Dallas Theater Center to Open DREAMGIRLS in June; Tickets Now on Sale!

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the award-winning hit musical Dreamgirls. This modern-day classic is led by director and DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Dreamgirls will begin with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, June 10 and will run through Sunday, July 24. Press Night will be Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets to Dreamgirls are on sale now at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and by phone at (214) 880-0202.

"Throughout this season at DTC, we have seen important pieces of American history, both social and political, come together on our stage," said Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. "There is no way you can talk about the history of America without talking about American popular music; including R&B, gospel and soul. Motown in the 20th century was transformative, not just in how we understood music but in how we understood our American society and the African-American experience. I'm so excited to see Dreamgirls come to life under the direction of our associate artistic director, Joel Ferrell, and the choreography of our valued collaborator, Rickey Tripp."

With book and lyrics by Tom Eyer, music by Henry Krieger and choreography by Rickey Tripp; Dreamgirls will dazzle audiences with a story as glitzy as the sequins onstage. Take a trip back to the seminal music scene of the 1960s, when young women sang their way to musical prominence in a man's world. Set in the Motown era that brought us powerhouse voices like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross-and ultimately Destiny's Child and Beyoncé-Dreamgirls explodes from the stage with legendary songs and timeless appeal.

"Dreamgirls brings to life the passion and joy of Motown, and the music that changed the world," explained Ferrell. "Against a back drop of the racial unrest and political turmoil of the '60s and '70s, Motown artists were creating the soundtrack of the late 20th century. Behind the scenes there is love and betrayal, hits and flops, laughter and chaos; but onstage nothing but incredible music, brilliant dancing and legendary performances. In this fictional account of the rise of superstars, Michael Bennett and his collaborators delivered us a fast paced thrill-ride of a show. I have loved this musical since seeing it on Broadway in 1982 and know DTC audiences are going to be dancin' in the streets as they leave the theater."

Starring as the talented trio is Alexis Sims as Deena Jones, Marisha Wallace as Effie White and Kristen Bond (Stagger Lee) as Lorrell. Joining them is Derrick Davis as Curtis Taylor Jr., Traci Elaine Lee (Stagger Lee, LES MISERABLES, The Fortress of Solitude) as Michelle, Eric Lajuan Summers as James Thunder Early and Clinton Greenspan (Romeo and Juliet) as C.C. White.

Brierley Resident Acting Company members Hassan El-Amin (All the Way, The Mountaintop, Colossal) will play the role of Marty, and Alex Organ (All the Way, Sense and Sensibility, LES MISERABLES) will be a part of the Male Ensemble.

Fellow actors in the Male Ensemble are Christopher Figaro Jackson, Joshua Keith, Walter Lee, Willie Smith III, Jay Staten (Stagger Lee), Jeremy Davis, Gabriel Lawson and Micah Ndiba. The Female Ensemble includes Tiana Kaye Johnson (The Mountaintop, The Book Club Play), Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Ayanna Edwards and Gabrielle Reyes.

Choreographer Tripp will bring musical numbers to life alongside music director Michael O. Mitchell. Returning to DTC to dazzle the stage is set designer Bob Lavallee (The Mountaintop, The Rocky Horror Show, Clybourne Park), costume designer Karen Perry (A Raisin in the Sun, The Trinity River Plays), sound designer Aria Music Design (LES MISERABLES, Cabaret), lighting designer Lap Chi Chu (The Good Negro, Fences) and wig designer J. Jared Janas.

DTC's Come Early sponsored by Wells Fargo will take place one hour before every performance and DTC's Stay Late presented by Dr Pepper Snapple Group will take place after each performance.

Dallas Theater Center gratefully acknowledges the support of Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District; The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas; Dallas Theater Center Guild; Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP; Haynes and Boone, LLP; Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP; and Vinson & Elkins LLP.

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