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.
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, prior to an April 23, 2018 opening. 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. The musical closed on Broadway on December 30, 2018, after 289 performances.
The First National tour opened September 29, 2019. The tour started at the RBTL Auditorium in Rochester, New York. The cast featured Dan’yelle Williamson, Alex Hairston, and Olivia Elease Hardy.
The Second National Tour opened November 15, 2021. Launching at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The cast featured Brittny Smith, Charis Gullage, and Amahri Edward-Jones.
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, Valerie Curlingford, and D'Nasya Jordan.
Broadway Licensing acquired the rights for all future stock and amateur performances.
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
- The Queen Is Back – Diva Donna and Ensemble
- I Feel Love – Diva Donna and Ensemble
- Love to Love You Baby – Disco Donna and Female Ensemble
- I Remember Yesterday – Duckling Donna and Sisters
- On My Honor – Duckling Donna
- Faster and Faster to Nowhere – Disco Donna and Ensemble
- Munich: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / White Boys / Love to Love You Baby – Diva Donna, Disco Donna and Ensemble
- MacArthur Park – Diva Donna, Disco Donna, Duckling Donna and Ensemble
- Heaven Knows – Disco Donna and Bruce Sudano
- No More Tears – Diva Donna, Disco Donna and Duckling Donna
- Pandora's Box – Duckling Donna, Diva Donna and Ensemble
- On the Radio – Disco Donna and Diva Donna
- I Love You – Bruce Sudano, Disco Donna and Mimi Sudano
- Bad Girls – Disco Donna and Female Ensemble
- She Works Hard for the Money – Full Company
- Dim All the Lights – Disco Donna, Joyce Bogart and Ensemble
- I Believe in Jesus – Disco Donna and Ensemble
- Unconditional Love – Diva Donna, Mimi, Brooklyn and Amanda Sudano
- To Turn the Stone – Disco Donna and Diva Donna
- Stamp Your Feet – Diva Donna and Ensemble
- Friends Unknown – Diva Donna
- Hot Stuff – Disco Donna and Ensemble
- Last Dance – Diva Donna, Disco Donna, Duckling Donna and Full Company
Cast