“Dreamgirls,” the landmark musical about the rise of a 1960s girl group and the price of fame, is officially making its long-awaited return to Broadway — and Jennifer Hudson is stepping into a new role behind the scenes.
Hudson, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her powerhouse portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation, has joined the producing team for the fall 2026 Broadway revival. The EGOT winner now adds this project to her growing list of Broadway producing credits, which includes A Strange Loop (2022 Tony Award for Best Musical) and last season’s Smash.
In a statement, Hudson reflected on the full-circle moment:
“Twenty years ago, my life changed forever because of a film called Dreamgirls… I am beyond honored to join the extraordinary producing team behind this special, newly reimagined Broadway revival.”
A Historic Revival
The revival will be directed and choreographed by five-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, known for her work on Hell’s Kitchen and the recent revival of Gypsy. Brown becomes the first Black woman to both direct and choreograph a Broadway musical in over 65 years — a milestone that feels especially meaningful for a show so deeply rooted in Black musical legacy.
Producers include Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson. LaChanze Productions was previously attached but is no longer part of the producing team.
This marks the first major Broadway revival of the show since its original 1981 run at the Imperial Theatre. The original production, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, earned 13 Tony nominations and six wins, launching the careers of Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Loretta Devine. Holliday’s performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” remains one of the most iconic Tony Awards moments in history.
The Next Generation of Dreams
Producers have announced an international casting search for the central trio — Effie White, Deena Jones, and Lorrell Robinson — collectively known as The Dreams. Auditions will be held across major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, London, Toronto, and beyond, seeking “talented women of all shapes and sizes.”
No theater, exact dates, or casting announcements have been confirmed yet.
From Stage to Screen — and Back Again
While “Dreamgirls” debuted on Broadway in 1981, it reached a new global audience through the 2006 film adaptation starring Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, and Hudson. That film not only earned Hudson her Oscar but cemented Effie White as one of the most emotionally charged roles in modern musical history.
Now, nearly 40 years after its Broadway debut and almost 20 years after its film resurgence, “Dreamgirls” is poised for a new chapter — one shaped by Camille A. Brown’s vision and supported by Hudson, whose own career was forever changed by the story.
And if history is any indication, the next Effie is about to have her life changed, too.