As part of the Citi Concert Series, the company of the new Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical performed one of the disco queen’s hits on The Today Show on April 16.
Producer Tommy Mottola (A Bronx Tale The Musical) introduced the performance, saying that he’s wanted to bring this story to Broadway for a long time. The production, currently in previews, officially opens April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Actors LaChanze (The Color Purple), Ariana DeBose (A Bronx Tale), and Storm Lever all play the titular singer at three different points in her life, one filled with success and tragedy.
The trio also sang the famous “She Works Hard for the Money.”
Written by Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, and Des McAnuff and directed by McAnuff, the show features over 20 of the diva’s hits. The cast also features Aaron Krohn (Cabaret) as Neil, Ken Robinson (The Color Purple) as Andrew Gaines, Jared Zirilli (Lysistrata Jones) as Bruce Sudano, and ensemblists 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), and Harris M. Turner.
Summer will have choreography by Sergio Trujillo, music supervision by Ron Melrose, scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Gareth Owen, and projections by Sean Nieuwenhuis.