The Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place in Miramar, Florida is presenting the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Dreamgirls for two concert performances only: Saturday, July 22 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, July 23 at 2:00 PM. Dreamgirls is the celebrity-filled musical centerpiece of the first annual Broadway Festival of South Florida, running July 21-23 and stars American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones as Effie White, Khalifa White as Deena Jones, Richard E. Waits as Curtis Taylor, and David LaMarr as James “Thunder” Early. #BroadwayFestival2017.
Other principal cast members include Sarah Gracel Anderson (Lorrell Robinson), Nayomi Braaf (Michelle Morris), Jermarcus Riggins (C.C. White), and Benjamin Evans (Marty Madison). Featured cast members include Jacob Greene (Dave, Ensemble), Kimberly Estrada (Ensemble, Sweetheart), Nina Castro Bosch (Ensemble, Sweetheart), Angeline Fontaine (Ensemble), Tiffany Hayes Robinson (Ensemble), Ashley Charles (Ensemble), Nia Amber McClain (Ensemble), Aliyah Tarpley-Fullard (Ensemble), Kerby Collins (Ensemble), William Shields (Ensemble),
Eustace Williams (Ensemble), Joshua Ferreira (Ensemble), and Stephanie Hayes (Tiny Jo/Effie
Standby/Ensemble). The Dreamgirls creative and production team includes Ron Hutchins (Director/Choreographer), Maria Contessa (Costume Designer), Amanda Corbin (Stage Manager), and Craig Lozowick (Production Manager).
The orchestra consists of Caryl Fantel (Music Director), Wes Anthony (Woodwinds), Greg Minnick (Trumpet), Rupert Ziawinski (Bass), and Roy Fantel (Drums/Percussion). Tony®s, Oscars, Grammys … have all been awarded to this musical classic that follows the rise and fall of a 1960s girl group and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Set in the Motown era that brought us such powerhouse voices as Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, the show explodes from the stage with legendary songs including such hits as “One Night Only,” “I Am Changing,” and the act-one powerhouse ballad, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” The 2016-17 season draws to a sizzling finale with this concert presentation performed by the area’s most-talented artists—joined onstage by veterans from Broadway, Off Broadway, regional theatre and TV.
Tickets are $35 and $45. A special package is available for $65 which includes Priority seating and an invite to an opening night cast party following the performance on July 22 or a post-show reception on July 23. $25 tickets are also available for groups of 10 or more or students with ID (in person only).
Dreamgirls has a book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, with music by Henry Krieger. The original Broadway production was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, with orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. It was produced on Broadway by Michael Bennett, Robert Avian, Geffen Records and The Shubert Organization and is presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark, 560 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10022. This program is supported in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Funding for this event is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Additional support is provided by Rubenstein Law. Please call 954-602-4500 or visit www.miramarculturalcenter.org.
BIO
LaKisha Jones (Effie White) is best known to millions of TV viewers as a top four finalist during the 2007 season of American Idol. Her last album, So Glad I’m Me ,was full of Jones’s expressive, full-bodied and arresting vocals, the same voice that electrified American Idol viewers with the Dreamgirls showstopper “And I Am Telling You” and later the Broadway stage in the Oprah Winfrey-produced, Tony Award-winning musical The Color Purple. Having worked with hit-making songwriters and producers including Tony Nicholas (Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross), Ro & Sauce (Brandy, Ne-Yo) and Greg Curtis (Keyshia Cole, Yolanda Adams), Jones’ album featured a spirited mix of R&B and soul. A few noteworthy songs included the single “Same Song,” penned by award-winning songwriter Dianne Warren, Whitney Houston’s “You Give Good Love,” the gospel song “Just As I Am,” and Jones’s soaring ballad to her daughter, “Beautiful Girl.” Jones drove to New York to audition for American Idol and made it to the 2007 season where she became the fourth finalist. She segued from Idol to the Broadway stage in The Color Purple where she played two roles: that of a church lady and of the pivotal character Sophia. The latter role she alternated with
R&B icon Chaka Khan, who became her mentor. Jones participated in Khan’s 35th Anniversary Tour. Following her Broadway stint Jones provided vocal coaching on MTV’s reality competition Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, a show designed to find and hone Broadway’s next star. A frequent soloist with symphony around the world, Ms. Jones has performed as a guest soloist with the National Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony and Opera, Winnipeg Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Symphony and Opera, Colorado Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Windham Chamber Singers, Grand Rapids Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, Reno Philharmonic. Upcoming engagements include Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Long Bay Symphony and the
Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
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