Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical is a musical with book by Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, and Des McAnuff and music and lyrics Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Paul Jabara, and others, based on the life of Summer.

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
2018 Broadway Playbill
MusicDonna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Paul Jabara, and others
LyricsDonna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Paul Jabara, and others
BookColman Domingo, Robert Cary, and Des McAnuff
BasisThe life of Donna Summer
PremiereNovember 7, 2017: La Jolla Playhouse
Productions2017 San Diego
2018 Broadway
2020 São Paulo

The musical made its premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in November 2017 and opened on Broadway in April 2018.

Productions

The La Jolla Playhouse presented the musical in a limited engagement from November 7 until December 24, 2017.

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on March 28, 2018 (previews), prior to an April 23, 2018 opening.[1] The musical is directed by Des McAnuff, with scenic design by Robert Brill, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, projections by Sean Nieuwenhuis, sound by Gareth Owen, and was produced by Tommy Mottola and Thalía.[2][3]

The musical closed on Broadway on December 30, 2018 after 289 performances.

A tour in North America started September 29, 2019.[4] The tour started at the RBTL Auditorium in Rochester, New York. The cast will feature Dan’yelle Williamson (Diva Donna), Alex Hairston (Disco Donna), and Olivia Elease Hardy (Duckling Donna).[5]

Broadway Licensing acquired the rights for all future stock and amateur performances.[6]

Overview

The musical shows Donna Summer at three times of her life. Duckling Donna is in her pre-teens, starting out in Boston; Disco Donna, in her late teens and 20s, has her initial success; Diva Donna is in her 50s and at the top of her career.

Musical numbers

Original Broadway production

Cast
Character La Jolla (2017) Broadway (2018) US Tour (2019)
Diva Donna/Mary Gaines LaChanze Dan'yelle Williamson
Disco Donna Ariana DeBose Alex Hairston
Duckling Donna/Mimi Sudano Storm Lever Olivia Elease Hardy
Giorgio Moroder Mackenzie Bell Kyli Rae
Young Dara/Amanda Sudano Kimberly Dodson Cameron Anika Hill
Adult Mary Ellen Anissa Felix DeQuina Moore
Brian/Detective Drew Foster Jay Garcia[lower-alpha 1]
Ami/DJ Ari Groover
Maid/Michael[lower-alpha 2] Afra Hines Candace J. Washington/Brittany Nicole Williams
Neil Bogart/Gunther Aaron Krohn John Gardiner
Pastor/Norm Brokaw[lower-alpha 3] Jenny Laroche Sir Brock Warren/Tamrin Goldberg
Mary Ellen/Brooklyn Sudano Wonu Ogunfowora De'Ja Simone
Bob/Helmuth Rebecca Riker
Adult Dara Christina Acosta Robinson Crystal Sha'nae
Andrew Gaines Ken Robinson Erick Pinnick
Joyce Bogart Jessica Rush Trish Lindström
Pete Bellotte Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer Byrne
Bruce Sudano Jared Zirilli Steven Grant Douglas

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production
Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2018 Drama League Awards[7] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Nominated
Distinguished Performance Ariana DeBose Nominated
LaChanze Nominated
Tony Awards[8]
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical LaChanze Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Ariana DeBose Nominated

Notes
  1. Also played Helmuth
  2. Role split in national tour
  3. Role split for national tour

References
  1. Chow, Andrew (December 19, 2017). "A Donna Summer Musical Heads to Broadway". New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  2. Hetrick, Adam. "Read Reviews for 'Summer: The Donna Summer' Musical on Broadway" Playbill, April 23, 2018
  3. Thalía produce musical de Donna Summer
  4. Hetrick, Adam. " 'Summer: The Donna Summer Musical' to Close on Broadway" Playbill, November 28, 2018
  5. Gans, Andrew. "Dan’yelle Williamson, Alex Hairston, and Olivia Elease Hardy Will Star in Tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical"., Playbill, August 21, 2019
  6. "Broadway Licensing". Broadway Licensing.
  7. "Breaking: THE BAND'S VISIT, ANGELS IN AMERICA, MEAN GIRLS, FROZEN, And More Earn Drama League Nominations; See The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  8. "2018 Tony Award Nominations: SpongeBob SquarePants and Mean Girls Lead the Pack". Playbill. May 1, 2018.
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