Tony winner Jennifer Holliday took in the evening performance of Dreamgirls in London’s West End on October 18, the eve of her birthday. The musical’s original Effie White visited with the cast backstage, including the production’s current Effie, Olivier winner and Glee star Amber Riley.
Beginning November 20, actors Moya Angela (In Transit), Marisha Wallace (Aladdin, Something Rotten!), and Karen Mav (The X Factor) will share the role of Effie. The five ladies took a photo together during the visit.
A truly iconic moment! Celebrating Effies Past, Present and Future @DreamgirlsLDN last night. ✨ pic.twitter.com/2JseOqiUmY
— Dreamgirls West End (@DreamgirlsLDN) October 19, 2017
Wallace played Effie in the 2017 Dallas Theater Center production of Dreamgirls, while Angela played the role at the Apollo Theatre and on the North American tour. Mav has been a part of the London company since 2016.
Holliday was most recently seen on Broadway in The Color Purple, when she took over the role of Shug Avery from Heather Headley, who had succeeded Jennifer Hudson.
Dreamgirls plays London’s Savoy Theatre and is currently slated to run through June 2, 2018. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Casey Nicholaw.