Dreamgirls is both a Broadway show and a movie. Dreamgirls is a fictional story that follows a Chicago girls trio on their journey to stardom, based loosely on the experiences of a number of rhythm and blues and soul acts, including the Supremes and the Shirelles. In 1962, the Dreamettes, an amateur African-American group, compete in a talent show in Detroit, where they meet an aspiring manager who arranges for them to sing backup for a regional star. The group’s lead singer, who is considered too full-figured to appeal to a broad audience, is fired, and the story follows the original three Dreamettes over the next 13 years. The story contains allusions to real-life groups and events, and the musical and film are remarkably similar, despite some notable differences.
Dreamgirls grew out of a project created specifically for Nell Carter. It began with the working title Project #9 and was temporarily shelved when Carter’s career took a different path. A new quarter’s interest led to more development and workshopping under the name Big Dreams, and the project was renamed Dream Girls after more workshopping and multiple personnel changes. Dreamgirls opened at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in December 1981 and ran until 1985, thanks to funding from David Geffen and the Shubert family, among others, as well as rewrites. Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Loretta Devine played the trio members on opening night.
The film adaptation of Dreamgirls had a tumultuous start as well. The film rights were held David Geffen, who attempted to work with lyricist and producer Howard Ashman to adapt the musical for Whitney Houston. Based on the success and failure of other films, a production with director Joel Schumacher and stars Lauryn Hill and Kelly Price was started and stopped. Bill Condon, the director and screenwriter, worked tirelessly to bring the Dreamworks version to life. Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, and Anika Noni Rose played the trio’s members, with Jamie Foxx as their manager and Eddie Murphy and Danny Glover rounding out the cast.
Dreamgirls received 13 Tony Award nominations and won six of them. Five Drama Desk Awards and two Grammy Awards were also given to the film. Dreamgirls was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning two of them. It also received a slew of other accolades, including three Golden Globes and a Grammy.