I grew up listening to the music of Motown, and I still love old music. I listened to bands like The Supremes, The Vandellas, and the Marvelettes from my basement in suburban Detroit.

"Dreamgirls" celebrates the music I grew up with. The story follows the fictional girl group The Dreams, from backup singers to successful solo act through intra-team conflicts. In Friday night's performance at the Studebaker Theatre, a sold-out audience enjoyed nearly three hours of drama and music.

My program did not list the cast, so I will refer to the actors by their character names. Each actor brought emotion and depth to their character. The original Dreams trio of Effie, Deena, and Lorrell were great! Manager Curtis Taylor showed driving ambition, and James "Thunder" Early was charming with a touch of pathos.

Significantly, the singing was powerful. Effie's voice especially resonated with her fantastic range.

We heard rock, soul, R&B, and disco, and each genre pleased.

The audience was more engaged than most, singing along and interacting verbally with the actors. Much of this was encouraged by the players, who spoke directly to the crowd, requesting applause or asking them questions.

"Dream Girls" explores success and friendship. But mostly, it celebrates music.