Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

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.

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
2018 Broadway Playbill
MusicVarious
LyricsVarious
Book
BasisThe life of Donna Summer
PremiereNovember 7, 2017: La Jolla Playhouse
Productions2017 San Diego
2018 Broadway

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 Pittsburg, PA. The cast featured Brittny Smith (Diva Donna), Charis Gullage (Disco Donna), and Amahri Edward-Jones (Duckling Donna).

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

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)
Diva Donna / Mary Gaines LaChanze Dan'yelle Williamson Brittny Smith
Disco Donna Ariana DeBose Alex Hairston Charis Gullage
Duckling Donna / Mimi Storm Lever Olivia Elease Hardy Amahri Edwards-Jones
Giorgio Moroder Mackenzie Bell Kaleigh Cronin Kyli Rae Robert Ayla/Kyle Southern
Young Dara / Amanda Kimberly Dodson Cameron Anika Hill Ciara Jones
Adult Mary Ellen Anissa Felix DeQuina Moore Mia Davidson
Brian Drew Foster Jay Garcia[lower-alpha 1] David Tanciar
Maid / Michael[lower-alpha 2] Afra Hines Brittany Nicole Williams/Candace J. Washington Diane Meck Lester/Sy Chounchaisit/Mind Pornsakulpaisal
Neil Bogart Aaron Krohn John Gardiner Chris Lewis
Norm Brokaw[lower-alpha 3] Jenny Laroche Tamrin Goldberg Francisco Risso
Mary Ellen / Brooklyn Wonu Ogunfowora De'Ja Simone Meridien Terrell/Candace Jones
Bob Rebecca Riker Brooke Lacy Francisco Risso
Adult Dara Christina Acosta Robinson Crystal Sha'nae Layla-Brent Tompkins/Ariel Etana Triunfo
Andrew Gaines Ken Robinson Erick Pinnick Porter Lee Anderson
Joyce Bogart Jessica Rush Trish Lindström Aubrey Young
Pete Bellotte Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer Byrne Emiliee Theno/Sara Shomgard
Bruce Sudano Jared Zirilli Steven Grant Douglas John Guragna
Pastor / Doctor Jenny Laroche Harris M. Turner Sir Brock Warren Lamont Whitaker
Helmuth Sommer Drew Foster Drew Foster Jay Garcia Francisco Risso
Don Engel Kaye Tuckerman Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer Byrne David Tanciar
David Geffen Mackenzie Bell Mackenzie Bell Brooke Lacy Robert Ayla/Kyle Southern
Detective Drew Foster Mackenzie Bell Brooke Lacy Emiliee Theno/Sara Shomgard
Swings Drew Foster, Aurelia Michael, Jody Reynard, Kim Steele Drew Foster, Aurelia Michael, Jody Reynard, Kim Steele Jo'nathan Michael, Jennifer Wolfe, Mara Lucas Stephen Vaught, Kayleigh Hegarty, Nissi Shalome

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 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". 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. "Summer". Broadway Licensing.
  7. 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.
  8. "2018 Tony Award Nominations: SpongeBob SquarePants and Mean Girls Lead the Pack". Playbill. May 1, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
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