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“Dream” Cast Performs for Six Nights Only at the Axelrod PAC

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The musical “Dreamgirls” opens at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center on March 5. Here are the Dreams (L to R): Né Lasheé as Effie White, “The Voice” finalist Joelle Moses as Deena Jones, and Meka Ward as Lorrelle Robinson. Photo credit: Norman Konvitz.

New Production of “Dreamgirls” on Jersey Shore

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center [APAC] (Ocean, NJ) begins its 2016 musical season with the heart-stopping Tony-award winning “Dreamgirls,” the story of a girl group trying to make it in Chicago and their rocky road to stardom in the 1960s, loosely based on the Supremes. APAC is the first community theater in Central Jersey to mount this ambitious Michael Bennett musical that requires a powerhouse African-American cast and features huge vocals like “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only” and “I Am Changing.”

Having won the 2015 New Jersey Association of Community Theaters’ highest award, the Perry for “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” for “West Side Story,” APAC finds itself in “a unique position,” as Artistic Director Andrew DePrisco sees it. “Our production of ‘West Side’ last year not only broke our box office records but also won us statewide recognition for the work we are doing here at the Axelrod. ‘Dreamgirls’ is the boldest choice we’ve ever made to date: few companies take on this show because it’s very difficult to cast, but we believed that we could find the ladies. In fact, we were overwhelmed by the response and performers from as far away as Florida and Ohio showed up to audition.”

Leading the cast of Dreams are “The Voice” (UK) finalist Joelle Moses as Deena Jones, who recently moved to New York City from London; Harlem Gospel Choir director Né Lasheé (Hackensack) as Effie White; Meka Ward (Paterson) as Lorrelle Robinson, and Natalie Hayes (Long Branch) as Michelle Morris. The male leads are equally exceptional and include Jarrod Scott (Toms River) as Curtis Taylor, Jr.; Jay O’Neal (Glassboro) as James “Thunder” Early; Jeremiahya Anderson (Orlando, FL) as C.C. White; and Darrell Willis (Howell) as the agent Marty.

In addition to a sensational cast, “Dreamgirls” requires a director-choreographer who can recreate the “heat and speed of lightning” (as Frank Rich of the New York Times described Michael Bennett’s work on this show). In José de la Cuesta, APAC is fortunate to have such a theater professional. De la Cuesta performed in two national tours of “Dreamgirls” and has since specialized in Bennett’s shows. De la Cuesta, whose work at APAC on “West Side Story” and “42nd Street” brought the theater multiple Perry wins, will be leading the company’s June production of Bennett’s most iconic show, “A Chorus Line.” When asked about APAC’s casting of “Dreamgirls,” De la Cuesta said he was “actually speechless…We’ve been very fortunate to find outstanding singers for our past shows, but both Joelle Moses and Né Lasheé sang their faces off in a way I haven’t heard since Jennifer Holliday did in the early days. [Holliday was the original Effie on Broadway.] We are confident that our audiences will be just as speechless as my team and I were.”

The show is being produced by Jess Levy, CEO of APAC; Andrew DePrisco and Norman Konvitz. Musical director Joe Wajda will conduct the 12-piece Motown band; the set is being designed by Fred Sorrentino; costumes provided by Fred Mayo and Debra Thime; lighting design by Robert Rutt and sound design by Gerry Gironda. Dennis Tolentino serves as production stage manager and Susan Bloir is properties mistress.

Levy is particularly excited about APAC’s special opening night event: “We are pleased to be welcoming ‘Dreamgirls’ composer Henry Krieger as our honored guest for the evening. Having heard the rehearsals for the show, I know that Henry will be surprised by the talent we’ve assembled her on the Jersey Shore.” Krieger, who also wrote the musicals “Side Show” and “The Tap Dance Kid,” will be addressing the audience about his journey with his now iconic show. ”Dreamgirls” runs Saturdays, March 5, 12 and 19 at 8 pm and Sundays, March 6, 13 and 20 at 3 pm. Tickets range from $25 to $34. Ticket sales are brisk, so please reserve soon. Call the box office 732-531-9016 ext 14 or purchase online at www.axelrodartscenter.com. APAC has free onsite parking and is fully handicapped accessible.

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