Watch Ariana DeBose, Storm Lever, and More on Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

On April 23, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical officially opened at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and it seems only fitting that the woman who wrote “Last Dance” is the subject of the last musical of the 2017–2018 season.

Written by Des McAnuff, Robert Cary, and Colman Domingo and directed by McAnuff, the original musical captures the story of the Queen of Disco set to her catalog of hit songs. Through the eyes of three Donnas—Diva played by Tony winner LaChanze, Disco played by Ariana DeBose, and Duckling played by Storm Lever—audiences learn about the five-time Grammy winner’s Boston roots, her time in Germany as part of the company of Hair, and her catapult to stardom.

On the red carpet, Playbill learned all about integrating Tony-nominated choreographer Sergio Trujillo’s movement, the crazy-impressive number of costume changes these ensemblists complete (upwards of 20), and the Donna Summer song they’ll never hear the same way again. Watch the full live stream to hear from DeBose, Lever, McAnuff, Trujillo, as well as Aaron Krohn, Ken Robinson, Jared Zirilli, and the company of Summer share secrets behind the disco hits.

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

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_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

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