Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Request licence

Get the Script

Concord Theatricals

Request licence

Get the Script

Cast Size

6w, 3m plus ensemble
Duration

105 Minutes
Subgenre

Biography, Period
Target Audience

Adult

Accolades

Nominee: 2018 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or off-Broadway Musical

Details

Summary

She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed. Spend the night with Donna in her electrifying universe.

History

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California on 7 November 2017. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 28 March 2018. Directed by Des McAnuff, the production featured LaChanze, Ariana DeBose, Storm Lever and Kimberly Dodson.

Cast Attributes

Flexible Cast Size

Keywords

Performing Groups

DISCO DONNA – Female. Donna Summer in her late teens and 20s, riding the wave of her skyrocketing career from Boston to Germany, to the discotheques of Los Angeles and Manhattan. She is charismatic and strong as she navigates this world for the first time.
ADULT MARY ELLEN – Female. Much like her younger counterpart, she supports Donna when her sister needs her most.
NEIL BOGART/GUNTER – Male. A dual-cast role. As NEIL: The head of Casablanca Records and Donna’s mentor. Works hard and parties harder. Late 30s. As GUNTHER: Donna’s German boyfriend. Handsome and charming, but with a darker edge. 30s.
DIVA DONNA/MARY GAINES – Female. Donna Summer in her 50s at the pinnacle of her career. She is warm and wise. She has lived a life and is our emcee for the evening. Also plays MARY GAINES, Donna’s mother.
DUCKLING DONNA/MIMI SUDANO – Female. Donna Summer as a pre-teen, trying to find her voice amid a large Boston family. She has gumption and yet is also fragile. Also plays MIMI, Donna’s oldest daughter.
ADULT DARA – Female. Compassionate. Helps Donna during one of her darkest times.
ANDREW GAINES – Male. Donna’s father. Ex-military. Has stern exterior but loves his children more than anything. 40s.
JOYCE BOGART – Female. Neil Bogart’s business-savvy wife. One of Donna’s few friends in the industry.
BRUCE SUDANO – Male. Bass player for Brooklyn Dreams and Donna’s eventual husband. Steadfast, supportive, bright and witty. Late 30s/early 40s.

Ensemble
GIORGIO MORODER
DARA/AMANDA SUDANO
BRIAN/DETECTIVE
BOB/HELMUTH
MAID/MICHAEL
PASTOR/NORM BROKAW
MARY ELLEN/BROOKLYN SUDANO
PETE BELLOTTE

Time Period 1980s, 1970s, 1960s
Setting
Various locations across the globe in the 1970s and 1980s.
Features Period Costumes
Duration 105 Minutes

Media

“A lavish, crowd-pleasing musical.” – The San Diego Union-Tribune

“A celebration of women, not just one woman.” – New York Magazine

“Pure bliss! An ebullient era in music; it gives the trailblazing songstress her rightful place in pop culture.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Summer’s dance-o-licious high-energy hits are still as irresistible as ever! The show instantly draws you in for a warm embrace of nostalgia.” – New York Daily News

“The audience reaches a fever pitch! If you’re lookin’ for hot stuff on Broadway, you’ve come to the right place. Summer delivers the seasonal sunshine with toe-tappingly familiar songs, stellar performances, shiny costumes and a reminder of the impact of its subject on the music industry at large.” – Entertainment Weekly

Videos

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical – Video Montage
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical – Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
LaChanze Sings “Friends Unknown” from Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical – 2018 Tony Awards

Photos

Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Image: 2018 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Music

Music Samples

1. “The Queen Is Back” – Diva, Ensemble
2. “I Feel Love” – Diva, Disco, Duckling, Ensemble
3. Friends Unknown – Orchestra
4.1 “Love to Love You, Baby (Pt. 1)” – Disco
4.2 “Love to Love You, Baby (Pt. 2)” – Disco, Ensemble
5. “I Remember Yesterday” – Duckling, Mary Ellen, Dara
5A. I Remember – Orchestra
6. “On My Honour” – Duckling, Choir
7. “Faster and Faster to Nowhere” – Disco, Ensemble
7A. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Orchestra
8. “White Boys” – Disco, Diva, Ensemble
8A. “Love to Love You (Reprise)” – Disco
9. “MacArthur Park” – Disco, Diva, Duckling, Ensemble
9A. Promo – Orchestra
10. “Heaven Knows” – Disco, Bruce, Ensemble
11. “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” – Disco, Diva, Ensemble, Duckling
12. “Pandora’s Box” – Duckling, Choir
12A. I Feel Love – Orchestra
13. “On the Radio” – Disco, Diva
14. “I Love You” – Bruce, Disco, Ensemble, Mimi
15. “Bad Girls” – Disco, Ensemble
16. “She Works Hard for the Money” – Diva, Disco, Ensemble
17. “Dim All the Lights” – Disco, Joyce, Memorial Guests
18. “I Believe in Jesus” – Disco, Mary Ellen, Dara
19. “Unconditional Love” – Diva, Mimi, Brooklyn, Amanda
20. “To Turn the Stone” – Disco, Diva, Mimi, Amanda, Brooklyn
21. “Stamp Your Feet” – Daughters, Diva, Doctor, Bruce, Mimi
22.1 “Friends Unknown (Pt. 1)” – Diva, Mimi, Brooklyn, Amanda
22.2 “Friends Unknown (Pt. 2)” – Diva, Mimi, Brooklyn, Amanda
23. “Hot Stuff” – Disco, Ensemble
24. “Last Dance” – Diva, Disco, Duckling
25. Hot Stuff Bows – Orchestra
26. Exit Music – Orchestra
27. Audience Exit – Orchestra

Licensing & Materials

Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Logos/Artwork

Authors

Colman Domingo

The Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League Award nominated and OBIE, GLAAD and Lucille Lortel Award winning actor, playwright and director, stars in the AMC series original series Fear the Walking Dead as Victor Strand. Domingo has also recurred on the Cinemax series The Kni ...

View full profile

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical