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Dreamgirls
The The new Dreamgirls movie tells the story of the
rise and fall of an African-American girl group in the racially turbulent
1960s. "Dreamgirls" debuted on Broadway in December 1981 and ran for four
years. Now, 20 years later, the musical is coming to the screen starring
Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx ("Ray"), Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and
Danny Glover. Bill Condon is directing the film version, from a screenplay he
adapted from the stage musical's original book. Laurence Mark is producing,
with David Geffen, a producer of the Broadway musical, executive producing.
We also have exclusive pictures from the premiere of the movie in New York and
the Cannes sneak preview courtesy of Image.net and UIP. Check below for the
red carpet pictures on Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose,
Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover.
Story courtesy of: Yash
Pictures courtesy of: Image.net
Film Images
 

 

New York Premiere

Keith Robinson

Jamie Foxx

Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose and Beyonce

Beyonce Knowles

Eddie Murphy

Danny Glover

Jennifer Hudson
Cannes Sneak Preview
   
WRITER-DIRECTOR BILL CONDON
ADAPTS THE BOOK
“You don't know what I'm feeling.
I'm more than what you made of me.
I followed the voice you gave to me.
But now I've gotta find my own.
You should have listened.”
The original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” was “one of those experiences
you never forget,” Bill Condon remembers. “It was thrilling, with a brilliant
cast and legendary staging by Michael Bennett. With the passage of time, I
think it's possible to take a fresh look at this material. The story of the
crossover success of African-American music during the 1960s resonates more
than ever today, when African-American culture almost defines the mainstream.”
“‘Dreamgirls' came along when music was changing, when the industry began to
recognize ‘urban' influences,” adds cast member Eddie Murphy. “Whatever they
wanted to call it, it was the same thing – the R&B, rock roots dug by black
artists, that is now the sound of the times. And here was this story about
this group that rode their sound into mainstream pop America.” “I saw
Bennett's production of ‘Dreamgirls' shortly after it opened, and it was an
extraordinary, unforgettable experience,” says Laurence Mark. “The look of
that show and the music of that show have stayed with me all these years.”
To transform the book – a written version of a musical play – into a
screenplay, Condon wanted to hew as closely as possible to the original
material, which cast such a powerful spell on audiences of all ages, from all
walks of life, during its original run. For decades, the rights to this
property have been closely guarded by one of the stage production's producers,
industry legend and DreamWorks founding principal David Geffen.
When Mark first called Geffen, who is a longtime friend, to suggest that Bill
Condon would be the ideal choice to write and to direct “Dreamgirls,” the
producer recalls, “David spent about fifteen minutes telling me very nicely
that this movie would never happen because it was just too much of a risk to
take. If it didn't work, he would feel responsible for tarnishing the legend
of the show as well as the great legacy of Michael Bennett.
“I told him I completely understood and respected his position,” Mark
continues. “Still, I urged him to let me know if he ever wanted to hear Bill's
ideas for the movie. After a beat, David invited us to lunch the next day.
“Sometime between the entrée and the dessert, Bill got to talk about what his
approach to the movie would be after which David immediately said, ‘Well, it
sounds like we should give this a shot.'”
The writer-director was heavily involved in pre-production on his acclaimed
exploration of sexuality pioneer “Kinsey” at the time, but eighteen months
later, Condon's first draft of the screenplay came in, Geffen was keen to move
forward..
“David had been protective of this project for so long, and we were honored by
his willingness to trust us with it,” says Mark. “I think Bill has this movie
in his DNA—one of the reasons he was put on this earth was to make it.”
Geffen proved to be an invaluable resource to the writer-director. “David has
these great stories about the evolution of the Broadway production, including
the pre-Broadway tryouts of the show in Boston,” Condon says. “When you see a
show as an outsider, you might not be aware of the original intentions of the
creators—and we took great care to be true to Bennett's legacy. He played a
key role in not only the Broadway show, but also our screen version.”
Go to the films official website for more info by click
here.
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