Photo Coverage: On the Opening Night Red Carpet for SUMMER!
By: Jennifer Broski Apr. 24, 2018
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SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical opened on Broadway last night, Monday, April 23, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street. We're taking you to the red carpet below!
The three actresses who play the role of musical icon Donna Summer are Tony Award winner LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on This Island) as "Diva Donna," Ariana DeBose (A Bronx Tale, Hamilton) as "Disco Donna" and Storm Lever (Freaky Friday) as "Duckling Donna."
The cast of SUMMER also includes Aaron Krohn (Cabaret) as "Neil Bogart,"Ken Robinson (The Color Purple) as "Andrew Gaines," and Jared Zirilli(Lysistrata Jones) as "Bruce Sudano." The ensemble is comprised ofAngelica Beliard (On Your Feet), Mackenzie Bell (Sunset Boulevard), Kaleigh Cronin (A Bronx Tale), Kimberly Dodson (Duress film), Anissa Felix(Sunset Boulevard), Drew Wildman Foster (Sunset Boulevard), Kendal Hartse(Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella), 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 (Mamma Mia!). Swings include Aurelia Michael (Legally Blonde), Jody Reynard (Chicago tour) and Kim Steele (Jerry SpringerThe Opera).
SUMMER features a book by Colman Domingo, Robert Cary and Des McAnuff, with songs by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara and others and is directed byDes McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with music supervised by Ron Melrose and scenic design by Robert Brill, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Gareth Owen and projections by Sean Nieuwenhuis.
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. With a score featuring 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.
A developmental production of the new musical recently played a twice-extended engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski
Penelope Scott, Joe Kernan
Gizelle Bryant
RosAnna Scotto
RosAnna Scotto
Robert Cary and daughter
Samuel Burgess, Paul McGill
Alexandra Melrose, Ron Melrose
Sunny Hostin
Sunny Hostin
Grahame Pratt, Leslie Uggams
Thalia, Tommy Mottola
Thalia
Thalia
Katie Sands
Shelley Rome
Shelley Rome
Jack Noseworthy, Sergio Trujillo
Chazz Palminteri and family
Christopher Wheeldon, Kelly Devine
Check out tracks from "Summer: The Original Hits"
Videos