Footlite Musicals’ latest production is full of glamour, glitz and great dance tunes. The six-time Tony Award winning musical “Dreamgirls” will run May 5-21. Admission is $23 for adults and $15 for youth.
Damon Clevenger, the director of Footlite’s production of “Dreamgirls,” says this show will be unlike anything the theater company has produced in a long while.
“I am really proud that we are able to pull off a predominately Black production at Footlite, because we have done shows with Black actors, but this is the largest amount we have had in a single production in a long time. I am happy that we are bringing some diversity and hopefully some new audience members, as well,” said Clevenger.
“Dreamgirls” tells the story of the Dreamettes, a fictional Black group of female vocalists hailing from Chicago, loosely based on the Supremes. The group rises to fame and becomes the most successful girl group in the country, but notoriety puts a strain on their personal relationships. Clevenger says fans of the 2006 film adaptation of the musical will be happy to know that there are even more tunes in the stage production.
“We are trying to keep things fresh. All the things people know and love about the film are in the stage production, except for a couple of added songs. People won’t be disappointed, because there is actually more music in the stage production,” said Clevenger, adding that the majority of the cast for the musical is new to Footlite, but has experience at other local theaters. Out of the 50 people who auditioned, Footlite picked the 25 best and is very pleased with their ability to wow the crowd. Clevenger says people who come out will get more than they bargained for.
“They will get way more than they expected in terms of music, because the film cut a lot of the really powerful songs. One they wont expect is the song ‘Ain’t no Party.’ I don’t know why they cut that from the film. The singer, dancers, lights and costumes carry the production. I was blown away by the talent that we have gotten. They kind of came out of the woodwork, and they are incredible. Putting all that together and uniting the talent is really powerful.”
Footlite Musicals is located at 1847 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
For more information, visit footlitemusicals.wildapricot.org or call (317) 926-6630.
