Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

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Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Donna Summer Musical Playbill.jpg
2018 Broadway Playbill
MusicVarious
LyricsVarious
Book
BasisThe life of Donna Summer
PremiereNovember 7, 2017: La Jolla Playhouse
Productions2017 La Jolla Playhouse
2018 Broadway
2019 First National Tour
2021 Second National Tour
2022 NCL 1.0

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical is a jukebox 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.

Contents

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.

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

The Second National Tour opened November 15, 2021. Launching at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The cast featured Brittny Smith (Diva Donna), Charis Gullage (Disco Donna), and Amahri Edward-Jones (Duckling Donna).

In July 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line announced its at-sea tour of the musical aboard the all new Norwegian Prima, which premiered in August. The cast features Kimberley Locke (Diva Donna), Valerie Curlingford (Disco Donna), and D'Nasya Jordan (Duckling Donna). [6]

Broadway Licensing acquired the rights for all future stock and amateur performances. [7]

Overview

The musical highlights Donna Summer at three stages 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

Cast

Character La Jolla (2017) Broadway (2018)First National Tour (2019-2020)Second National Tour (2021-2022)NCL 1.0 (2022-2023)
Diva Donna / Mary Gaines LaChanze Dan'yelle WilliamsonBrittny Smith Kimberley Locke
Disco Donna Ariana DeBose Alex HairstonCharis GullageValerie Curlingford
Duckling Donna / Mimi SommerStorm LeverOlivia Elease HardyAmahri Edwards-JonesD'Nasya Jordan
Giorgio Moroder Mackenzie Bell Kaleigh Cronin Kyli RaeRobert AylaBrooke Lacy
Young Dara Gaines / Amanda Sudano Kimberly DodsonCameron Anika HillCiara JonesTa'kaiyah Bailey
Adult Mary Ellen Bernard Anissa Felix DeQuina Moore Mia DavidsonCandace Washington
BrianDrew FosterJay Garcia [a] David TanciarJonny Rouse
Maid / Michael [b] Afra HinesBrittany Nicole Williams/Candace J. WashingtonDiane Meck LesterEloise Simpson
Neil Bogart Aaron KrohnJohn GardinerChris LewisDan Evans
Norm Brokaw [c] Jenny Laroche Tamrin GoldbergFrancisco RissoTym Brown
Mary Ellen Gaines / Brooklyn Sudano Wonu OgunfoworaDe'Ja SimoneMeridien TerrellIsabella Mason
BobRebecca RikerBrooke LacyFrancisco RissoN/A
Adult Dara GainesChristina Acosta RobinsonCrystal Sha'naeLayla TompkinsEve Parsons
Andrew GainesKen RobinsonErick PinnickPorter Lee AndersonTym Brown
Joyce Bogart Jessica Rush Trish LindströmAubrey YoungReagan Muir
Pete Bellotte Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer ByrneEmiliee ThenoMolly Scott
Bruce Sudano Jared ZirilliSteven Grant DouglasJohn GuragnaTyler Burk
Pastor / DoctorJenny LarocheHarris M. TurnerSir Brock WarrenLamont WhitakerAnthony Garcia
Helmuth SommerDrew FosterJay GarciaFrancisco RissoJonny Rouse
Don Engel Kaye TuckermanJennifer ByrneDavid TanciarOliver Selwood
David Geffen Mackenzie BellBrooke LacyRobert AylaJames Vinson
DetectiveDrew FosterMackenzie BellBrooke LacyEmiliee ThenoJames Vinson
SwingsDrew Foster, Aurelia Michael, Jody Reynard, Kim SteeleJo'nathan Michael, Jennifer Wolfe, Mara LucasStephen Vaught, Kayleigh Hegarty, Nissi ShalomeNichole Ford, Michael Marrero

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2018 Drama League Awards [8] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway MusicalNominated
Distinguished Performance Ariana DeBose Nominated
LaChanze Nominated
Tony Awards [9] Best Actress in a Musical Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Ariana DeBoseNominated

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". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  2. Hetrick, Adam (April 23, 2018). "Read Reviews for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway". Playbill.
  3. "Thalía produce musical de Donna Summer". hoyestado.com (in Spanish). April 24, 2018.
  4. Hetrick, Adam (November 28, 2018). "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical to Close on Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
  5. Gans, Andrew (September 29, 2019). "Dan'yelle Williamson, Alex Hairston, and Olivia Elease Hardy Star in Tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical". Playbill. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  6. Rabinowitz, Chloe (July 25, 2022). "AMERICAN IDOL's Kimberley Locke to Star in SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL for Norwegian Cruise Line". BroadwayWorld.com.
  7. "Summer". Broadway Licensing.
  8. Rosky, Nicole (April 18, 2018). "Breaking: THE BAND'S VISIT, ANGELS IN AMERICA, MEAN GIRLS, FROZEN, And More Earn Drama League Nominations; See The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  9. "2018 Tony Award Nominations: SpongeBob SquarePants and Mean Girls Lead the Pack". Playbill. May 1, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2022.