Chester Gregory II Has All the Right Moves in Dreamgirls at the Apollo

When I saw the fabulous new production of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, which has been extended until this Saturday, I enjoyed all the stars. The three girls were great and I loved Moya Angela's rendition of every diva's dream first act showstopper, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." But right up there with that moment for me was Chester Gregory II's performance as James "Thunder" Early, the character based off legends like James Brown and Jackie Wilson. (Gregory played the latter to rave reviews in a bio-musical for three years.) I saw Gregory perform for the first time in the musical rendition of John Waters' Cry-Baby on Broadway. After he sang the rollicking "Jukebox Jamboree" as Dupree, the owner of the greaser hangout Turkey Point, I was hooked, so when I saw that he was playing the part in Dreamgirls that earned Eddie Murphy an Oscar nod for the 2006 film version, I knew he'd do it justice. His voice is the perfect mix of pop and soul and he can do the high-shrieks, slides and spins reminiscent of fellow Gary, Indiana native Michael Jackson, whom he idolized growing up. Here's what Gregory had to say about his legendary influences, performing at his neighborhood theater and what he's excited for about taking Dreamgirls on the road after their Apollo run.

You live in Harlem, but is this your first time performing at the Apollo?

I performed there before a few years back with The Jackie Wilson Story, so this is my second time at the Apollo.

What's that like?

Just performing on that great stage where so many legends beforehand have become icons. It also has that community feel to it and I like that. I've worked in black theater a lot and and I've played Broadway houses and we're doing a Broadway caliber show in an uptown venue, so I love the mixture of it. I love that our producer John Breglio was a visionary to say, we're going to bring this high-caliber show to the Apollo and be a part of the Apollo history. One day it'll be a lot of black folks in the audience and the next day it'll be a lot of white folks, and the next day its like mix so I love it.

How did you approach the very physically demanding role of Jimmy at first? Did you dive right in or feel it out? It feels like a lot of it was created by you through improv.

I was feeling it out. A lot of stuff I do, in fact most of the stuff I do, is scripted, but they allow me to take some liberties, and I try not to go overboard with that. I stay true to the character and true to the story and true to the music that Henry [Kreiger] has already created because he created a masterpiece when he did Dreamgirls, so what I wanted to do was just put a different spin on the character by paying tribute to several icons of the era. Jimmy is a fictional character sort of loosely based on James Brown and Jackie Wilson. I used that as an opportunity to incorporate those icons of the era, so my James Thunder Early is not just James Brown, he has bits of Jackie Wilson, Little Richard, a little bit of Otis Redding and the list goes on and on. It was thinking like a gumbo, a little bit of this a little bit of that.

What's more important to you, theater or your singing/songwriting career?

I'm really appreciating the beauty of doing both. I have a new album in the spring. And I've just been enjoying the beauty of sharing what I do on one level with the audience as an actor and performer, and sharing some music that I've created and how I tell my story and what happened to me, and how these influences inspire me.

How did you develop that high-shriek-like effect in your voice?

Well I grew up watching Michael Jackson and Prince in the fifth grade. I know I shouldn't have been watching that kind of stuff, but in fifth grade I was imitating Prince and stuff like that so I've never known anything else.  But I did have a wonderful voice teacher that showed me a lot of tricks to do a lot of effects to my voice without actually damaging it or anything.

Did you used to do a lot of impersonations?

Yes. Prince, Michael Jackson, Rob Crandon from The Honeymooners, Ronald Reagan... I was always a performer, I just never really realized it until the fifth grade.

What are you looking forward to about traveling with the show?

I'm going to be on a mission. I want to see which city has the best food. As long as it's not pork. I don't eat pork. It was sort of like a '90s kind of conscious thing I did, and I just kind of stuck with it.

Where do you like to eat in New York?

I actually have a whole list of restaurants in my phone that I go to according to my mood. I live in Harlem, but I eat all over the city.

Did you see Dreamgirls the movie?

I did. I was actually at the New York premier of the movie so I was in the room with Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson and all those folks. That was a terrific night and a really interesting parallel. I actually got to talk to Jennifer Hudson a little bit because at the time, oddly enough, she remembered me from a couple of MySpace messages I'd sent her. She's really a sweet person, just how sweet she really is, is really rare for a celebrity of her caliber.

 Why did you MySpace her?

We have a few mutual friends from Chicago but I didn't even think I would really hear back from her, but she replied. This was back in 2006, and when I talked to her at the opening night party for the movie, she remembered who I was and everything.

 She should come see the show!

I think she will. She expressed to Syesha [Mercado. Both were American Idol contestants] when they met up that she wanted to see the show.

I know you don't really have a lot of time, but what do you want to see on Broadway?

I want to see Dreamgirls on Broadway.

 Dreamgirls plays at the Apollo Theater through Dec. 12th and then will tour nationwide through 2010. Photos of Chester Gregory II as James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls.