John Lithgow Cast as New Character in Dreamgirls Film

According to the New York Daily News, John Lithgow has been cast in the upcoming film version of Dreamgirls.

Lithgow will play a new character written for the film--a ruthless Hollywood producer who comes into contact with Deena Jones (the character played by Beyonce Knowles) when she attempts a movie career. "He eats her alive...he is not a nice man," stated the actor.

Lithgow, who received a Tony nomination for his performance in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, has appeared on Broadway in over 20 shows. A Tony Award-winner for The Changing Room and Sweet Smell of Success, his credits include The Retreat from Moscow, M. Butterfly, Requiem for a Heavyweight and Beyond Therapy. He is also an accomplished film and TV actor who is often recognized for his stint on "Third Rock from the Sun." He recently appeared in "Twenty Good Years," an NBC comedy pilot co-starring Jeffrey Tambor.

Set for a nationwide release on December 22nd, the Dreamgirls film will star "American Idol"'s Jennifer Hudson as Effie Melody White, the phenomenally talented vocalist who is considered unmarketable as the lead singer of the Supremes-like Motown group The Dreams, and who is dropped in favor of the glamorous Deena (played by pop superstar Knowles). Sharon Leal (Rent, "Guiding Light," "Boston Public") will play Michelle, who replaces Effie in the Dreams. The cast also includes Eddie Murphy as soul superstar James "Thunder" Early, Danny Glover as Early's manager Marty Madison, Academy-Award winner Jamie Foxx as Dreams manager Curtis Taylor Jr., three-time Tony Award-winner Hinton Battle as Wayne, and Tony Award-winner Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson, the vivacious third member of the Dreams.

Dreamgirls, a co-production between DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures that will be released domestically by the former and internationally by the latter, will be directed by Condon, the Academy Award-winner who received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for the film version of Chicago. He will also adapt the screenplay from Tom Eyen's book (Eyen also wrote the lyrics to Henry Kreiger's music).
 
Dreamgirls opened at the Imperial Theatre on December 20th, 1981. A smash hit, it ran for 1521 performances and won 6 of it 13 Tony nominations. The show featured a score by Henry Krieger and Tow Ewen, a book by Ewen, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge and lighting design by Tharon Musser. Dazzlingly staged by Michael Bennett, the show nonetheless lost the Best Musical Tony to Nine. Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine were the three Dreams, and Cleavant Derricks, Ben Harney and Obba Babatunde were also featured. Dreamgirls was revived in 1987 with Lillias White, Alisa Gyse and Arnetia Walker. Heather Headley, Audra McDonald and White headlined the 2001 Actors' Fund benefit concert.

For a sneak peek at the Dreamgirls film, visit www.dreamworks.com/dreamgirls.