C.C. writes a new, raw song for Effie: A club DJ plays the disco version without permission. Curtis tries to steal the song for Deena, leading to a legal battle. Effie stands her ground.
2006 film → Original Broadway cast recording → YouTube clips of Jennifer Holliday’s live performances → Then seek out a local stage production. dreamgirls
The Dreams (now Deena, Lorrell, Michelle) become international superstars. Deena marries Curtis, but their marriage is cold and controlling. C.C., Effie’s brother and songwriter, grows disgusted with Curtis’s exploitation of Black artists. James “Thunder” Early, pushed to a drug-fueled breakdown, dies of an overdose. Effie stands her ground
1. Overview & Origins Dreamgirls is a landmark musical with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen . It premiered on Broadway in 1981, running for over 1,500 performances. The story is a fictionalized account of the rise of The Supremes and other Motown acts of the 1960s and 1970s, drawing heavy inspiration from the career of Diana Ross , as well as figures like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and The Shirelles. Deena marries Curtis, but their marriage is cold