I saw Sheryl Lee Ralph in an old episode of `Good Times` which I know had to be about 40 years ago and I find it amazing that she almost doesn`t look any older now than she did all those years ago. Wow
Yes, you're correct. Before Dreamgirls was Dreamgirls, it was Project #9 which was a musical meant to feature Nell Carter. While Nell Carter was in the show this song, "I'm the New Girl" was written as a song for Michelle Morris to sing when Effie discovers she's being removed from the group. "I'm the New Girl" actually flows into "Heavy" (in Project #9) as Effie tries to stay in the group and they walk out on her, leaving her alone in the dressing room. (I know this because I have a recording of all of songs from Project #9.) Fast foward to when Nell Carter quit the workshop, Jennifer Holliday was cast & quit the next workshop, Jenifer Lewis took over the role of Effie and the song "I'm the New Girl" remained. According to a video that was online of Jenifer Lewis discussing Dreamgirls, she said that Ramona Brooks sang "I'm the New Girl" in their workshop (I'm guessing Ramona Brooks played Michelle) and then the song was cut for good.
@@andrewpemberton-fowler5296 Don't get me wrong, I like this song, but honestly if it was a choice between "I'm The New Girl" and "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," I'm glad they came up with, and decided on, the latter.
@@andrewpemberton-fowler5296 Thanks for the backstory. I love this song! I always wished Michelle had a little more. Maybe a future revival will add this back?
Project #9 is the original screen play before it became DreamGirls.It starred Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine & Nell Carter. Then Nell Carter left the production to do the show Gimme A Break and Project 9 was put on hold. Then in 1979 Tom Eyen connected with Henry Krieger and DreamGirls was formed. Then they bought in Michael Bennett choreograph the play and then Jennifer Holliday was added to the show to play Effie Melody White.
+DaTruEbonyRayne oh okay thank you. I fotget the name of the actress who was supposed to sing this song but, apparently, she quit dreamgirls when this song was cut (according to Sheryl Lee Ralph)
@datruebonyrayne, u are very close. Yes project 9 was shelved. When they picked it up Nell couldn't come back because of gimme a break. She was doing Ryan's hope in 79.
