Opening NightWatch Ariana DeBose, Storm Lever, and More on Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer MusicalThe leading ladies and the company of Broadway’s latest bio-musical greet Playbill on the opening night red carpet.
By
Ruthie Fierberg
April 24, 2018
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.
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Inside the Opening Night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway
The Broadway revival starring Steve Carell and William Jackson Harper opened April 24. Laurence Fishburne and Edie Falco were among those in attendance.