Gabriella Beckford, Khalifa White & Aveena Sawyer
Dream Girls, which won 6 Tony awards when it premiered
on Broadway in 1981, is
appearing on the Walnut Street Theatre’s main stage through May 4, 2025. It is
a dynamic musical inspired by the Supremes. With over 25
songs in the production’s two acts, it is next to impossible to keep
still in your seats while listening to performances of pop, R & B, disco,
and other musical genres. And the dancing… Gerry McIntyre is both director and choreographer of Dream Girls. The
choreography is excellent throughout the
show . It becomes especially notable midway through Act 1 in the number “Steppin’ to the Bad Side”. It is a great number for the men in the cast. The dance moves
are eye-catching. When Effie White, the lead singer ( Aveena Sawyer), is
delegated to a spot in the back line of the Dreamgirls, Deena Jones (Gabrielle
Beckford) is happy to replace her. Khalifa White ( Lorrell Robinson ), just happily sings along, no matter who the
lead singer is. Effie is eventually replaced by Michelle (Chali Cooke), but she
doesn’t go happily. Aveena Shaw has an outstanding voice and the
ability to project profound grief. She
is a masterful Dream Girl . Dustin Cross has done a phenomenal job with costume
design. On three separate occasions actors changed their costumes onstage by
a flip of their shoulders. The audience
reacted with applause instantaneously. Kudos also go to lighting designer Jose Santiago who uses many lights in a variety of ways. Dream
Girls will be an enjoyable trip down memory lane for some and an
exciting new adventure for others. Wherever your experience lies, be sure to
get your tickets for a performance for this awesome show. For tickets or more information, visit
WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com or call 215-754-3550.
