Get ready New York, the dream ladies are back in the spotlight. NY1’s Frank DiLella filed the following report.

The fictional Dreams, Effie, Deena, and Lorell, are back on the New York theater scene. But this time the girls are not doing Broadway, they're kicking off the new production and national tour of “Dreamgirls” at the legendary Apollo Theatre.

Originally conceived and directed on Broadway by Michael Bennett in 1981, this backstage tale tells the story of the Dreams, and their rise to stardom. Under the direction of Robert Longbottom, the 2009 revival began its journey to New York City from more than halfway around the world.

“We really had our out-of-town trial in Seoul, Korea of all places, and the facility we were in just couldn't have been better,” Longbottom said. “A true Broadway theater and our whole crew came over from America. It gave us an opportunity to develop this new scenic concept for the show and the technology that goes with it, and it was a huge benefit to do that on the other side of the world and make it work and perfect it before we came to New York.”

“We did it over there in a partnership and it probably was the most extravagant and costly show ever done in Seoul, but for me the advantage was huge,” explained “Dreamgirls” producer John Breglio. “Now I had an entire production that I could look at from a physical point of view with all the American creative crew with a Korean cast, and I could see exactly what I could do here with a huge cost savings.”

Moya Angela, Syesha Mercado and Adrienne Warren star as The Dreams.

Angela plays the role of Effie White, a role made famous onstage by Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday and on screen by Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson. Mercado plays Deena Jones, a role originated by Sheryl Lee Ralph and most recently reprised by Beyonce.

“It's inspiring to see what they brought and to see what I'm bringing, and to see their version of this role and to see mine,” Angela said. “It's very inspiring. I try not to think too much about it because it can stretch you out a little bit, but I just do the best I can and I just smile every time I think of what they did with this role and what I'm doing with it. It's an amazing role to play.”

“I definitely pay homage to everyone who's played the role before me. I think they did a spectacular job,” said Mercado. “My goal is just to focus on the way I'm going to interpret it and the way I see Deena Jones, and there's so many similarities that we share. So I think that the best thing is just to be in the moment, live in the moment and just become that character when the lights hit you.”

The show will be headlining at the Apollo through the beginning of December.