The glitter and the grit of the 1960s soul circuit is finally crossing the Detroit River. One of the most dazzling music business stories ever staged is finally coming to Windsor, and it is about time. This is not just a musical; it is a cultural artifact.
*Dreamgirls*, the book, movie and musical inspired by Motown and its R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson and others, will have its debut this week. It is a poetic arrival, landing right across the river from where the actual history was written in the basement of Hitsville U.S.A.
Arts Collective Theatre (ACT) is the outfit behind this move. They are staging the city’s premiere of the musical for a six-show run at the Capitol Theatre. The doors swing open this Friday night, and the stakes are higher than a high-C note in a gospel finale.
But let’s be clear about the material. The Tony-winning story concerns the upwardly mobile aspirations of African-Americans in the music business in the 1960s and early '70s. It is a period piece that feels uncomfortably relevant.
*Dreamgirls* follows the rise of a trio of women—Effie, Deena and Lorrell. They have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes, and they have the raw talent to back up the name. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for a famous headliner.
And that is where the soul-selling begins. The manager gradually takes control of the girls’ look and sound, eventually giving them their own shot in the spotlight as The Dreams.
That spotlight, however, begins to narrow in on Deena. The industry wants "crossover" appeal, which is often code for something softer and more palatable to white audiences. This shift finally pushes the less attractive, though arguably more talented, Effie out altogether.
Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined. It is a tragedy wrapped in sequins and a four-four beat.
Artistic Director Chris Rabideau is not shying away from the weight of this production. He knows the local audience has a sophisticated ear for this specific era of music.
“It’s a Windsor premiere and at ACT we always take chances, not that we don’t take chances—we don’t always do the easy show and this show is actually a very difficult one to do,” says Rabideau.
He is right. The technical demands of *Dreamgirls* are a nightmare for a stage manager. You have rapid-fire costume changes that happen in the blink of an eye and a score that demands Olympic-level vocal stamina.
Detroit has a strong history of music and culture and we really understand that here in Windsor. I’m really hoping that both Windsor and Detroit embrace the show, because we all love that Motown sound.
“Detroit has a strong history of music and culture and we really understand that here in Windsor. I’m really hoping that both Windsor and Detroit embrace the show, because we all love that Motown sound,” Rabideau says.
Sitting in the plush velvet seats of the Capitol Theatre, you can feel the expectation. It’s a big show with some pretty hefty vocal duties for all the singers involved. There is no room for a weak link in a three-part harmony.
But the heaviest lifting is reserved for the role of Effie, played here by Flo Ndimubandi. She has to tackle the iconic song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," a number that has defined the careers of Jennifer Holliday and Jennifer Hudson.
Ndimubandi seems aware of the shadow those legends cast. But she is bringing a local fire to the part that feels earned.
“Being part of *Dreamgirls* in my community is a huge step that I’m proud of,” says Ndimubandi. She carries herself with a quiet confidence that vanishes the moment she steps into Effie’s shoes.
“I’m always soft and colourful, but Effie’s role is very strong and full of attitude, so it’s a bit challenging for me. When I first saw the movie in 2006, I thought the whole thing was really beautiful—the story, the dresses and the songs—it was all amazing,” she says.
The film adaptation clearly left a mark on her, as it did for an entire generation of performers who finally saw themselves reflected in a big-budget musical.
“What really caught my attention though, was Effie and her song 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.' When she goes off and just belts out every note perfectly, it just felt like something I needed to be part of if the chance ever came,” Ndimubandi says.
Although *Dreamgirls* is an iconic music movie, translating that energy to a live stage in Windsor required a lot of hard work. The staging is elaborate, and the actors need more than just pipes.
They need the physical ability to re-enact some pretty serious choreography. This isn't just swaying in the background; it’s the high-energy, synchronized movement that defined the Motown era.
And all of this had to be done while keeping in mind that a cast of predominantly black performers was needed to keep the show’s integrity. In a city like Windsor, that kind of intentional casting is a statement in itself.
“When you look at this, we have three lead players in the show who are not only dynamic women and amazing singers, but they’re also confident black women,” says Rabideau.
The significance of this representation cannot be overstated. For too long, local theatre has played it safe with traditional, often homogenous casting. ACT is breaking that mold.
“When was the last time we saw an almost all-black cast or even a black lead? I don’t think it’s been done in Windsor before and that’s one thing we’re really proud to offer with this show,” says Rabideau.
But the show isn't just about the struggle; it is about the triumph of the spirit. It’s a narrative that shifts from the back of the bus to the top of the charts.
“It’s a show about female empowerment, with that ‘no man shall take you under’ and ‘you can make it on our own’ type of vibe, and that’s OK. That’s a great message for today and to have a show with a predominantly black cast is very exciting for ACT and for the city,” Rabideau says.
With an exciting two weeks ahead of them, ACT is ready to make some musical dreams come true. The rehearsal footage suggests a production that understands the balance between the glitz of the stage and the grime of the backstage politics.
*Dreamgirls* stars Valene Daniel as Deena Jones, Florine Ndimubandi as Effie White, Rochelle Day as Lorrell Robinson and Kamilah Poku-Christian as Michelle Morris.
The show runs April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29. The schedule is tight, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.
Tickets start at $30. You can grab them at the Capitol Theatre box office. If you have any appreciation for the history of soul music or the sheer power of a belt-heavy ballad, you should probably be there.
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