Dreamettes
In the fictional world of DREAMGIRLS, Deena Jones is the best friend of Effie Melody White and Lorrell Robinson - together the three original members of the 60s R & B group The Dreams (founded originally as The Dreamettes by Effie White). The Dreams as a whole have the spellbinding ability to bring any audience screaming to their feet whenever they open their mouths and sing.
In the fictional world of DREAMGIRLS, Deena Jones is the best friend of Effie Melody White and Lorrell Robinson - together the three original members of the 60s R & B group The Dreams (founded originally as The Dreamettes by Effie White). The Dreams as a whole have the spellbinding ability to bring any audience screaming to their feet whenever they open their mouths and sing.
The similiarites between Dreamgirls to the history of the Supremes are:In the film and Broadway musical, the group starts out as a background singing group for Jimmy Earle as the Dreamettes. This is similiar to the Supremes originating as the Primettes, and singing backup vocals for the Primes, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, and the Temptations. Also, notice the suffix, -ettes, at the end of each group names.Effie White is the original lead singer until Curtis Jackson selects Deena Jones as the new lead singer. In 1963, Berry Gordy names Diana Ross as the official lead singer replacing Florence Ballard, who sang lead for a short time.In the mid-1960s, the Dreams become a top-selling mainstream pop sensation much like the Supremes were.At the height of the group's fame, Effie White displays erratic behavior because of Curtis's relationship with Deena, which is similiar to Ballard's erratic behavior, though it was because she felt pushed aside due to Ross's rise in popularity.Curtis Jackson begins a romantic relationship with Deena Jones, which is identical to Gordy's supposed relationship with Ross.In 1967, Effie White is ousted from the Dreams, and replaced; this is the same year, Ballard was dismissed from the Supremes, and replaced.During the 1970s, Effie becomes an impoverished welfare mother, which is the same sitution Ballard faced after leaving the group.