Sonia Friedman Productions today announced that Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the first ever UK tour of Dreamgirls.
A finalist on ITV’s The Voice in 2019, Nicole wowed viewers and judges at her blind audition, performing Dreamgirls mega-hit ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ alongside team mentor Jennifer Hudson. Hudson won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress) for her portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 Oscar-winning motion picture adaptation of Dreamgirls which also starred Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.
Before opening in the UK Tour of Dreamgirls, Nicole remains in the original West End company of Dear Evan Hansen (Nöel Coward Theatre) in which she plays the role of Alana Beck.
Nicole’s other London stage credits include The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Waitress (Adelphi Theatre) and the West End production of Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).
Directed and choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin), Dreamgirls debuted in the West End in December 2016, 35 years after the show’s Broadway premiere.
As previously announced, the touring version of the production which lit up London’s Savoy Theatre for over two years will launch at the Bristol Hippodrome from 12 September until 3 October, before playing 2020 dates in Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Birmingham (subject to change).
In early 2021 the production will visit Sunderland, Hull, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Canterbury and Leeds, with further dates throughout 2021 to be announced.
Nicole Raquel Dennis said: “I am so thrilled that I can finally speak about something I’ve been holding onto for the LONGEST time! I will be playing Effie White in the first ever UK tour of Dreamgirls.
“Also, I cannot wait to be back with my Dear Evan Hansen Ffm on the stage at the Noel Coward once theatres reopen and so thrilled that following that, I will be going on tour in this mammoth role!
“Effie has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and now I will get to share her with audiences around the UK. To say I’m excited is an understatement.”
Producer, Sonia Friedman said: “We are delighted to be able to announce that having wowed viewers on ITV’s The Voice, as well as audiences in the West End, the incredibly gifted Nicole Dennis will be re-joining the Dreamgirls family to play Effie White on tour throughout the UK.
“The multi-award winning Broadway classic Dreamgirls is an empowering and hugely entertaining story of hope, redemption, sisterhood, and resilience with an uplifting, and extraordinary score of now-classic hit songs from the golden era of American soul, R&B, and disco. It is a shining example of the best of American musical theatre, and the escapism that we will all need soon.”
Nicole Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the Dreamgirls UK tour at certain performances with further casting to be announced soon.
Featuring book and lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger with additional material by Willie Reale, the 1981 original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. The production won six Tony Awards, and the original cast recording won the Grammy Awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s showstopping ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’.
With casting for the UK tour to be announced soon, the production’s creative team includes set and costume designer Tim Hatley, with lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Richard Brooker, hair design by Josh Marquette and music supervision by Nick Finlow.
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.