Jennifer Holliday headlines intimate fundraiser show to benefit KC’s own Melinda Ryder

Courtesy Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer Holliday has spent the better part of four decades being introduced as the original Effie White from Dreamgirls. It’s a title she’s earned. After all, her earth-shaking performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” helped turn a Broadway musical into a cultural touchstone and made Holliday one of the most recognizable voices in theater history.

But when the Tony-and Grammy-award winner arrives in Kansas City this month, she isn’t coming to celebrate herself.

Courtesy Melinda Ryder

She’s coming for Melinda Ryder.

The Broadway legend will headline an intimate evening at Hamburger Mary’s on Tuesday, June 16 that coincides with the 45th anniversary of Dreamgirls, but Holliday is quick to redirect attention away from the milestone and toward the event’s true purpose: raising money for Ryder, the beloved Kansas City entertainer and drag icon facing significant medical challenges.

“This is a fundraiser,” Holliday says. “That’s the most important thing people need to understand.”

The friendship began unexpectedly when Holliday visited Kansas City for Pride. Through filmmaker John McRight, who is producing a documentary about Ryder’s life, Holliday found herself attending a birthday celebration at Ryder’s home. During the gathering, McRight screened portions of the documentary, giving Holliday a glimpse into the performer’s remarkable life and legacy.

Afterward, the two simply connected.

“We hit it off immediately,” Holliday says. “We just became friends.”

That friendship is the reason she’ll be boarding a plane to Kansas City this month.

Photo by Cat Harper

“We’re doing this because Melinda has been very sick and her medical bills have been very high,” she says.

For Holliday, the event offers an opportunity to support someone she genuinely admires while also reflecting on the show that changed her life.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Dreamgirls, the groundbreaking Broadway production that launched Holliday into superstardom when she was still a teenager. Looking back now, she sees the musical through a very different lens than she did as a young performer trying to survive eight shows a week.

“When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t really understand the impact you’re having,” she says. “You don’t think about history. You’re just trying to do the work.”

The impact, of course, became undeniable. Dreamgirls remains one of Broadway’s most celebrated productions, and generations of performers continue to study Holliday’s portrayal of Effie White. Yet even after decades of accolades, she still speaks about the role with humility rather than nostalgia.

In many ways, Holliday’s career has been defined by continual reinvention. After Dreamgirls, she built a successful recording career, toured internationally and returned to the stage in productions including Chicago and The Color Purple. She credits those later roles with helping her grow as an actress.

Photo by Michael Moorer

One of the most transformative experiences came during the 2016 revival of The Color Purple. By then, Holliday was no longer the youngest performer in the room.

The experience pushed her creatively and forced her to approach her craft from a new perspective. It also reminded her that growth doesn’t stop once you’ve reached legendary status.

At 65, Holliday remains busy with concerts and appearances around the country, though she’s selective about the projects she chooses. The Kansas City event stands out because it combines storytelling, music, and philanthropy.

Audience members expecting a traditional concert may be surprised.

“It’s really more of a conversation,” Holliday explains. “We’ll talk about Dreamgirls, my career and some of the things people may not know. Then I’ll sing some songs.”

The show allows fans to hear firsthand stories from one of Broadway’s most influential performers while supporting a Kansas City institution whose impact stretches far beyond the local drag community.

And that’s exactly how Holliday wants it. “I hope people understand why we’re doing this,” she says. “This evening is about helping Melinda.”

For a performer whose career has been built on commanding center stage, Holliday seems perfectly comfortable stepping out of the spotlight when a friend needs her.

Holliday may be the draw, but she’d be the first to tell you that Melinda Ryder is the reason for the evening. And, as Effie White might say, “And I Am Telling You” … don’t wait. Tickets for the June 16 show are moving quickly. Reserve your seat at A Night With Jennifer Holliday: A Benefit On Behalf of Melinda Ryder.