TSU Theatre Stages DREAMGIRLS This Weekend

It has been twenty years since TSU Theatre which is a unit under the Visual & Performing Arts Department produced the musical Dreamgirls but now a modern audience is in for a treat with a brand new re-mounting of the musical that is sure to please and delight. Filled with R&B and gospel tinged tunes, energetic choreography, and stunning vocals the production promises to be exciting and memorable. It performs for only 3 shows. Today, April 18th, 19th at 8pm and April 20th at 4pm.

All shows perform in the Granville Sawyer Auditorium on the TSU campus (3100 Cleburne St.) Tickets are $5 for students and $10 general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at dreamgirlstsu.brownpapertickets.com or at the box office during the night of the show. The box office number is 713-313-7157. The popular show promises to pack the house so get your tickets early!

Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981 and closed on August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. The musical has been lauded for its great score and fantastic characters.

In Texas Southern University's retelling of this classic musical they are making an attempt to, "stylize" the production a bit more. Director Cleo House, Jr. is a newcomer to TSU. He was recently appointed Chair of the department of Visual & Performing Arts. A professional actor and director House says, "Dreamgirls in production often looks very presentational, it is almost as if the characters stop acting, they face the audience, and then they sing with little connection to how we got that point in the song. Our production of Dreamgirls borrows from the traditional mode story telling in musicals but also borrows from our contemporaries, which makes it a very thrilling production. There are some interesting staging techniques employed in the show that will keep the audience involved."

Also on board for the ride is vocal director/coach Stephonne Smith who serves as an instructor in the Music department at TSU. "I am thrilled to have someone with his expertise working on the show. Stephonne brings a high level of enthusiasm and an incredible amount of professional experience that we're lucky to take advantage of." Working in the pit as the conductor is TSU Music major Al Alexander Jr. "Al has really stepped up and proven to be a knowledgeable leader. The work that he and the other students have put into the production from musicians to actors is incredibly impressive." House said.

The Visual & Performing Arts Department at Texas Southern University is comprised of B.A. in Theatre and B.A. in Art. For more information on the department contact Cleo House, Jr. at 713-313-7339 or housec@tsu.edu.

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