slides: Party Report: Opening Night of PCS’s Dreamgirls

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

The stars of "Dreamgirls." L-R: Nattalyee Randall (Effie), Mary Patton (Deena) and Lexi Rhoades (Lorrell).

Dreamgirls kicked off Portland Center Stage’s 27th season to a packed house on Friday night, earning an enthusiastic standing ovation.

After the show, the audience was invited to join the cast and creative team in celebrating the opening of its new season.

Guests included Grimm stars Reggie Lee and Russell Hornsby, One Kick author Chelsea Cain, and a bevy of performing arts luminaries, such as Oregon Symphony’s new president, Scott Showalter, Oregon Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin Irving and a number of local performers. Guests were treated to whiskey provided by Legacy Whiskey and snacks provided by the Pearl District’s new Lebanese restaurant, Zataar.

SLIDESHOW: See photos from Dreamgirls Opening Night below.

The six-time Tony-winning musical Dreamgirls, loosely based on the career of The Supremes, takes audiences to a revolutionary time in American music history; three friends form The Dreamettes and learn hard lessons about love, trust and the changing tastes of the American public.

The score features a mix of R&B, soul, pop and disco inspired by popular music from the '60s and '70s. Portland Center Stage’s production stars Nattalyee Randall, Mary Patton, Lexi Rhoades and Antoinette Comer as The Dreamettes, joined by a talented lineup including local Broadway stars Rodney Hicks, David Jennings, Calvin Scott Roberts and Tyrone Roberson.

And, yes, Nattalyee Randall, as "Effie," kicked ass on the big number, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," that closes Act 1. Wow!

For showtimes and more information visit http://www.pcs.org/dreamgirls/