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 La Jolla Playhouse
2018 Broadway
2019 First National Tour
2021 Second National Tour
2022 NCL 1.0

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

Productions

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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

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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

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Cast

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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 Williamson Brittny Smith Kimberley Locke
Disco Donna Ariana DeBose Alex Hairston Charis Gullage Valerie Curlingford
Duckling Donna / Mimi Storm Lever Olivia Elease Hardy Amahri Edwards-Jones D'Nasya Jordan
Giorgio Moroder Mackenzie Bell Kaleigh Cronin Kyli Rae Robert Ayla/Kyle Southern Brooke Lacy
Young Dara / Amanda Kimberly Dodson Cameron Anika Hill Ciara Jones Ta'kaiyah Bailey
Adult Mary Ellen Anissa Felix DeQuina Moore Mia Davidson Candace Washington
Brian Drew Foster Jay Garcia[a] David Tanciar Jonny Rouse
Maid / Michael[b] Afra Hines Brittany Nicole Williams/Candace J. Washington Diane Meck Lester/Sy Chounchaisit/Mind Pornsakulpaisal Eloise Simpson
Neil Bogart Aaron Krohn John Gardiner Chris Lewis Dan Evans
Norm Brokaw[c] Jenny Laroche Tamrin Goldberg Francisco Risso Tym Brown
Mary Ellen / Brooklyn Wonu Ogunfowora De'Ja Simone Meridien Terrell/Candace Jones Isabella Mason
Bob Rebecca Riker Brooke Lacy Francisco Risso N/A
Adult Dara Christina Acosta Robinson Crystal Sha'nae Layla Tompkins/Ariel Etana Triunfo Eve Parsons
Andrew Gaines Ken Robinson Erick Pinnick Porter Lee Anderson Tym Brown
Joyce Bogart Jessica Rush Trish Lindström Aubrey Young Reagan Muir
Pete Bellotte Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer Byrne Emiliee Theno/Sara Shomgard Molly Scott
Bruce Sudano Jared Zirilli Steven Grant Douglas John Guragna Tyler Burk
Pastor / Doctor Jenny Laroche Harris M. Turner Sir Brock Warren Lamont Whitaker Anthony Garcia
Helmuth Sommer Drew Foster Jay Garcia Francisco Risso Jonny Rouse
Don Engel Kaye Tuckerman Jennifer Byrne David Tanciar Oliver Selwood
David Geffen Mackenzie Bell Brooke Lacy Robert Ayla/Kyle Southern James Vinson
Detective Drew Foster Mackenzie Bell Brooke Lacy Emiliee Theno/Sara Shomgard James Vinson
Swings Drew Foster, Aurelia Michael, Jody Reynard, Kim Steele Jo'nathan Michael, Jennifer Wolfe, Mara Lucas Stephen Vaught, Kayleigh Hegarty, Nissi Shalome Nichole Ford, Michael Marrero

Awards and nominations

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Original Broadway production

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Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2018 Drama League Awards[8] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Nominated
Distinguished Performance Ariana DeBose Nominated
LaChanze Nominated
Tony Awards[9] Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Ariana DeBose Nominated

Notes

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

References

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  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.
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