On the anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death, we reflect on her link to the movie musical Dreamgirls.
Whitney Houston is an icon of the music industry. With over 170 million records sold in her time and countless singers inspired by her, Whitney Houston cemented her legendary status in her all-too-brief time on Earth. This was ratified by her posthumous induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2020 – Whitney coveted a spot on the list, telling Pat Houdson, her sister-in-law and manager, “I’ve got to get the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” in 2009.
Alongside her chart-topping success was a less celebrated acting career. While “I Will Always Love You” became one of Whitney’s biggest singles, her performance in The Bodyguard (in which the song featured) was slated. Whitney Houston even earned a Razzie nominationfor Worst Actress in the 1992 flick.
Following on from The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston found her feet in The Preacher’s Wife (1996) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997). Whitney had long been interested in switching her status from music to movie star. This was a classic trajectory for singers of the time, in the wake of Elvis’ success in the film industry. Think Dolly Parton in 9 to 5 (1980), Madonna in Desperate Seeking Susan (1985), even David Bowie took a punt with the likes of Labyrinth (1986). In this wave, it was rumoured that Whitney Houston would take on the role of Deena Jones in the screen adaptation of Dreamgirls.
The original musical hit Broadway in 1981. It was an instant success, earning thirteen Tony Award nominations, winning six. Just two years after its debut, Dreamgirls was touring the United States, followed by an international tour in 1985. In the forty years since its release, Dreamgirls has been staged in productions all over the world and found chart success thanks to the film’s original soundtrack. Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen were responsible for the Broadway musical’s score – Krieger would go on to co-write “Listen” for the 2006 movie.
The rights to adapt Dreamgirls for the big screen were retained by David Geffen, one of the stage musical’s original backers. In 1987, Geffen began talks with Disney lyricist Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast) about adapting the musical for screen. They discussed having Whitney Houston take on the lead role of Deena Jones given her rising success in the music industry. But this production hit a bump in the road when Whitney Houston reportedly declared that she wanted to sing both Deena and Effie’s musical numbers. Effie’s big number in the show is “And I Am Telling You,” which Whitney has sung on numerous occasions. For Whitney to sing both Deena and Effie’s songs, the entire Dreamgirls story would have to be rewritten. Geffen put the movie to one side following this issue and the death of Howard Ashman in 1991. It wasn’t until renewed interest in musicals in the early 2000s that Geffen decided to go ahead with a Dreamgirls production.
After Chicago won Best Picture at the 2003 Oscars, a wave of movie musicals hit the silver screen. From Rent, The Producers and Walk the Line (all 2005) to Hairspray and Sweeney Todd (both 2007), the 2000s saw renewed interest in the movie musical. This proved the perfect climate in which to finally bring Dreamgirls to the big screen. David Geffen even hired Chicago’s screenwriter Bill Condon to direct the movie.
In the three decades that the movie adaptation was in the works, a number of singers were considered for Deena Jones. Most notably, Lauryn Hill was up for the role in 1998 while it was under Warner Brothers and director Joel Schumacher’s wing. This project was ditched after Warner Bros’ Frankie Lymon biopic flopped in the cinemas. In the DreamWorks 2006 production, both Beyoncé Knowles and Alicia Keys were up for the role of Deena. But it was Beyoncé who impressed David Geffen and Bill Condon in her screen test. Geffen and Condon offered her the part the same day that they saw her tape.
It’s hard to imagine the Dreamgirls film without Beyoncé Knowles. When the movie was released, it became one of the biggest hits of the year, raking in five Golden Globe and six Oscar nominations (including wins for Jennifer Hudson in both ceremonies). A large part of the movie’s success can be accredited to its all-star cast. With global superstar Beyoncé accompanied by Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Anika Noni Rose, it’s not hard to see why. With massive numbers such as “And I Am Telling You,” “One Night Only” and “I Am Changing,” the movie’s cast needed the musical chops to pull it off. Beyoncé, with her buttery vocal runs and soaring vibrato, proved just the voice to take on Deena Jones.
Whitney Houston’s influence on Beyoncé cannot be understated. Reflecting on Whitney after her death in 2012, Beyoncé said: “I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her.” In 2006, when the Dreamgirls film was released, Beyoncé was vocally similar to Whitney Houston. At this point in time, she was firmly a soprano and relied heavily on runs and her high belt, much like Whitney. Over time, Beyoncé’s range has dropped and her stylistic choices are different to that of the ’00s. This vocal change has been subject to much analysis. With this in mind, it becomes clearer that Whitney would’ve nailed the role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls if the film had gone ahead in 1987. Beyoncé was in her mid-20s when she took on the role of Deena. When the original adaptation of the musical was pitched in the late-1980s, Whitney Houston would’ve been of a similar age. Vocally, Whitney was in her prime to take on such an iconic character.
While we may never see the dream of Whitney Houston as Deena Jones actualised, her love of Dreamgirls gave fans plenty of opportunities to see her perform the material. Whitney performed Effie’s number “I Am Changing” at Arista’s 10th Anniversary in 1984. In 1988, Whitney performed “Family” with her brother Gary and mother Cissy at a concert in New York City. Lastly, at the 1994 American Music Awards, Whitney performed a medley of songs including “And I Am Telling You”.
Although Whitney Houston never landed a role in Dreamgirls, in many ways, she embodies what the musical is all about: passion, determination and stardom. Whitney, without a doubt, is one of music’s ‘Dreams’.
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