Inside the Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | Playbill

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Stage to Page Inside the Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical LaChanze, Ariana DeBose, and Storm Lever star in the new biomusical, which opened April 23.

By Hannah Vine

April 24, 2018

The life of late disco icon Donna Summer comes to Broadway in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which officially opened April 23 after beginning previews March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Summer 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.

Flip through photos of the opening night below:

Inside the Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway

Opening_Night_Summer_HR — Inside the Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway

LaChanze, Ariana DeBose, and Storm Lever star in the new musical which opened April 23.
85 PHOTOS

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Omar Isa Wiseman_Vanessa Williams_HR — Omar Isa Wiseman and Vanessa Williams

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Vanessa Williams_HR — Vanessa Williams

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Ari Gold_HR — Ari Gold

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Gizelle Bryant_HR — Gizelle Bryant

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Rosanna Scotto_HR — Rosanna Scotto

Next Slide

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Rosie O’Donnell_HR — Rosie O’Donnell

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Paul McGill_HR — Paul McGill

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Sunny Hostin_HR — Sunny Hostin

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Nathan Lee Graham_HR — Nathan Lee Graham

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Ana Villafañe_HR — Ana Villafañe

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Thalía_HR. — Thalía

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Kate Rockwell_HR — Kate Rockwell

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Spencer Howard_Kate Rockwell_HR — Spencer Howard and Kate Rockwell

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Luann de Lesseps_HR — Luann de Lesseps

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Saycon Sengbloh_HR — Saycon Sengbloh

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Gayle King_HR — Gayle King

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Danielle Brooks_HR — Danielle Brooks

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Wayne Brady_HR — Wayne Brady

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Jimmy Fallon_Wayne Brady_HR — Jimmy Fallon and Wayne Brady

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Jimmy Fallon_Wayne Brady_HR — Jimmy Fallon and Wayne Brady

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Jimmy Fallon_HR — Jimmy Fallon

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Naomi Campbell_HR — Naomi Campbell

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Darius de Haas_HR.jpg — Darius de Haas

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Brian Edwards_HR — Brian Edwards

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Eric Anthony Lopez_HR — Eric Anthony Lopez

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Leslie Uggams_HR — Leslie Uggams

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Katie Sands_HR — Katie Sands

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Shelley Rome_HR — Shelley Rome

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Jessica Phillips_HR — Jessica Phillips

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Tad Wilson_Jessica Phillips_HR — Tad Wilson and Jessica Phillips

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Eric Anderson_HR — Eric Anderson

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Mike Woods_HR — Mike Woods

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Ciara Renée_HR — Ciara Renée

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Chazz Palminteri_family_HR — Chazz Palminteri and family

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Dorinda Medley_HR — Dorinda Medley

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Tommy Hilfiger_Dee Ocleppo_HR — Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Christopher Wheeldon_Kelly Devine_HR — Christopher Wheeldon and Kelly Devine

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Corey Brunish_Jessica Rose_HR — Corey Brunish and Jessica Rose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Susan Sabel_David Knight_Peter Piliero_Theresa Piliero_HR — Susan Sabel, David Knight, Peter Piliero, and Theresa Piliero

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Thalía_Tommy Mottola_Bruce Sudano_HR — Thalía, Tommy Mottola, and Bruce Sudano

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Bruce Sudano_HR — Bruce Sudano

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Ron Melrose_HR — Alexandra Melrose and Ron Melrose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Jack Noseworthy_Sergio Trujillo_HR — Jack Noseworthy and Sergio Trujillo

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_2018_Bryna McCann_Des McAnuff_HR — Bryna McCann and Des McAnuff

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Des McAnuff_Sergio Trujillo_HR — Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_LaChanze_Storm Lever_HR — Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, Storm Lever, and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_LaChanze_HR — LaChanze

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_LaChanze_HR — LaChanze and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Storm Lever_HR — Storm Lever

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR — Ariana DeBose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_LaChanze_Storm Lever_HR — Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, Storm Lever, and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_LaChanze_HR — Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, and cast

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR — Ariana DeBose and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Storm Lever_HR — Storm Lever and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ken Robinson_Jared Zirilli_Aaron Krohn_HR.jpg — Ken Robinson, Jared Zirilli, and Aaron Krohn

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Cast_HR — Cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Cast_HR — Cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_LaChanze_Storm Lever_HR — Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, and Storm Lever

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Storm Lever_HR — Storm Lever

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR — Ariana DeBose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_LaChanze_HR — LaChanze

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_Ariana DeBose_LaChanze_Cast_HR — Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_LaChanze_Storm Lever_HR — LaChanze, Storm Lever, and cast

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Curtain_2018_44_HR.jpg — Portrait of Donna Summer

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Ariana DeBose_Storm Lever_LaChanze_HR — Ariana DeBose, Storm Lever, and LaChanze

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_LaChanze_HR. — LaChanze

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Celia Rose Gooding_LaChanze_Zaya LaChanze Gooding_HR — Celia Rose Gooding, LaChanze, and Zaya LaChanze Gooding

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_LaChanze_Vanessa Williams_HR — LaChanze and Vanessa Williams

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Nathan Lee Graham_LaChanze_Leslie Uggams_HR — Nathan Lee Graham, LaChanze, and Leslie Uggams

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR — Ariana DeBose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR — Ariana DeBose

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Ariana DeBose_Bruce Sudano_HR — Ariana DeBose and Bruce Sudano

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Storm Lever_HR — Storm Lever

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Aaron Krohn_HR — Aaron Krohn

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Christine Acosta Robinson_Ken Robinson_daughter_HR — Christine Acosta Robinson, Ken Robinson, and their daughter

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Jared Zirilli_HR — Jared Zirilli

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Kaleigh Cronin_HR — Kaleigh Cronin

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Kimberly Dodson_HR — Kimberly Dodson

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Anissa Felix_HR — Anissa Felix

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Kendal Hartse_HR. — Kendal Hartse

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Afra Hines_HR — Afra Hines

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Rebecca Riker_HR — Rebecca Riker

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Jessica Rush_HR — Jessica Rush

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Jody Reynard_HR — Jody Reynard

Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Opening_Night_Party_2018_Harris M. Turner_HR — Harris M. Turner

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Directed by Des McAnuff, the musical 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 arrives on Broadway after a developmental world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in late 2017. Tommy Mottola and the Dodgers produce Summer on Broadway.

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