Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which opened April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, ends its Broadway run December 30, after 27 previews and 289 performances. A North American tour will launch September 30, 2019, playing cities across the United States and Canada.
Directed by Des McAnuff, the musical stars Tony Award winner LaChanze (The Color Purple), Ariana DeBose (Hamilton), and newcomer Storm Lever, who portray Summer at three distinct points in her life and career. LaChanze and DeBose were Tony-nominated for their performances.
Summer includes more than 20 of Summer's well-known hits (including “Love to Love You, Baby,” “Hot Stuff,” and “MacArthur Park”) with a book penned by McAnuff, Colman Domingo, and Robert Cary.
The production arrived on Broadway March 28 after a developmental world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in late 2017. Tommy Mottola and the Dodgers produced Summer on Broadway.
LaChanze, Ariana DeBose, and Storm Lever in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Principal cast members also include Aaron Krohn (Cabaret) as Neil, Ken Robinson (The Color Purple) as Andrew Gaines, and Jared Zirilli (Lysistrata Jones) as Bruce Sudano.
The Summer ensemble includes Angelica Beliard (On Your Feet!), Mackenzie Bell (Sunset Boulevard), Kaleigh Cronin (A Bronx Tale), Kimberly Dodson (Duress ), Anissa Felix (Sunset Boulevard), Drew Wildman Foster (Sunset Boulevard), Afra Hines (Shuffle Along), Jenny Laroche (Smash), Wonu Ogunfowora (A Bronx Tale), Rebecca Riker (An American in Paris), Christina Acosta Robinson (Dexter), Jessica Rush (Jersey Boys), Kaye Tuckerman, Harris M. Turner, Aurelia Michael (Legally Blonde), Jody Reynard (Chicago), and Kristin Yancy.
Summer has music supervision by Ron Melrose, scenic design by Robert Brill, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Gareth Owen, and projections by Sean Nieuwenhuis.
