When composer Henry Krieger and lyricist Tom Eyen teamed with six-time Tony Award winner director/choreographer Michael Bennett and co-choreographer Bob Avian, they could not have expected the success that would greet Dreamgirls, their original musical about three African American backup singers who dreamed of making it big. Indeed, when Dreamgirls opened in December 1981, new musicals were sparse and revivals seemed to be where Broadway was headed. Dreamgirls injected a jolt of freshness into the industry with its electrifying music and compelling themes of family, friendship, race relations and the consequences of fame and success.

"I believe it was the first show in recent memory that portrays people who happen to be African American with the baggage that our culture brings to being in a black and white world. It's a story about a real family."
- Henry Krieger, composer

Starring Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena, Loretta Devine as Lorrell and introducing Jennifer Holliday as Effie, Dreamgirls made its mark on Broadway history largely thanks to its unforgettable performances that also included Ben Harney's Curtis Taylor, Jr., Cleavant Derricks' James Early and Obba Babatundé's C.C. White. At the 1982 Tony Awards, the musical earned 13 nominations, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and took home 6 awards: Best Book of a Musical (Tom Eyen), Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Ben Harney), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Holliday), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Cleavant Derricks), Outstanding Lighting Design (Tharon Musser), and Outstanding Choreography (Michael Bennett and Michael Peters), marking Michael Bennett's seventh win. The show continued to delight audiences for close to four years, eventually completing a total run of 1,521 performances.