SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical

book by Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, and Des McAnuff

Originally produced at La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA

EXTENDED: November 7 to December 17, 2017

About the Premiere Production:

Synopsis: This vibrant, world-premiere musical charts the incomparable life of Donna Summer, the undisputed Queen of Disco, from her modest Boston childhood to international stardom.

Told through the dramatic lens of her final concert, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical presents the complexities and conflicts the iconic songwriter and singer faced in her meteoric rise – and descent. Featuring three actresses in the title role and a score with more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You, Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation.

La Jolla Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff is acclaimed for creating unforgettable theatrical events from indelible popular music in such shows as The Who’s Tommy and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Now, with SUMMER, Des is joined by his Jersey Boys choreographer Sergio Trujillo as they return to the Playhouse with a production that will combine touching drama with the propulsive, kinetic heart of a rock concert.

Artistic Statement: Cleo is a romantic play about the real people behind the major tabloid scandal. But what you wouldn’t expect about this story of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is that it was penned by Lawrence Wright, one of the great minds writing today. Wright is best known as a New Yorker journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. He also co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary about Scientology, “Going Clear,” which was based on his book of the same name. With Wright’s reputation outside of the theatre and the play’s subject matter, we expect other theaters will be compelled to produce this exciting new work.

Director:  Des McAnuff

Musical Supervision: Ron Melrose

Choreographed: Sergio Trujillo

Cast: LaChanze, Ariana DeBose, Storm Lever