Eric LaJuan Summers, whose moves in Broadway’s Motown led to a 2013 Astaire Award, died April 9 following an ongoing battle with cancer. He was 36.
Mr. Summers was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017; he was in the ensemble of Kinky Boots at the time, having also understudied the role of Lola. That summer, his co-stars and Tony winner Billy Porter—the musical’s original Lola—came together for a benefit concert to help fund his treatments.
After making his Broadway debut as a replacement in Aida, Mr. Summers went on to appear in The Wedding Singer, The Little Mermaid, Elf, and the aforementioned Motown the Musical, earning an Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show. His additional credits included regional productions of Dreamgirls, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Hairspray, and Smokey Joe’s Café.
Mr. Summers is survived by his mother, Alfreda Summers.
