A local production of the musical Dreamgirls has been cancelled after the rights holders withdrew permission because the cast was predominantly white. Gillian Banks Theatre School in Maltby, South Yorkshire, had planned to stage the show at Rotherham Civic Theatre but faced backlash when it emerged that only one of the cast members was black.
Background of the Production
The musical, which tells the story of a fictional black female singing trio rising to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, was originally written by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger in 1981 and later adapted into a 2006 film starring Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson. The theatre school, which has been operating for nearly 50 years and has about 200 students, secured a licence from Concord Theatricals, the agency managing the rights. However, after the casting was revealed, the licence was revoked.
Reasons for Revocation
Concord Theatricals stated that they had explicitly informed the school that Dreamgirls must feature a diverse cast reflecting the historical reality of its content. When a casting sheet showed that this requirement was not met, the agency intervened. A Concord spokesperson said, 'Dreamgirls is a show about a time in black American music history... Your production should be appropriately cast to represent and reflect these artists and their history.' This is the first time Concord has rescinded rights for Dreamgirls since they began managing the musical in the 1980s.
School's Response
The theatre school expressed disappointment, stating there was 'never any intention to whitewash this production.' They noted that they had sought a diverse cast but were constrained by the demographics of the area, where the white population exceeds 90% according to the 2021 census. 'We are just a little dance school in one of the most deprived areas of Rotherham trying to give experiences to our students on a very small scale,' they said. The school added that all casting decisions were made in good faith and that they had encouraged black actors to audition but did not receive enough applicants.
Impact and Alternative Plans
The cancellation has caused 'a lot of stress and anxiety and disappointment' among students. The school has since announced a new variety production celebrating Motown and musical theatre to ensure the students' hard work 'will not go to waste.' An American blogger who writes about Dreamgirls productions is understood to have reported the school to Concord. The school defended its students, saying, 'Colour doesn't come into this anywhere for us, because everyone is equal and judged on their talent.'
