The critical brickbats hurled at Paul Simon for Capeman apparently haven't deterred other pop artists from getting into the musical theatre game. Elton John, Barry Manilow, Jimmy Buffett and Randy Newman have all been working in that idiom, and now New York Magazine reports (March 2) that former disco queen Donna Summer is hoping to bring a new musical, Ordinary Girl to Broadway in 1999. She's the co-writer and star. "It's loosely autobiographical," Summer's spokesperson told NY Magazine, "because the message is that if you have talent, you have to be true to it and be empowered by it." The spokesperson promised 20 new songs that are "vintage Donna." The diva songstress ("On the Radio", "She Works Hard For The Money") is currently searching for a producer.
-- By David Lefkowitz
