Local theatre company premiering Dreamgirls on Windsor stage

Dreamgirls is a musical inspired by the careers of R&B greats like The Supremes, James Brown and the Shirelles. But this weekend, the show also gets itsinspiration from Windsor.

The musical is being staged locally for the first time by the Arts Collective Theatre (ACT) and opens Friday night at The Capital Theatre.

It's a new experience for many in the cast.

"We're working with [actors who] about 80 or 90 per cent have never been on stage before, which is kind of exciting," said ChrisRabideau,director of the show. "It has been a labour oflovefor the last three months to put the show on."

ACT is a newtheatre program, whose stated goal is to "provide training and performance opportunities for multi-ethnic artists of all ages."

Detroit native Verzell Page is an actor in the show, who has some acting experience behind him. He's also in a lead role, playingJimmy Early.

"I always wanted to explore dancing, I always wanted to be like my influence James Brown, and that's the epitome of Jimmy Early," said Page.

Hear more from Rabideau and Page on CBC's Windsor Morning:

Rabideau said putting the show together with an unexperienced cast has been "a challenge,"

"Other groups do it in six months. We did it in three," he said.

But Rabideau said this Windsor version of Dreamgirlsis special because it's hitting a first.

"This show is going to blow the roof of the ceiling. And it's the first time we've seen an all black cast like this," he said.

The showruns through April29that the Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor.