When the award-winning Broadway musical, 'Dreamgirls' opens at City Hall on October 10 it will mark a new milestone in the Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) string of its annual productions.

For the first time, the 30-strong cast will be entirely Bermudian, with Alan Smith, Tramaine Stovell, Cindy Smith and Khalilah Smith in the lead roles of Curtis Taylor, Jr., Deena Jones, Effie Melody White, and Lorelle Robinson, respectively.

"'Dreamgirls' is one of the most exciting and captivating shows to be staged in Bermuda in years, with a diverse and talented cast, all of whom share in the passion of bringing this musical to the Bermudian community," producer Paul Matthews says.

Certainly, those playing the lead roles could not be more delighted with the opportunities presented to them.

"The original cast recording was quite a sensation among my contemporaries when it came out, and I was personally very drawn to the role of Curtis at the time, so it is something, years later, to get to play him," Mr. Smith says.

For Tramaine Stovell, the G&S production is providing her with "the opportunity to work among a group of very talented people".

"I have learned a great deal from everyone involved thus far," she says. "The teamwork necessary to pull off such a production is huge, and I am pleased to be a part of it."

Cindy Smith sees her role as "an opportunity of a lifetime, a dream come true", and says, "Singing is my life, and to be cast in this role is the pinnacle of my dreams to date."

For Khalilah Smith, trying out for the show was an opportunity she too could not pass up.

"The music is challenging and soulful. What a legacy – to follow the likes of Loretta Devine and Jennifer Holiday!" she says. "I am really looking forward to going on the journey – making the director's vision a reality, and bringing my own Lorrell to life on stage here in Bermuda."

The G&S production will feature the original music by Henry Krieger, with lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Robert Edwards is the visiting musical director, while Keith Lee Grant is the director and choreographer. Producers are Keith Lee Grant, Nancy Thompson, Denise Whitter and Paul Matthews.

"We are thrilled to bring 'Dreamgirls' to Bermuda," Mr. Edwards says. "The outstanding cast and unforgettable music will make it one of the best musicals Bermuda has seen in years – and a production Bermudians are sure not to miss!"

The Broadway version of 'Dreamgirls' opened at the Imperial Theatre on December 20, 1981 and ran for 1,522 performances. The musical follows the story of a black, all-girl singing trio from Detroit called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. The original Broadway production, which won six Tony Awards, starred Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, and Obba Babatunde.

The musical was recently adapted into a feature motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures.

The feature-film version of 'Dreamgirls', starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover and Jennifer Hudson, won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

Meanwhile, G&S has received just received a special honour from Hollywood actor and Bermuda resident Michael Douglas, who has agreed to become the patron.

"He telephoned me personally to say that he is very impressed with what G&S is doing with the community ventures we are supporting, and the programmes with whose development we are trying to assist, and he is looking forward to getting involved with what we are trying to do for theatre in Bermuda," producer Matthews says. "We are thrilled.''

The G&S executive committee of Bermuda has diversified its efforts to include the support of programmes which have brought the performing arts into the lives of over 100 of Bermuda's youth, as well as educational initiatives such as the Theatre Arts Scholarship.

These scholarships (three annually since 2003) are a rare source of assistance for Bermudians to study theatre arts overseas. Also underway are plans to bring professionals to the Island to give locals access to expert training.

G&S began in 1972, staging amateur productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. In the late 1980s, it started moving toward its current, exclusive focus on Broadway musicals.

A watershed came in 1998 when G&S was one of the first amateur groups worldwide to be granted performing rights to 'Les Miserables'.

That recognition led to the introduction of experienced professionals, resulting from Sir Cameron Mackintosh's requirement that members of his professional staff oversee the show. Since then, G&S has brought in a professional director and other key technical personnel, which has raised the standard of amateur theatre in Bermuda, and earned much local acclaim.

■ Tickets ($40) will be sold online (www.bermudamusicaltheatre.com) from September 10, and at City Hall Theatre box office (tel. 292-2313) from September 19 between noon and 2 p.m. Monday to Friday until October 19. Please note: Online bookings are suspended when the City Hall box office is open.

■ To get free tickets and support the Island's youth, become a patron of G&S at www.bermudamusicaltheatre.com

■ For further information about the latest G&S production of 'Dreamgirls', see website www.dreamgirls.bm as well as the Bermuda Calendar.