Deena jones biography dreams palm
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It starred Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones, Jennifer Holliday as Effie White, Loretta Devine as Lorrell Robinson, Ben Harney as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Cleavant Derricks as James "Thunder" Early, and Obba Babatundé as C. C. White. Deena Jones (played by Beyoncé) mirrors Diana Ross, as she becomes the group’s lead singer despite others being more vocally powerful.
It underscored the stakes of the music industry and the sacrifices demanded.
This pivotal moment, even as it highlighted Effie's pain, subtly began to forge Deena's understanding of her own burgeoning power and the complex dynamics at play within the group and with Curtis.
Conflict with Curtis
As Deena's star rose, so did her desire for artistic control, leading to increasing tension with Curtis Taylor Jr. He sought to mold her into a specific image, often at the expense of her creative input.
This struggle was central to her quest for autonomy, as she fought against the confines of her manufactured persona and yearned for genuine artistic expression.
Finding Her Own Voice
Deena’s eventual defiance of Curtis marked a profound moment of self-realization.
Like Curtis, Gordy was known for his strong influence over his artists’ careers and personal lives.
While the film weaves in elements that echo true events, it is ultimately a work of fiction designed to capture the essence of an era in American music rather than serve as a direct biography.
Dreamgirls Reviews/The Dreamgirls Musical Reviews
We all know, for the most part, that singers don’t usually make good actors, right?
Dreamgirls (Film): Dreamgirls Plot/Dreamgirls Summary
So what exactly did I find so great about Dreamgirls? She also has a more malleable personality, which might be almost as important in Curtis’ mind.
Relationship Status… involved with Curtis, her manager.
However, she found Effie's role had been reduced significantly in favor of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Deena character, and Holliday eventually quit the project again. Project #9 was workshopped for Joseph Papp; Nell Carter was joined at this time by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, who were to play her groupmates. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006
Background
Dreamgirls had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter.
Ballard was a founding member of The Supremes whose struggles with her position in the group, personal issues, and eventual departure from the band are mirrored in Effie's storyline.
Did Diana Ross approve of the Dreamgirls movie?
Diana Ross has never publicly endorsed or officially approved the Dreamgirls movie or its original stage musical.
DREAMGIRLS History
DREAMGIRLS History and Trivia
Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Her rise to stardom, fraught with personal and professional challenges, captivated audiences worldwide.
This widespread appeal solidified her influence, shaping discussions around ambition, talent, and the music industry itself.
Representation in Media
Beyond her individual story, Deena Jones became a powerful symbol of representation in media.
Both women were strategically groomed by their managers to become glamorous, mainstream icons.
The film doesn't shy away from depicting the artistic sacrifices and personal toll that such a meteoric rise often entails. Deena, who grew up in a poor area of Detroit, isn’t used to all the attention she’s been getting lately.
Living… the high life.
At the heart of this discussion lies the striking resemblance between the fictional Deena Jones and the iconic singer, Diana Ross.
This section delves into the undeniable connections, comparing the film's narrative with the true events that shaped one of music's most legendary groups.
To fully appreciate the scope of these inspirations, it helps to see the direct correlations between the fictional elements of "Dreamgirls" and their real-life counterparts.
| Fictional Element | Real-Life Counterpart |
|---|---|
| The Dreams | The Supremes |
| Deena Jones | Diana Ross |
| Effie White | Florence Ballard |
| Curtis Taylor Jr. | Berry Gordy |
| Rainbow Records | Motown Records |
The Supremes and The Dreams: A Striking Resemblance
The fictional girl group, The Dreams, mirrors the trajectory of The Supremes in many significant ways.
Although Deena owes much of her success to Curtis, she realizes that he not only has power over her talent, but he’s driven a wedge between her and her longtime friend, Effie. Cheryl Gaines and Phyllis Hyman were both considered as replacements for Holliday.
After two mildly successful workshops which included Jenifer Lewis as Effie, Holliday returned to the project, now known as Dreamgirls.
Rashad was also Sheryl Lee Ralph's understudy; but when Ralph left the production, Rashad was not offered her role, and subsequently left the cast.
The Dreams and the Supremes
Michael Bennett, Henry Krieger, Tom Eyen, and the Dreamgirls producers deny any connections between the musical's plot and the Supremes' life stories, but the similarities between the show and true events that occurred with the Supremes lead to belief that the creators did actually base the musical on the Supremes; however denied any connections to avoid lawsuits from Motown, Berry Gordy, and the Supremes.
It might be hard for her to ever break away from Curtis.
Personality… shy and trusting, but determined. The production was directed by Michael Bennett, produced by Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, and The Shubert Organization, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. After acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co-financiers ABC Entertainment, Metromedia, and the Shubert family, Bennett called Holliday back and agreed to rewrite the show's second act and build up her character.
Dreamgirls premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981 and closed on August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances.