WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH BRIANNA JAVIS THIS MATINEE PRODUCTION OF THE SHOW AND HAD A CHANCE TO ASK HER A FEW QUESTIONS INVOLVING HER THEATRE BACKGROUND, DREAM GIRLS EXPERIENCE AND ADVICE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THEATRE. SEE WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY BELOW.
DREAM GIRLS: THE MUSICAL
VICTORY PRODUCTIONS
PHOTOGRAPHER: VMP PHOTOGRAPHY
DREAM GIRLS: THE MUSICAL A BEAUTIFUL STORY THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE 1960S AROUND THREE YOUNG TALENTED SINGERS OF COLOR AND FRIENDS WHO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY AND EMBARK ON A MUSICAL ROLLER COASTER THROUGH THE RUTHLESS WORLD OF SHOW BUSINESS. THEIR RELATIONSHIOPS ARE PUT TO THE TEST FAME, FORTUNE AND ROMANCE AS THE YOUNG WOMEN DISCOVER THAT THEIR DREAMS COME AT A COST.
DREAM GIRLS EXPLORES THE THEMES OF AMBITION, HOPE, AND BETRAYL TO A SOUNDTRACK OF
GOSPEL, R&B, POP DISCO & MORE A NIGHT OF MUSIC WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.
THE 1960S WERE A TUMULTULOUS TIME IN AMERICA. THE STORY OF THREE WOMEN OF COLOR STRUGGLING TO ATTAIN THEIR DREAMS IS FULL OF GRIT, CONFLICT, HEARTBREAK AND HOPE.
IT IS AN INSPIRING STORY OF ARTISTS, THEIR TALENT, AND THEIR TENACITY TO BREAK BARRIERS WHILE NAVIGATING THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND CAREER AMBITIONS.
THE GARDEN THEATRE IS LOCATED IN WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA. OPENED IN 1935 AS A SINGLE-SCREEN THEATRE AND WAS RESTORED IN 2008 AND EVER SINCE HAS HELD ITS OWN WITH THEATRE, CONCERTS & MORE.
WITH ITS ARCHITECTUAL CHARM WALKING INTO THE THEATRE WAS LIKE WALKING INTO A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART ALL AROUND YOU. DREAM GIRLS PRODUCTION PUT ON BY VICTORY PRODUCTIONS IS STUNNING ALL AROUND FROM THE TALENT, TO THE SET AND COSTUME DESIGN. WALKING INTO THE THEATRE AND LOOK STRAIGHT TO THE STAGE WITH THE DREAM GIRLS LOGO IN GOLD AND BLUE LIGHTING ACROSS THE STAGE DREW ME RIGHT IN. WANT TO GIVE A WELL DESERVED SHOUT OUT TO THE SOME OF THE PRODUCTION TEAM INVOLVED IN THE LIGHTING DESIGN DAVID CLENNEY AND SCENIC DESIGNER LINDSAY MATTEONI.
BRIANNA JAVIS PORTRAYING THE ROLE OF "EFFIE WHITE" IN THIS PERFORMANCE WHO WAS SEEN ON THE INTERNATIONAL TOUR OF DREAM GIRLS WAS BACK WITH THE SHOW THAT INSPIRED HER IN SO MANY WAYS.
BRIANNA HELD MY ATTENTION THE MOMENT SHE WALKED ON STAGE. THE VERY SCENE THAT STOOD OUT LIKE NO OTHER WAS OF COURSE THE ICONIC SONG "I AM TELLING YOU" WHERE BRIANNA TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF HER ENERGY AND VOICE INTO THIS MOMENT AND MAJOR TURNING POINT IN THE SHOW FOR "EFFIE". BRIANNA TRULY GAVE ME CHILLS JUST LISTENING AT THAT VERY MOMENT AND FINISHED THE SONG WITH A STANDING OVATION AT THE VERY END OF ACT 1 WITH A 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION AND THEN ONTO ACT 2.
THE COSTUMES IN THIS PRODUCTION CAUGHT MY EYE FROM THE SEQUINS AND SPARKLE TO THE 1960S FLARE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHOW THANKS TO COSTUME SUPERVISOR/COORDINATOR GABS GUITIERREZ .
DREAM GIRLS IS FILLED WITH A VARIETY OF DANCE MOVES LEAD BY CHOREOGRAPHER SOLOMON JAYE. PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER DANCE CAPTAIN BROADERICK O'NEAL KEPT THE AUDIENCE ENGAGED IN TELLING THE STORY THROUGH SONG AND DANCE. A LIVE BAND LEAD BY MUSICAL DIRECTOR, JOHN B. DEHAAS, ON STAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SPAN OF THE MUSICAL WHICH IS UNIQUE TO MANY MUSICALS AND THEATRE WHERE THE BAND AND ORCHESTRA ARE NHIDDEN IN FRONT AND BELOW THE STAGE. GARDEN THEATRE IS AN INTIMATE SETTING WHERE YOU REALLY DO HAVE THE PERFECT SEAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE SITTING DURING A SHOW.
DREAM GIRLS HAS DONE SO WELL ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO RUN FROM JULY 7TH TO AUGUST 6TH BUT NOW IS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED FOR ONE MORE WEEK LEAVING ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE DATE FOR AUGUST 13TH.
VISIT VICTORY PRODUCTIONS TO PURCHSE TICKETS UP TO AUGUST 13TH 2023 AND CHECK OUT THEIR NEW SEASON OF SHOWS FROM 2023-2024 IF YOU ARE IN WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA AREA.
HTTP://VICTORYPRODUCTIONS.ORG/EVENTS/DREAMGIRLS/
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: JACLYN SALAMONE
RISING TALENT MAGAZINE ATTENDED
DREAM GIRLS: THE MUSICAL | VICTORY PRODUCTIONS | GARDEN THEATRE
WINTER GARDEN, FL
AUGUST 6TH 2023