Lead cast announced for Dreamgirls at the Savoy

Full casting has been announced for the much-anticipated West End premiere of Dreamgirls which begins previews at London's Savoy Theatre on 19th November 2016, with an official opening on 13 December 2016.

Joining the previously announced Amber Riley who will star as Effie White will be Tyrone Huntley as C.C White, Adam J Bernard as Jimmy, Nicholas Bailey as Marty Joe Aaron Reid as Curtis Taylor Jnr, Liisi LaFontaine as Deena and Ibinabo Jack as Lorrell.

Riley will play the role of Effie for 7 performances a week, alongside her alternates Ruth Brown and Karen Mav, who will rotate performances on Wednesday evenings playing the role for one performance per week between them.

The full cast will also include Jocasta Almgill, Callum Aylott, Hugo Batista, Samara Casteallo, Chloe Chambers, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Joelle Dyson, Kimmy Edwards, Candace Furbert, Nathan Graham, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Gabriel Mokake, Abiola Ogunbiyi, Sean Parkins, Kirk Patterson, Ryan Reid, Rohan Richards, Noel Samuels, Durone Stokes and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.

The production features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen and is based upon the rise of music acts such as 'The Supremes' and 'The Shirelles'. It follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who go on to become music superstars.

The West End production will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and will be directed and choreographed by Casey Nicolaw.

Dreamgirls originally premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on 20 December 1981 and closed on 11 August 1985, after 1,521 performances. The London production will mark the show's West End premiere, and is reported to also include new music specifically written for the new production.

Ibinabo Jack's stage credits include 'Legally Blonde The Musical' (Savoy Theatre), 'The Color Purple' (Menier Chocolate Factory), 'Little Shop of Horrors' (Manchester Royal Exchange) and 'The Bodyguard' on UK Tour.

Liisi LaFontaine was a finalist on 'The Winner Is' (NBC) as part of a singing duo The LaFontaines with her mother Nita Whitaker. Her stage credits include 'Once on This Island' (LACHSA production)and 'Rent' (Skylight Theater).

Nicholas Bailey is best known for playing Dr Anthony Trueman in 'EastEnders' (BBC One) and Carl in 'The Archers' (BBC Radio 4). Stage credits include 'King Lear' (National Theatre), and 'Breakfast with Mugabe' (Theatre Royal Bath).

Tyrone Huntley's stage credits include 'The Book of Mormon' (Prince of Wales), 'Porgy and Bess' (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and was most recently seen in 'Memphis' (Shaftesbury Theatre).

Joe Aaron Reid is currently starring as Benny in 'In The Heights' (Kings Cross Theatre). Broadway theatre credits include 'If/Then', 'Chicago', 'Curtains', 'Ghost', 'Catch Me If You Can' and 'Finian's Rainbow'.