''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 LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...

Giorgio Moroder Giovanni Giorgio Moroder (, ; born 26 April 1940) is an Italian composer, songwriter, and record producer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Disco", Moroder is credited with pioneering euro disco and electronic dance mu ...

, 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 (previews), 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 Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948) is an American music executive, producer and author. Mottola is currently the Chairman of Mottola Media Group and was previously the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columb ...

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 (Diva Donna), Alex Hairston (Disco Donna), and Olivia Elease Hardy (Duckling Donna). 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 Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), also known in short as Norwegian, is an American cruise line founded in 1966, incorporated in Bermuda and headquartered in Miami. It is the fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6 ...

announced its at-sea tour of the musical aboard the all new

Norwegian Prima ''Norwegian Prima'' is a Prima-class cruise ship Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various port ...

, which premiered in August. The cast features Kimberley Locke (Diva Donna), Valerie Curlingford (Disco Donna), and D'Nasya Jordan (Duckling Donna). 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 ''I Remember Yesterday'' is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer. It was released on May 13, 1977, seven months after the release of her previous album. Like her previous three albums, it was a concept album, this t ...

– Duckling Donna and Sisters *

On My Honor ''On My Honor'' is a novel by Marion Dane Bauer, first published in 1986. The book is frequently read in the United States as part of the elementary school curriculum. Plot Tony first wanted to go to the Starved Rock Cliff to climb but Joel dis ...

– Duckling Donna * Faster and Faster to Nowhere – Disco Donna and Ensemble * Munich: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / White Boys / Love to Love You Babe (Reprise) – 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 (Enough Is Enough) – Diva Donna, Disco Donna and Duckling Donna * Pandora's Box – Duckling Donna, Diva Donna and Ensemble *

On the Radio On the Radio may refer to: * "On the Radio" (The Concretes song), 2006 * "On the Radio" (Donna Summer song), 1979 *'' On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II'', a 1979 album by Donna Summer * "On the Radio" (Groove Coverage song), 2006 * "On the ...

– Disco Donna and Diva Donna *

I Love You I Love You, I Love U, or I Luv U may refer to: Film and television Films * ''I Love You'' (1918 film), a silent drama written by Catherine Carr * ''I Love You'' (1925 film), a German silent drama film * ''I Love You'' (1938 film) a German ...

– Bruce Sudano, Disco Donna and Mimi Sudano * Bad Girls – Disco Donna and Female Ensemble *

She Works Hard for the Money "She Works Hard for the Money" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her album '' She Works Hard for the Money'' (1983). The song was written by Michael Omartian and Summer, and produced by the former. It was released as the lead singl ...

– Full Company *

Dim All the Lights "Dim All the Lights" is a song by American recording artist Donna Summer released as the third single from her 1979 album ''Bad Girls (Donna Summer album), Bad Girls''. It debuted at number 70 on August 25, 1979, and peaked that year at number two ...

– 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 "Stamp Your Feet" is a song by American singer Donna Summer. It was released on April 15, 2008 by Sony Burgundy as the second single from her 2008 album ''Crayons''. The song was written by Summer, Danielle Brisebois, and Greg Kurstin, who also p ...

– 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

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Notes

References

{{reflist

External links

Internet Broadway Database Listing
2017 musicals African-American musicals Broadway musicals Biographical musicals Cultural depictions of American women Cultural depictions of pop musicians Donna Summer Jukebox musicals Musicals set in the 20th century