# 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 (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 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 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).
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.

## 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 | LaChanze | Dan'yelle Williamson | Brittny Smith | Kimberley Locke |
| Disco Donna | Ariana DeBose | Ariana DeBose | Alex Hairston | Charis Gullage | Valerie Curlingford |
| Duckling Donna / Mimi Sommer | Storm Lever | Storm Lever | Olivia Elease Hardy | Amahri Edwards-Jones | D'Nasya Jordan |
| Giorgio Moroder | Mackenzie Bell | Kaleigh Cronin | Kyli Rae | Robert Ayla | Brooke Lacy |
| Young Dara Gaines / Amanda Sudano | Kimberly Dodson | Kimberly Dodson | Cameron Anika Hill | Ciara Jones | Ta'kaiyah Bailey |
| Adult Mary Ellen Bernard | Anissa Felix | Anissa Felix | DeQuina Moore | Mia Davidson | Candace Washington |
| Brian | Drew Foster | Drew Foster | Jay Garcia | David Tanciar | Jonny Rouse |
| Maid / Michael | Afra Hines | Afra Hines | Brittany Nicole Williams/Candace J. Washington | Diane Meck Lester | Eloise Simpson |
| Neil Bogart | Aaron Krohn | Aaron Krohn | John Gardiner | Chris Lewis | Dan Evans |
| Norm Brokaw | Jenny Laroche | Jenny Laroche | Tamrin Goldberg | Francisco Risso | Tym Brown |
| Mary Ellen Gaines / Brooklyn Sudano | Wonu Ogunfowora | Wonu Ogunfowora | De'Ja Simone | Meridien Terrell | Isabella Mason |
| Bob | Rebecca Riker | Rebecca Riker | Brooke Lacy | Francisco Risso | N/A |
| Adult Dara Gaines | Christina Acosta Robinson | Christina Acosta Robinson | Crystal Sha'nae | Layla Tompkins | Eve Parsons |
| Andrew Gaines | Ken Robinson | Ken Robinson | Erick Pinnick | Porter Lee Anderson | Tym Brown |
| Joyce Bogart | Jessica Rush | Jessica Rush | Trish Lindström | Aubrey Young | Reagan Muir |
| Pete Bellotte | Kaye Tuckerman | Kaye Tuckerman | Jennifer Byrne | Emiliee Theno | Molly Scott |
| Bruce Sudano | Jared Zirilli | 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 | Drew Foster | Jay Garcia | Francisco Risso | Jonny Rouse |
| Don Engel | Kaye Tuckerman | Kaye Tuckerman | Jennifer Byrne | David Tanciar | Oliver Selwood |
| David Geffen | Mackenzie Bell | Mackenzie Bell | Brooke Lacy | Robert Ayla | James Vinson |
| Detective | Drew Foster | Mackenzie Bell | Brooke Lacy | Emiliee Theno | James Vinson |
| 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 | Nichole Ford, Michael Marrero |

## Awards and nominations
### Original Broadway production

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