By Clay Cane 

Jennifer Holliday, who made the role of Effie White famous in the legendary 1982 Broadway musical Dreamgirls is NOT GOING when it comes to the role she gave breath, flesh and life. Many of the original cast members from the groundbreaking musical are feeling ignored by the creators of the film, which hits theatres nationwide Christmas Day. For Holliday, Effie White is the best role she EVER HAD and she will tear down the mountains, yell, scream and shout it. In an exclusive interview with Inside Edition Wednesday, November 22nd (check your local listings) she will detail some of her concerns. Supposedly there were “promises” made to Holliday when the film was in production, like a possible cameo, or even an actual role — none of that happened. However, when promoting the film early in the year the original “And I Am Telling You” was used for the trailers, which I remember thinking, “Why are they using this version?” The creators of Dreamgirls have used Holliday’s amazing voice (it is CUTE for Jenny Hudson and a good rendition — but her version isn’t even a Krispy Kreme crumb of Jennifer Holliday!) to promote the film, but according to Holliday her unforgettable contributions have been unrecognized. To make matters worse Holliday, and the two other original Dreamgirls, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Divine, weren’t even invited to the premiere!

Many might think, “Who cares – this was 25 years ago!” On the other hand, when Dreamgirls hit Broadway it was a watershed moment in African-American history and Broadway history. Never before had a musical arrived on Broadway starring three black women — it never happened again. Holliday’s Tony Award Winning performance made her a legend overnight so it is odd that the creators of the film are not showing the original cast common respect for the history. Sheryl Lee Ralph, who played Beyonce’s role of Deena, said in a March 2006 interview with Rockacandy.com: “In the 1980’s when Dreamgirls opened we completely changed theater, we changed who came to the theater, and who was interested in theater. And now 25 years later, people find it so easy to act like we didn’t do what we did.” While I am ecstatic a high-budget film surrounding three black women is making it to the silver screen with huge promotion, I am deeply confused on how Ralph, Holliday and Divine are being so quickly disregarded. In the 2002 film Chicago Chita Rivera, who originated the role of Velma Kelly on Broadway in 1975, made a cameo as “Nicky.” As much as the film has been compared to Chicago why aren’t Jennifer Holliday and the other women not even given a ticket to the premiere? In many ways the film should be a tribute to the original — obviously without the original there would be no film!

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