Amber Riley to Play Effie in New Production of Dreamgirls

Glee star Amber Riley has been announced to star as Effie in an upcoming West End production of Dreamgirls. Originally played by Jennifer Holliday in 1981, and then by Jennifer Hudson in the 2006 Oscar-winning movie adaptation, Riley has some big shoes to fill.

In a statement, Riley said: "I am so honored and excited to not only be playing such an iconic role, but also to be working with Sonia Friedman and Casey Nicholaw. Working on the West End is now a dream realized, I just feel like this is going to be something special."

Amber Riley is no stranger to Effie's breathtaking number "And I Am Telling You." Watch her perform the song during her younger years on Glee.

The new staging of Dreamgirls will be directed by Casey Nicholaw, director of Book of Mormon, and bought over to the UK by Sonia Friedman productions. The play is set to begin previews at the Savoy Theatre in November.