited thusly in the program. BUT, and it's a BIG but with these kinds of recreations - it lacks Mr. Bennett's precision - you can see it in every single number, but especially in Steppin' to the Bad Side. Set seems scaled down as does cast size, but that's not the issue. Effie, who needs to electrify doesn't. That's all there is to it. She has zero energy and that sucks the energy right out of the show from her first entrance. Precision is everything in this show, from the smallest to the largest role, to the way the show moves, pace-wise and every other-wise and that's the job of whoever replicated this. But so many replicators don't understand how to direct actors and call for precision. But fun to see the original staging in a better-shot video than the terrible video of the original production. But as terrible as that video is, what comes across in every second of it is the ELECTRICITY on that stage.
The choreography and blocking come with the script, that's what royalties are paid for. Broadway Productions usually don't have any changes made when it's done Off-Broadway. The only difference is usually the Cast Members.
@@quandricorutledge This is not completely accurate and only certain musicals come with it, not all. You don't have to use either blocking or choreography in the case of Dreamgirls.
@@haineshisway An official touring company typically uses the same blocking and choreography as the original production (or in this case, the revival Broadway production), scaled to fit smaller stages including some theaters that don't even have flyspace. I have worked in ballet and when you put on a production, you use the original choreography unless it's a restaging which has to be approved by the producers. So, every performance of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker uses the same choreography as licensed by the estate of George Balanchine.
@@WuWei7 I've been in this business since before you were born, I understand how it works, but if you actually bother to read what I wrote, I said clearly I hope that Bennett and Peters were credited in the program as they must be and then I got to my REAL point, which is how lazy the recreation is. So, I should ask why you felt the need to make a response that actually has not a single thing to do with the point of my post.
@@haineshiswayI think they were just educating you bcuz you didn’t seem to know how it worked. This isn’t a community theatre production, this is a full scale professional production. When it’s such an acclaimed show, most ppl will want to see the original blocking/choreography, especially folks that didn’t have the chance to see it during its original run. Think about the other prominent Michael Bennet show A Chorus Line. Could you imagine seeing it without the original choreography?!?! I couldn’t even stomach it. That’s why the movie was so poorly received. Someone like me who was born after the original run ended, if I were to see ACL, I would want the original production to the T. Unless it’s like a fully reimagined version that’s purposely trying to be different, but those don’t usually work out for obvious reasons
54:11
1:38:36
1:38:17