ALT’s Dreamgirls is a sensation!
L.A. | The Atom
Amarillo, Texas –Wow! What a dazzling display of talent on one stage! With such beautiful voices, harmonies that will make you melt, sets and props that will make you feel nostalgic and dancing and costumes that will make you swoon, the Amarillo Little Theatre production of Dreamgirls is where it’s at. This is THE show you do not want to miss! It is every triumph a musical can achieve.
The book and lyrics are by Tom Eyen with music by Henry Krieger. Dreamgirls begins as a story of young singers Effie White, Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson, who form a ‘60s girl group called the Dreamettes. With the help of songwriter C.C. White and manager Curtis Taylor, Jr., the trio makes it from a talent show to a national tour as backup singers for soul star Jimmy Thunder Early. The girls graduate to fame as the Dreams, but not without facing some personal and professional struggles. Those who grew up hearing the hottest hits from Motown legends on the radio will easily recognize the similarities between the characters surrounding this fictional group and the real Detroit-based group that inspired this show.
Natazia Gipson’s theatrical debut as Effie White is just stunning. To hear her voice in this role is to imagine a glowing, proud smile from Florence Ballard. In her beautifully strong acting and singing performance of “(And I’m Telling You) I’m Not Going” and her flawless renditions of “I Am Changing” and “One Night Only,” Natazia Gipson shines.
Tia Hunt makes a perfect Deena Jones. The audience loves watching her character grow up over time and take a stand. She is a beautiful and capable singer and actress who handles this role very well. Tia Hunt is fantastic in the disco arrangement of “One Night Only” and in “I’m Somebody” with Jay Hayes (as Lorell Robinson) and Aspen Younker (as Michelle Morris), bringing the later version of the Dreams together so nicely and with impecably executed choreography.
From the first notes of “Move (You’re Stepping On My Heart)” with Effie in Act 1 to “Love Love You Baby” with Michelle to the last notes of “Hard To Say Goodbye (My Love)” with all four of the Dreams in Act 2, these women look and sound…supreme together. I’d buy their records.
In a scene from Act 1, the audience gets to hear some sweet harmonies from Kyle Gipson (as Jimmy Early), Toderick Hunt (as C.C. White), Devlon Jones (as Curtis Taylor, Jr.) and Natazia Gipson, Tia Hunt and Jay Hayes in “Family.” Devlon Jones and Tia Hunt share a lovely duet in Act 2: “You Are My Dream.” Kyle Gipson, Toderick Hunt and Devlon Jones show off every minute they are onstage, with excellent vocals, acting and moves. Audiences are especially responsive to their performances of “Cadillac Car” with Christopher Alford “Steppin’ To The Bad Side” with Ashton Colbert, “Ain’t No Party” with Jay Hayes, “I Meant You No Harm” and “Jimmy’s Rap” with Brandon Graves.
It's so much fun seeing a parade of characters who are singers, dancers and performers in musical groups like the Step Sisters (Vanessa Hill, Saturn Horton, Ariana Sanchez and Aspen Younker) Little Albert and the Tru-Tones (Nicholas Shaffer, Roman Brown, Ashton Colbert and Zachary Vidaurri) Tiny Joe Dixon (Nathan Jones) Dave and the Sweethearts (Nels Bjork, Alex Berrera and Kayleigh Colbert) The Five Tuxedos (Roman Brown, Ashton Colbert, Mitcheal Johnson, Jr., Nicholas Shaffer and Zachary Vidaurri) and Les Styles (A’Dreaonna Armstrong, Sarai Dinkins, Savvy Emile, and Kisha Woods). I’d buy their records, too.
This entire cast, many of whom are first-time theatre performers or playing multiple roles, earns its standing ovation. That includes ensemble members Hugh Fristoe, who plays Dwight and Mr. Morgan, Frank Salazar who plays a TV studio stage manager and Michele Colbert who plays the role of Jerri Norman.
Another fabulous feature that keeps this show moving and could fill those seats on its own is the band. Conducted by Jennier Akins, she and Robin Hood are on keys, with Ricardo Cruz on guitar, Bobby Schaffer on bass and BJ Dyer on Drums. Trumpet and trombone players Emily Sotelo, William Takacs, Abraham Wood and Parker Gravley also bust out the sound, along with James Barger and Chris Garcia on reeds. Yes, I would also buy their records.
ALT’s outstanding production team includes artistic directors Jason Crespin and Kissey Cummings, assistant Ashely DeVold and music director Jennifer Akins. The scenic design is by David Walsh and the tech director for this show is Noah Lang with assistance from Michael Villareal. Choreographer Shawn Walsh, costume designer Leigh Ann Crandall and props manager Terri Wilson also deserve a big shout out, as well as every member of the crew.
They may work backstage or in the booth, but sound and light operators make great shows like this possible. So do set builders, ushers and so many others who volunteer their time to give audiences a memorable experience.
This production demonstrates what exceptional community theatre can accomplish. GET yourself to this gorgeous glittering goodness. Tell everybody. There are evening performances May 8-10 and May 15-17 and two more matinees May 11 and 18. Purchase tickets at https://amarillolittletheatre.org/current-show/.
