SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Casey Nicholaw to Helm DREAMGIRLS in the West End; Open Casting Call in May

The Daily Mail writes that SOMETHING ROTTEN! director Casey Nicholaw will officially be directing DREAMGIRLS in its UK debut.

As previously reported, producer Sonia Friedman has the rights to tackle a full West End production, and she and Nicholaw are working with casting director Pippa Ailion to coordinate open auditions for "black and mixed race singers with strong soul/pop voices" to play the musical's leads. The open call is slated for May 5 at Glasshill Studios.

The London show will open more than three decades after the original Broadway production, which was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett and starred Jennifer Holliday as 'Effie'. It won six 1982 Tony Awards, for Best Book (Tom Eyen), Best Actor (Ben Harney), Best Actress (Holliday), Best Featured Actor (Cleavant Derricks), Best Lighting Design (Tharon Musser), and Best Choreography (Bennett & Michael Peters).

Bill Condon's 2006 film adaptation featured Jennifer Hudson as 'Effie'. The Mail's Baz Bamigboye speculates that DREAMGIRLS producers are eyeing Cynthia Erivo for a part in the new production.

DREAMGIRLS has music by Henry Krieger and book & lyrics by Tom Eyen. Based on the stories of R&B acts such as The Supremes, James Brown and more, DREAMGIRLS centers on a trio of young female singers from Chicago called The Dreams who become superstars.

Among Nicholaw's directing credits are Broadway's ALADDIN, ELF, THE BOOK OF MORMON (which earned him a Tony in 2011), ALL ABOUT ME and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. He also choreographed SPAMALOT for its West End run and U.S. national tour.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride