Milwaukee Rep Announces DREAMGIRLS Cast
Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Dreamgirls, the Tony Award-winning musical which opens Saturday, September 26 and runs from September 22 – November 1, 2015 in The Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse.
Following sold-out runs of Ragtime and The Color Purple, the Quadracci Powerhouse kicks off the 2015/16 Season with the groundbreaking musical Dreamgirls. Winner of six Tony Awards and loosely based on the career of The Supremes, the musical features such hits as “Steppin’ to the Bad Side,” “One Night Only,” and the show-stopping “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” Dreamgirls celebrates the music of the 1960s and ’70s with dynamic performances and a moving look at the behind-the-scenes reality of the entertainment industry. The production will be directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements, who begins his sixth season at The Rep, and will be choreographed by award-winning international choreographer Stephen Mear.
The cast for Dreamgirls includes Washington, D.C. native Nova Y. Payton in the title role as Effie White. Credits include: Dreamgirls (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Actress, Resident Musical); Freedom’s Song (Ford’s Theatre); Godspell (Olney Theatre); Sheryl Crow’s Diner, Elmer Gantry, and Xanadu (Signature Theatre); Hairspray (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actress); and the DVD/CD 3 Mo’ Divas (2010 NAACP nomination for Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration). Broadway veteran and Milwaukee native Nathaniel Stampley returns to Milwaukee Rep after appearing in last season’s production of The Color Purple as Mister. Broadway credits include: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The Color Purple, and The Lion King; West End: The Lion King; and National Tour: Ragtime. Dallas, Texas native and Broadway performer Cedric Neal will also appear in Milwaukee Rep’s production of Dreamgirls. Credits include: After Midnight (Original Broadway Production); The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Broadway Revival); and Dreamgirls (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor); Tours: A Midnight Cry and African Tales of Earth and Sky; and Television: Friday Night Lights.
Making their Milwaukee Rep debuts are: Richard Crandle, Hairspray (National Tour); A Celebration of Terrence McNally (Westport Country Playhouse) and Cat in the Hat (Arden Theatre Company); EricaDorfler, Forbidden Broadway: Comes Out Swinging (Off-Broadway); and Scandalous and Baby It’s You (Broadway); Bradley Gibson, Rocky (Original Broadway production); Chicago (National Tour); and The Long Goodbye (The Old Globe); Jared Joseph, Holler if Ya Hear Me (Original Broadway production); and Dreamgirls (U.S. Tour); Eric A. Lewis, All Shook Up (Fireside Theatre); The Who’s Tommy (Paramount Theatre); More than a Miracle (Congo Theatre); and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Theatre at the Center); and Dan’yelle Williamson, Memphis and Scandoulous (Broadway);Soul Doctor (Off-Broadway); and The Lion King (National Tour).
Returning to Milwaukee Repertory Theater are: Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, The Color Purple, From My Hometown, Death of a Salesman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Cabaret (Milwaukee Rep) and 2010/11 Rep Artistic Intern Ensemble Member; Carl Clemons-Hopkins, The Color Purple, Ragtime, and Blues in the Night (Milwaukee Rep); Jennifer Latimore, Good People (Milwaukee Rep) and 2014/15 Rep Artistic Intern Ensemble Member; Malkia Stampley, The Color Purple, Intimate Apparel, Sueño, and A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep) and 2005/06 Rep Artistic Intern Ensemble Member; and Leonard E. Sullivan,The Color Purple (Milwaukee Rep) and Hairspray and Disney’s High School Musical (National Tours).
The cast for Dreamgirls in Alphabetical Order:
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis – Wayne/Tru-Tone/Tuxedo
Carl Clemons-Hopkins – Jerry/Tiny Joe
Richard Crandle – C.C. White
Erica Dorfler – Michelle Morris/Stepp Sister
Bradley Gibson – Little Albert/Tuxedo
Jared Joseph – Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Jennifer Latimore – Joanne/Les Style
Eric A. Lewis – MC/Mr. Morgan
Cedric Neal – James “Thunder” Early
Nova Y. Payton – Effie White
Malkia Stampley – Charlene/Les Style
Nathaniel Stampley – Marty
Leonard E. Sullivan – Tru Tone/Tuxedo/Dance Captain
Dan’yelle Williamson – Lorrell Robinson
The cast will also include members of The Rep’s 2015/16 Artistic Intern Ensemble
The Creative Team for Dreamgirls includes: Artistic Director/Director, Mark Clements; Music Director, Dan Kazemi±; Choreographer, Stephen Mear; Scenic Designer, Todd Edward Ivins±; Costume Designer,Alexander B. Tecoma; Lighting Designer, Thomas C. Hase; Sound Designer, Barry G. Funderburg; Music Supervisor, John Tanner±; Fight Choreographer, Jamie Cheatham; Casting Director, JC Clementz; and Assistant Director, Ryan Holihan.
± Rep Associate Artist.
To learn more about the cast and creative team for Dreamgirls, please visit:
A Special One Day Sale for Dreamgirls is being held on Tuesday, June 23. Tickets go on sale at 9:00am and will be on sale at 25% off regular prices and start as low as $30. Special One Day sale pricing ranges from $30.00 – $75.00. (Please note: discount applies to Prime Orchestra and Orchestra seating only.) Tickets can be purchased at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490or in person at 108 E. Wells Street. The special pricing will be available online from 9am to 11:59pm. Tickets for Dreamgirls will be available at regular ticket pricing following the One Day Sale.
Group tickets are on sale now and are available by calling Group Sales Coordinator Morgan Halverson at 414-290-5340.
Subscriptions are now available with prices starting at $99. For additional information on subscription offerings, please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com or contact The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works, full-scale musicals, housed in its three unique performance venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carolat the beautiful and historic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman, The Rep is committed to creating plays that are meaningful and relevant to the society we live in – plays that are challenging, visceral and engage the community through the issues they explore, demonstrating how a theater deeply rooted in its locality can also enjoy a richly influential and resonant national voice.