Dreamgirls is coming to the West End in November 2016. The award-winning musical, which won six Tony awards after it first premiered on Broadway in 1981, is finally coming to London and has now got a main star.
It was announced on Friday (5th February) that Amber Riley will be making her West End debut in the musical, taking on the role of Effie White – a role made famous by Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her performance in the 2007 film adaptation.
Riley is perhaps best known for playing powerhouse diva Mercedes Jones on Glee. Riley has already covered White’s biggest musical number ‘And I Am Telling You’ on the US show with great success. Riley was also recently part of NBC’s The Wiz! Live, making it reassuring to know that the role is in very capable hands.
Speaking of the musical, Riley said that she was “honoured and excited” to be taking on the role, adding: “Working on the West End is now a dream realised, I just feel like this is going to be something special.”
The West End production will be directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. The show will be at London’s Savoy Theatre from November, with tickets going on sale in the spring.
Watch Riley’s Glee performance of ‘And I Am Telling You’ in the video below.
