Celebrate the life and music of Disco's First Lady of Love, Donna Summer this spring!

Previews start March 28th and officially opens April 23rd, 2018

"Donna Summer" (she was born LaDonna Adrian Graines on December 31, 1948) originally from Boston, Massachusetts the third of seven children would become the woman with a seductive, powerful, voice would captivate audiences in the 1970s and 1980s  she won and was nominated for many awards NAACP Award Image Awards, American Music Awards, and Grammy Awards  take people by storm with her talent. She actually grew up in the Methodist church and was singing in choir originally.  She was discovered when she was filling for someone in the choir and gave her first solo performance.

She was considered to be the queen of disco and one of the women and founders who were behind the electronic dance movement.  Her captivating model looks, angelic voice was featured and was that added ingredient you needed on songs discussing a variety of topics from love, self-empowerment, female empowerment, and also just having a good time and wanting to get out there and dance. Her story  I enjoyed hearing her rise and how she was so determined to break out and become a star you would be surprised some of her early accomplishments were pretty remarkable for a woman who started out singing in the church at first. I admire that although she was a global successful superstar she never forgot her spiritual connection to God, her religious connection, her values all of those pieces make you a complete woman and human being. You have so many pieces that can tear you down or build you up. It’s a matter of figuring out what will make you stronger, better, and ultimately how to perfect your craft too. Donna’s connection with God rehabilitated her when she first broke out in the 1970s as an artist. She was dealing with a grueling schedule, high demands from her entourage, managers, working around the clock inside the studios. She was producing some of the biggest hits during her career but inside she was not feeling 100 percent herself. She needed something to ground her, to make her feel whole again, to ease her mind, she was suffering from anxiety and pressure from the shows, the expectations of the media. So she did something that always gave her peace and solace. She reconnected to her religion. As she did that some of her biggest hits were produced at the same time. It’s amazing what a little prayer, faith, guidance, and direction can do to turn around your whole entire career.

            Donna originally started out singing in her boyfriend’s band in the late 1960s as his lead singer, then she was offered an opportunity to join the German production of Hair the Broadway musical.  She then fell in love while living in Germany and her daughter, Natalia Pia  Melanie “Mimi” Sommer’s father first and she raised her daughter there. During that time she was discovered by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote while she was working part-time modeling and a backup singer.  Her demo tape was discovered at that time in 1974 and when someone misspelled her name on the tape writing “Donna Summer” and her cover artwork instead of her former married name (Sommer) the moniker stuck and she used the name going forward as her stage name in her career.  Summer’s career has been one that should be acknowledged and recognized in the music industry, the arts, and entertainment. 
She received over 30 nominations, AMA, Grammy, and NAACP Image awards within her 4 -decade career until she passed in May of 2012 and still continues to shine on with her music. She has worked with incredible musicians, producers, and artists to this day from Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, and many more legendary performers and producers who have contributed to her career with their songs, skills, and much more. She received the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Award as well. Summer her legacy continues through her three daughters, "Mimi", Amanda Sudano, and Brooklyn Sudano who is a very well known actress as well and model and through her husband, Bruce Sudano group member of "Brooklyn Dreams" was married to Donna since 1980 and they were married 32 years. 

The beautiful late, Donna Summer with her husband Bruce Sudano were crazy in love and married 32 years!!! Her legacy is survived through him, her family, and her beautiful daughters, and of course her music and paintings. 

 Donna is back this spring with previews will start March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater and will officially open on April 23, 2018 her Broadway play and life story is coming to the stage.  Summer initially started working on her play about 15 years ago actually while working on her album and she began producing and writing music for the play already.  

Donna Summer she will be played by three actresses: La Chanze will play “Diva Donna”, while Ariana DeBose will play the Disco Donna during Donna Summer’s 1970 decade heyday when she first broke out and became a recording artist. Storm Lever will appear as “Duckling Donna” all three roles will showcase the rise and start of Donna Summer’s career, her upbringing, and life.

I am excited to see this show considering that I had an idea to write a musical featuring just her music and hits. The story line was going to be different though not biographical discussing her life and career. You never know but glad that someone is discussing her story, her journey, her impact on music still has a huge presence even in the 21^st century. You can hear samples of her music in R&B, Pop, Soul, and even in commercial jingles and movie soundtracks too. For more information on the play visit http://www.thedonnasummermusical.com . Also information on Donna’s artwork and her personal website visit http://www.fineartamerica.com , and http://www.donnasummer.com