Broadway Icon Jennifer Holliday Makes Theatre History!

[@igotyourback9175]

I had relatives and even a music teacher who saw this show when it launched in the early eighties and they all said the same thing 'this was the show'. They said her voice was so powerful, it wrapped around your body, shook your soul and had the entire theater shaking like an earthquake was coming on. They said that people and children were crying, fainting, jumping up and down in the aisles. The applause and standing ovation lasted 10 to 15 minutes straight. They all say to this day, they have never seen or heard anything like it. This clip should be in the museums around the world as a masterpiece of theater excellence and theatrical history.

[@jiujitsujackson9831]

Well said!!!!! My mother saw this show and she said your words😂

[@rowanmayfair9249]

@@igotyourback9175 I concur.

[@helloxonsfan]

Yes! It's one of those special songs where you remember exactly where you were when you first heard it...!!! ... That's exactly how it was for me... & to this day, it's still one of the best performances I've ever heard...!!! Jennifer literally set the bar at brand new heights with this one...!!! 👍🏽 👍🏽 👍🏽

[@steveasher5849]

I saw the original production of Dreamgirls both in its out of town tryout in Boston and then again the Saturday after opening night. Will never ever forget it!

[@DavidBraileyLive]

Oh wow! I am envious! What an experience! Thanks so much for taking your time to watch and write.

[@tanyadavis6921]

i got to see this Jennifer in dreamgirls and when did this song after she finished she got a standing ovation! she was 21 when she did Dreamgirls!

[@MsMelyjean]

The acting, the emotion, the voice.

[@stktnshawn]

A grammy for the recording on top of the Tony she won thar evening. Definitely historical!

[@jeffbassin630]

There's only one word that describes this performance - INCREDIBLE!

[@livviebrundle]

"...lets have a child..." The most heart-breaking thing about this scene, for me personally, is: (*****SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE AND THE MUSICAL*****) Effie's pregnant, and she's been trying desperately to tell him- so when she says "you're gonna love... me!" with that slight pause; she's talking about herself, and the child. ;) '...the more you know!" :)

[@DavidBraileyLive]

YES! Thank you! I knew I forgot something about the scene. One technical thing I missed, throughout the scene before her song, notice how they look at each other. The actors are creating the set by using the fourth wall as dressing room mirrors. They’re looking at each other through mirrors that aren’t there. That alone should’ve gotten the director every Tony available, lol

[@livviebrundle]

@@DavidBraileyLive You're right :D that mirror bit. Yes, I always enjoyed that too. Oh, there was definitely a reason Michael Bennett was called the King of Broadway ;)

[@kervinfondren9226]

No song has ever touched this one in history except I will always love you by Whitney Houston.

[@ddmaul]

I saw this live (the show, not the Tony performance). I don't think I breathed through this entire number, and my fingerprints are forever etched into the Playbill thanks to my sweaty hands gripping it so tightly. Had never seen anything like it (I was 17).