Film Project Crafted for Broadway Musical Dreamgirls Posted: Jan 27, 2005

DreamWorks Pictures will bring the Broadway musical Dreamgirls to the silver screen, it was announced by DreamWorks' head of production Adam Goodman.  Academy Award- winning screenwriter Bill Condon has been set to direct the film from his own screenplay adaptation.

Beyonce Knowles has been suspected to play the lead role of Effie, a role previously made popular on the Broadway stage by actress Jennifer Holliday.  Buzz is also stirring that Ray’s Jamie Foxx may also be cast.

Condon has won an Oscar for his screenplay for God and Monsters an Oscar nomination for his screenplay the musical Chicago.  He most recently wrote and directed the biopic Kinsey, starring Liam Neeson.  The film is being produced by Lawrence Mark, who earned an Oscar nomination for his work as a producer on Jerry Maguire.

In making the announcement, Adam Goodman said, "Dreamgirls is a timeless musical with a story and music that has thrilled and entertained theatergoers around the world.  With Bill Condon at the helm, I know it has all the ingredients to enthrall today's movie audiences."

DreamWorks principal David Geffen produced the original stage production of Dreamgirls.  The musical, which opened on Broadway in 1981 and ran for four years, earning six Tony Awards and eight additional Tony nominations.  Cast members of the Broadway production included Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Cleavon Derricks to stardom and spawned a chart-topping soundtrack.

The film version of Dreamgirls will retain the book and music of Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger respectively, including songs One Night Only and I'm Telling You I'm Not Going.