Dreamgirls Synopsis
From the stage show's program

Act One begins in 1967 at The Apollo Theatre where a talent contest is taking place. The Apollo's manager is searching for back-up singers for his headliner, James Thunder Early. Backstage, Early's back-up singers have gotten fed-up with his filandering. They are walking out on him in the middle of the contest, 10 minutes before Jimmy is to go on and only days before he is about to embark on a national tour.

Three girls rush in late to take part in the contest. They have taken the train all the way from Chicago and are eager to move up the show-biz ladder of success. The trio consists of Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson, and the group's lead singer, Effie Melody White. They've also brough C.C. White, Effie's brother, who writes all of the girls' songs.

Curtis Taylor Jr., observing the girls' last-minute arrival, arranges with the MC for the girls to have the last spot in the contest. But Early's manager Marty, caring little for the contest, only eyes the girls as the back-up singers he immediately needs for his star. Deena and Lorrell are delighted by the prospect of being Jimmy's back-up singers, but Effie will have none of it. She has bigger plans after they've sewn up the talent contest. The girls put their number over in a big way ("Move [You're Steppin' on My Heart]"). But there is no way for them to win. The contest has been rigged, with Curtis slipping $50 to the MC just to make sure. Curtis assures Marty that the girls are now under his exclusive management and they'll soon be singing Jimmy's back-up.

Once the results are in, a livid Effie wants to take the next train back to Chicago. But Curtis quickly moves in with sweet talk and the offer of more money to sing Jimmy's back-up harmonies tonight and for 10 weeks on tour. Effie is won over and the girls return to the stage singing Early's back-up. ("Fake Your Way to the Top")

Feeling that his act has grown tired, Jimmy decides he needs new material. And Curtis, sensing an opportunity, wins him over by selling him on C.C.'s songs. Soon, C.C. is out on the road with Jimmy and The Dreamettes, and the group has recorded one of his numbers. ("Cadillac Car")

The song reaches Number 27 on the charts, until it is knocked out by a homogenized cover version by a mainstream pop vocalist. ("Cadillac Car") Curtis vows that it won't happen again, even if he has to "get to know" every DJ in America personally. And sure enough, when the group records "Steppin' to the Bad Side", the song reaches Number 1 on the charts.

A wheeling and dealing Curtis plans to get Jimmy and the girls a booking at the Miami Atlantic Hotel, a prospect that Marty views skeptically. The hotel would never book a black act. Meanwhile, offstage, Curtis is busy courting Effie while Jimmy has his eyes on Lorrell. Soon enough, Miami is signed, sealed and delivered. ("I Want You Baby")

While in Miami, the rumors start flying. Jimmy is booked into the Americana in New York, but the girls are going to Cleveland. True to his word, Curtis has arranged for the girls to go out as The Dreams, an act of their own. Effie is momentarily elated, until she discovers that Curtis has other plans for the group's new look. The lead singer will be the beautiful Deena. Effie is devastated, and only has the sympathy of the powerless Marty for support. Even C.C. is convinced that the group needs a lighter sound if The Dreams ever hope to enjoy mainstream pop success. But Effie cares little about what's good for the "Family". Her talent is what matters and what should keep her out in front.

But when the girls play Cleveland, it is indeed with Deena out in front and Effie in back with Lorrell. ("Dreamgirls") The act, and its leading lady, are a huge hit and Curtis is thrilled. He has plans to make Deena a huge star.

Effie, whose concerns continually go unheeded, begins to act unprofessionally. And one day at a television studio, she storms off the set. ("Heavy") When Deena lashes out at Effie, Effie flies into a rage. She knows that Curtis has been seeing Deena and she's furious that Deena has stolen both her spot and her man.

Things reach the boiling point in Las Vegas on the night when Jimmy pops in to catch the act. Effie comes in late, with Curtis right behind her with a beautiful young woman, Michelle Morris, on his arm. She is Effie's replacement.

In desperation, Effie reaches out to Curtis with one last plea for him to love her. ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going") But Curtis turns his back on her and walks out. As Act One ends, Deena Jones and The Dreams, without Effie, are well on their way to Motown stardom.

When Act Two begins, the year is 1972 and Deena and The Dreams are hotter than ever. But in Chicago, Effie is trying in vain to start over, with Marty searching for a job for her. When he is finally lucky enough to get a friend to listen to her, Effie immediately begins to resort to her old, grand ways. It's too much for Marty, who comes to the conclusion that perhaps Curtis was right about Effie. Though undoubtably talented, her difficult ways maker her more trouble than she's worth. Effie hears him and is determined to make a fresh start. ("I Am Changing")

At the top of the charts, things are not picture perfect. Curtis is planning another image change for the group, this time a new sound. But C.C., who wrote the number, is not happy with the arrangement. And neither is Deena, who is now Mrs. Curtis Taylor Jr. She wants to pursue a film offer, but Curtis has other ideas and tries to placate his biggest star. ("When I First Saw You")

On stage at a political rally, the Dreams and Jimmy Early are briefly reunited. Lorrell, though, has been having an affair with Jimmy for seven years and wants to know when he plans to leave his wife and marry her. ("Ain't No Party") He will not, and he leaves to go onstage and perform his song. ("I Meant You No Harm")

With mounting tension, the family begins to rip apart. C.C., dissatisfied with Curtis's arrangement of his song, knows someone who will record it the way he wrote it. Jimmy, now on a downward spiral and unhappy with the songs he's required to sing, adds an unplanned number to his act and is promptly fired. ("The Rap")

With Marty paving the way, C.C. reconciles with his sister Effie and she records the song that was the cause of C.C.'s quarrel with Curtis. ("One Night Only") Curtis is furious, and as Effie's record begins climbing the charts, he arranges for Deena and the Dreams to record his version of "One Night Only" to put a stop to Effie's comeback.

When Deena and the Dreams play Chicago, Curtis Taylor receives some unexpected visitors backstage: C.C., Marty, Effie and their lawyer, Mr. Morgan. They have proof that Curtis has been bribing disc jockeys to play Deena's record and not Effie's. Deena, unaware of her husband's deceitful tactics to bolster her career, walks out on him to pursue her film career, leaving him with nothing. But the group agrees to reunite for one final Dreams concert in New York ("Hard To Say Goodbye My Love") before each of the girls goes off to pursue their own dreams.


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