Dreamgirls

ACT ONE

It’s Amateur Night at the famed Apollo Theatre. Hopeful up-and-comers compete to be the audience’s favorite: The Stepp Sisters, Little Albert & the Tru-Tones, and heavy favorite, Tiny Joe Dixon (“I’m Looking for Something Baby,” “Goin’ Downtown,” “Tiny Joe Dixon”). After the winner is announced, the evening will be capped off with a performance by popular soul singer, James “Thunder” Early.

Backstage is chaos. Jimmy Early’s two female backup singers quit on his manager, Marty. He’s desperate to find some replacement singers before Jimmy’s set is up. Curtis Taylor, a Cadillac salesman with dreams of becoming a music manager, has been loitering backstage and tries to engage Marty in some kind of deal (though Curtis has no singers to offer), but Marty brushes him aside.

Flustered and panicked, the Dreamettes arrive late. The group consists of the immensely talented Effie White, beautiful Deena Jones, and sweet Lorrell Robinson. The three teenage girls and close friends are