Hudson, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Effie White in the film adaptation of the musical, is helping to cast the role in its first-ever Broadway revival
NEED TO KNOW
- Jennifer Hudson opened up about her role producing the first-ever Broadway revival of Dreamgirls after starring in the 2006 film adaptation as Effie White
- The actress, musician and talk show host told PEOPLE that the opportunity to revisit the beloved production is like "reliving" her early experiences in a new way
- Hudson, an EGOT winner, won her Oscar for her work in the film
Jennifer Hudson is getting a chance to experience Dreamgirls in a new way after signing on to produce the first-ever Broadway revival of the classic musical.
The 44-year-old EGOT winner earned her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie White alongside the likes of Beyoncé as Deena Jones and Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson in the 2006 film adaptation.
On Feb. 11, she announced that she would produce the Broadway revival, which is set to open in fall 2026.
Hudson reflects on the opportunity while speaking to PEOPLE about partnering with Credit One Bank to launch its new Cards on the Table game.
She says that "a huge reason" she joined the project was to help introduce the Tony winning musical to a new generation and to foster a new generation of the Dreamettes, the girl group comprised of Effie, Deena and Anika.
"That's a huge reason why I wanted to be a part of it, because it's so life-changing and I can't wait to just sit and witness the new Dreamettes and how life-changing it'll be for them," she says. "And then to be able to look through the lens from a production, producer perspective is a dream for me."
Her new role, she says, is "like reliving" her previous experience, "but in a different way."
The singer, actress and talk show host will now be directly involved in changing the lives of the stars who will eventually take over the roles that she played alongside Beyoncé and Noni Rose.
Asked what the actress who plays Effie needs, she reflects that they need to be a complete package.
"Definitely to just have a presence out of this world like Effie does, that voice of course. Then that spark that Effie has, that presence."
Continuing, she adds, "The whole production of Dreamgirls, it creates stars. So it's like I can't wait to see who will bring it to the table and then we'll know because Effie's going to show us if she is her when she does arrive — if she already hasn't."
While Hudson knows the revival will bring a new generation of fans to the show, which got its start on Broadway in 1981, she tells PEOPLE that it will also bring something new to viewers who are already familiar with the source material.
"Thinking of when it debuted on Broadway in 1981, and then to be able to return it back to Broadway so the new generations know where it originated from and then to see how it resonates and how they get to experience it through theatre and its original home. It's like even for those who've seen the film or the original production of Dreamgirls, to be able to just experience it in a different way, I think it creates a whole new experience. I'm excited," she gushes.
Hudson announced her involvement in the musical during an episode of her eponymous talk show, which was recently renewed for a fifth season.
"Twenty years ago, my life changed forever because of a film called Dreamgirls. Inspired by the iconic stage musical, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to portray the one and only Effie White — a woman whose story and voice remain an ever-present force in my life," the star said in a press release.
She added, "I am beyond honored to join the extraordinary producing team behind this special, newly reimagined Broadway revival, and to help bring Dreamgirls back to the stage through the visionary direction and choreography of Camille A. Brown. This fall cannot come soon enough.”
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Elsewhere in her conversation with PEOPLE, Hudson opened up about teaching her son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., about finances.
“My son, he's 16 now, and I've been trying to find ways to teach him different things about credit to prepare him by far better than what I was prepared with — or not,” Hudson reflects. “It's hard to get the young people's attention, so what better way than through a game, almost like tricking them into it?”
Credit Bank One's Cards on the Table has helped her do just that.
“I want him to understand how important it is to try to create good credit,” she says. “Like son, don't max out that credit card. Or make sure you pay your bills on time. If you think about it, our credit is our grade in our adulthood."
Read the original article on People
