Dreamgirls was first conceived by playwright Tom Eyen and conductor Henry Krieger as a vehicle for singer-actress Nell Carter. The duo set out to create a musical focusing on African-American back-up singers during the rise of Motown. During early workshops, the musical was given the working title Project #9. It was workshopped for Joseph Papp at the Public Theatre in 1978. The first incarnation of the musical starred Carter (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena) and Loretta Devine (Lorrell), but was abandoned for a year after Carter left to star in a television soap opera. Michael Bennett, known
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Dreamgirls guide sections
