March 3, 2006

It may have been pouring outside, but inside a huge tent next to the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the joint was jumping. More than 300 members of the press were getting a special look at the upcoming big-screen production of Bill Condon's new musical, "Dreamgirls."

If you hadn't heard, the movie follows an up-and-coming '60s girl group through break-ups, heartaches and triumphs. Based on the legendary Broadway show, the story of the Dreams has always borne a striking resemblance to the lives of the Supremes. And unlike some other movie musicals, this parallel gives "Dreamgirls" a deep historical context. Tonight though, the assembled journalists are getting a sneak peek at the filming of the number "Steppin' to the Bad Side," which features every member of the high-profile cast: Jamie Foxx (as the band's Berry Gordy-inspired manager), Beyoncé Knowles (Deena Jones, aka Diana Ross), Jennifer Hudson (Effie White), Eddie Murphy (James "Thunder Early," a hybrid of James Brown and Marvin Gaye) and Anika Noni Rose (Lorrell Robinson).

First, we watch a scene shot a few weeks before from the beginning of the number. Foxx starts the song outside the alley of a concert hall. Next, it's a glimpse of the song's big finale. Unfortunately, Murphy wrapped for the day before the cast performed the rest of "Bad Side" live, but associate choreographer Aakomon "A.J." Jones gallantly stepped in and supplied a taste of what Murphy will bring when he's seen on screen with the Dreams. The number includes at least 25 back-up dancers flanking the stage, and the energy of the cast is contagious to everyone in attendance (if only they'd done it twice!). As for the production design, this clearly isn't "The Producers." It looks like a big movie through and through.

Once the press returns to the party, Foxx, Knowles, Hudson and Rose hold court, though Knowles' 7-foot-tall bodyguard makes approaching her something of a challenge. Foxx loves talking to anyone and, much to his publicist's dismay, manages to stage an impromptu news conference.

"A lot of people, by just being young, don't even remember the story of the Supremes," Foxx says. "So, what we have to do is make them understand the story of 'Dreamgirls' with some of the flavor of today. We all know the music business is a very tough business and my character lets you know exactly how tough it is."

One of the Dreams who shares a lot of screen time with Murphy is Rose. I caught the Tony Award winner while she was sipping a drink, and she had only high praise for Murphy, saying her experience with him was "fabulous" and that one of her favorite songs is a duet with him called "Patience." The song is one of four new compositions written for the movie by Henry Krieger, who wrote the original musical's score.

The stunning Rose also has only kind words for her Dreams co-stars.

"It could be a big nasty ego fest, but it's just not that," she says. "We are all coming with something of our own and I think that makes it very easy."

A few weeks earlier, the Hitlist was privy to a separate set visit to the Palace Theater, where the cast performed the closing number, "It's Hard To Say Goodbye." As Hudson, Knowles and Rose stood on stage singing, the cameras caught reaction shots in the audience. One of those faces is Danny Glover, who shows what a pro he is by providing a perfect performance in three takes. But what was most memorable that night is what is expected to be the last shot in the film. The Hitlist won't spoil it, but if there is a dry eye in the house, that viewer ain't got heart and ain't got soul.

Now, if that doesn't put "Dreamgirls" on your most-anticipated list, what will?