‘Dreamgirls’ Set for First Broadway Revival: Legendary Musical Plans Worldwide Search for ‘The Dreams’
“And I am telling you, I’m not going,” lines belted out by the character, Effie White, marking a signature moment of the show, which is proving to be absolutely factual as producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and LaChanze Productions recently announced that the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls will return to Broadway in the fall of 2026—its first-ever revival with a new director and choreographer at the helm.
Five-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown will lead the creative team, signaling a fresh vision for a show long synonymous with Broadway power and Black musical excellence.
Notably, the casting for ‘The Dreams’—the central trio inspired by legendary groups like The Supremes—will launch a global talent search from New York and Los Angeles to Paris and Mexico City.
There is no denying the history and cultural impact when Dreamgirls first premiered at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett—already renowned for A Chorus Line—and featuring the now-iconic pairing of Tom Eyen’s book and lyrics with Henry Krieger’s music.
The original production quickly established itself as a seismic force in American musical theater, running for over 1,500 performances and earning 13 Tony nominations, winning six, including Best Book and for its powerhouse featured performers. Jennifer Holliday’s portrayal of Effie White, and her soul-shaking performance of "And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going," became Broadway legend, with audiences famously erupting in mid-show standing ovations and the tune rocketing to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena Jones) and Loretta Devine (Lorrell Robinson) rounded out the Dreams’ original lineup, while Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor Jr.), Cleavant Derricks (James “Thunder” Early), and Obba Babatundé (C.C. White) anchored a cast that produced future stars and lasting popular appeal.
Hollywood understood the power of this story and moved it from stage to screen.
The show follows a fictional Chicago trio, the Dreams, as they navigate the rough waters of the music industry in the 1960s and 1970s—a glittering, heartwrenching ascent echoing the real-life arcs of groups like the Supremes. Bennett’s original staging brought cinematic pacing and dynamic choreography, influencing not only the sound but the visual vocabulary of generations of musicals. Dreamgirls’ enduring legacy includes a star-studded 2006 film adaptation—featuring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, and an Oscar-winning turn by Jennifer Hudson—along with numerous acclaimed international productions. The show’s score is peppered with standards (“One Night Only,” the title number, “I Am Changing”) that remain in the repertoire of theater artists around the world.
This new staging, under Camille A. Brown’s direction and choreography, will seek to re-energize the musical for a 21st-century audience while holding true to its roots in show business storytelling and R&B innovation. Producers have confirmed ambitious auditions across major cities in North America and Europe, promising to cast women of all shapes and sizes and opening doors for undiscovered talent to step into Broadway history.
Dreamgirls is more than a backstage drama or a musical packed with hits—it is, as Frank Rich wrote in his original New York Times review, “a major event in Broadway history”. Its impact on the industry is signaled not only by the awards and revivals, but by the countless artists who cite its influence and the continual hunger for new tellings of its revelatory story.
For updates on casting and production, visit www.DreamgirlsBway.com.
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