‘Dreamgirls’ comes true for director, performers of Wichita production

When it comes to staging “Dreamgirls,” a musical about the rise and fall of a girl group from the 1950s to ‘80s, it’s as important to have Black representation behind the scenes as it is on stage, its director says.

“It starts with being able to bring the story to life and understand the cultural relevance of it being an African-American inspired show, but the innuendos that are evident in the music, the moments between the characters, to be at the helm is very important for the cast to experience that and the community to see that,” said Sheldon Mba, who is directing and choreographing “Dreamgirls,” which opens later this week for the Crown Arts Collaborative at the Crown Uptown Theatre.

“It makes it easy to gel everything together when we speak the unspoken language that’s kind of present in a lot of cultures,” said Mba, who is also assistant professor of music theater and dance at Friends University. “We don’t have to find different phrasing to explain or express a situation, we just deal with it as it is.”

Mba’s first experience with “Dreamgirls” was as an ensemble member of the company, as well as doing “a chunk of the choreography” in his hometown of Durham, N.C.

“It’s been a nice arc for me to come back and trace my journey and my growth as an artist and as a creator,” he said. “The music never left me. I would literally call my friends up and we would intro some of the songs years later.”

Mba tapped fellow Friends faculty Rayvon TJ Moore to be the musical director for “Dreamgirls.”

“This show encompasses a lot of different genres that come from the Black experience – rap, ballads, jazz, Gospel, rock – all of that was founded and has roots from Black folks, really,” Moore, assistant professor of music and director of choral studies at Friends, as well as director of the Wichita Chamber Chorale, said. “It’s important not only to have a director and a music director that comes from that culture and understands those different styles, the nuances and phrasing. All of those things are so important to get right.”

“Dreamgirls,” which some see as a thinly veiled story of The Supremes, follows a female Black trio from Chicago called The Dreams and their rise in popularity until they become a national phenomenon. The Broadway version, whose cast included Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, debuted in 1981 and won six Tony Awards, including best actress for Holliday, best book of a musical and best choreography, losing out the best musical spot to “Nine.”

A 2006 movie version featured stars such as Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and, in an Oscar-winning role as best supporting actress, Jennifer Hudson as Effie.

It was the movie version that hooked two of the leads in the Crown production.

“It is a dream show to be a part of,” said Koko Blanton, who plays Deena, who is loosely based on Diana Ross. “I grew up watching the movie and listening to the music, so being in this show means so much to me. It’s such a beautiful story. And I relate to Deena. Deena is someone who is so determined and so bold.

“All she’s wanting is to matter and to have some importance. In the group, her only options are to have success or go back home and be a school teacher, which she doesn’t want to be,” Blanton added. “Throughout her journey she has so much strength and power and holds her own and is true to herself. I think she puts herself first, even though she’s going through this with her best friends.”

Jaslyn Alexander, who plays Effie, said she has been using the character’s 11 o’clock number, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” as her audition song since high school.

“Ever since the movie came out, I know this was something iconic, something I knew I needed to do,” she said. “As a little sophomore baby angel child, I knew Effie was the goal. I knew it was going to be hard. Effie was the golden ticket for me.”

“Dreamgirls” is not only a story for people of color, she said, it’s specifically empowering for women of color.

“No matter what anybody else tries to tell you, we love to see a Black woman succeed around here, no matter how she has to get it,” she said. “Black women can relate to any one of the Dreams. Everybody relates to their own person in the show.”

Courtney Price-Dukes, who plays Lorrell, was not available for the interview.

Auditions for the roles in “Dreamgirls” were “crazy,” Mba said.

“There were a lot of new people, people who had never done theater before, but came out with a love for the name ‘Dreamgirls,’ the love of a Black story to be presented,” he said.

The space available at the Crown makes for storytelling the way he wants, Mba said.

“We have moving pieces constantly throughout the entire show, through every number,” he said. “But when the moving pieces stop it represents something neat. We don’t get too much behind the scenes, but when we get the behind-the-scenes stuff it matters so much. I wanted to make sure that big space was used appropriately.”

As a choreographer, he said, “I hop all over” in influences for the dances.

“At first when I did it I hopped back to what my mentors and professors gave me in 2013, and I harken back to what the originals did. I think back to what the movie did,” he said. “But I seek inspiration from the Supremes, which is what this show is based on.”

Alexander, Blanton and Dukes-Price all knew each other from previous productions, Mba said, which made for good rapport in the trio.

“The biggest thing I found was synergy between the Dreams and their sound, and their energies, their vibes, their spirits, their ability to work together and grow together. It’s nice to see people who are so great and so perfected in all their auditions,” he said. “I like to see a lot of passion, because I like rehearsal potential of where it starts and where it can go. The group of people I have are extremely talented and truly passionate.

“The way they’re going to elevate the show and elevate themselves is going to be a very triumphant moment.”

‘DREAMGIRLS’ BY CROWN ARTS COLLABORATIVE

When: Aug. 25 to Sept. 10; performances at 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas Ave.

Tickets: $40-$50, from crownuptown.com or 316-612-7696