Jennifer Holliday Will Return to DREAMGIRLS, Playing Effie at the Muny

Before Jennifer Hudson gave Effie White life on the big screen, Jennifer Holliday was playing her on the Broadway stage. This summer, Holliday will return to DREAMGIRLS, playing the role at the Muny in St. Louis.

Holliday expects that it will be her final turn as Effie. "I don't want to turn into Norma Desmond!" The actress joked in an interview with St. Louis Today. "Or remember that scene in ‘Mommie Dearest,' when Joan Crawford's grown daughter is in the hospital and she sees her mother on TV, playing her role in a soap opera?...I think I can just get away with it one more time."

According to executive producer Mike Isaacson, "The Muny audience will be astounded by the talent of Jennifer Holliday. The explosive power of her voice on the Muny stage is a fitting tribute to the 30th anniversary of this landmark musical and the Muny’s tradition of iconic musical theatre under the stars."

DREAMGIRLS opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre. The show was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, winning six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006, starring Hudson, Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose, Eddie Murphy and more.

Holliday made her Broadway debut in YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD at the age of 19. After winning a Tony at the age of 21 for DREAMGIRLS, Holliday performed in GREASE and CHICAGO. She has made a singing career, off Broadway, with eight albums and two Grammy awards. 

Season tickets go on sale March 3, 2012, with single tickets going on sale June 2, 2012. The Muny's season - its 94th - will also include ALADDIN, CHICAGO, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, PIRATES! and THE KING AND I.  For more information on DREAMGIRLS, and the rest of the 2012 Muny season, visit www.muny.org.