‘The Donna Summer Musical’ and other lyrical stories hitting the stage
Disco legend Donna Summer performs on stage in Berlin on July 30, 2009. Image: AFP/Marc Mueller
The Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, is the subject of a brand-new Broadway musical that opens on April 23. Read on to find out more about some of the hottest jukebox and bio-musicals hitting the stage.
“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”
The dancefloor diva is the subject of this Broadway musical featuring many of her own biggest hit songs. Tony Award winner LaChanze (“The Color Purple”), Ariana DeBose (“Hamilton”, “A Bronx Tale”) and newcomer Storm Lever play Summer at various stages of her life. Opens April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”
Tina Turner gets her own jukebox musical biography in “Tina”, which features her songs and tells the story of how she defied the bounds of age, gender and race. Launched in London this month, the show is now booking to February 2019.
“Bat Out of Hell”
Also playing in London, back after an initial 2017 run there, is this West End rock musical featuring songs by Jim Steinman, many of which were previously recorded by Meat Loaf on his two “Bat Out of Hell” albums. The story is a loose retelling of Peter Pan set in a post-apocalypic Manhattan.
“Jagged Little Pill”
Alanis Morissette’s musical catalog will provide the soundtrack for the upcoming jukebox musical “Jagged Little Pill”, which is getting its world premiere in May at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its original story, about a family grappling with hard realities, is inspired by the themes and emotions of the album of the same name.
“The Cher Show”
This Broadway-bound show last week revealed its complete casting, with different actresses set to play the superstar at three stages of her life. The musical premieres June 12 at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre; the Broadway run is slated to begin previews on Nov. 1 at Neil Simon Theatre, with an opening on Dec. 3.
“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations”
After a highly successful, extended engagement at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre last year, this musical is next bound for Broadway, with Variety reporting last year that producers were hoping for a fall 2018 premiere. The show tells the story of the Temptations with beloved hits from their catalog. JB
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