Amber Riley to star in West End Dreamgirls - Savoy

It has been announced that the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls will finally have its West End premiere at the Savoy Theatre in November 2016.

The production will feature 'Glee' star Amber Riley in the role of 'Effie Melody White', originally played on Broadway by Jennifer Holliday and by Jennifer Hudson in the 2009 film adaptation.

The long rumoured production features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen and is based upon the rise of music acts such as 'The Supremes' and 'The Shirelles'. It follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who go on to become music superstars.

The West End production will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and will be directed and choreographed by Casey Nicolaw, who is currently represented in the West End by his productions of The Book of Mormon and the upcoming West End transfer of Aladdin.

Dreamgirls originally premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on 20 December 1981 and closed on 11 August 1985, after 1,521 performances. Directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, the production went on to win six Tony Awards, but lost out on the trophy for Best Musical to Bennett's friend and rival Tommy Tune's producion of 'Nine'.

Jennife Holliday's recording of Effie's solo "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" went to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1982, and won a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance.

Amber Riley is best known for her portrayal of 'Mercedes Jones' on the international hit comedy-drama series 'Glee', on which she covered the famous 'Dreamgirls' song. She is also known for winning season 17 of 'Dancing with the Stars' and starring as 'Addaperle' in NBC's live broadcast of 'The Wiz'.

Further information about the West End premiere of Dreamgirls will be announced at a later date, with tickets for the production going on sale in the upcoming weeks.