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.
Until a week ago, when Donna Summer’s entire musical life flashed in front of my very eyes, I never realized just how much I depended on her unbridled vocals to get me through several phases of uncertainty and awkwardness growing up as a young woman who appeared to have it all together. From the moment the brightly-clothed and energetic dancers and vocalists took over the stage, I could feel the energy transformation throughout the auditorium, from those who barely knew the lyrics to those who could repeat every word of every song and felt the emotion that came along with it. While I knew beforehand how much Donna’s music played a role in her upbringing, I never realized there were so many components of her being that I wasn’t fully aware of or, for the love of her music, didn’t dwell on. This is precisely why this entire production of her life through music means so much to those who loved her music yet respected her too much to pry into her private life, which she worked extremely hard to keep private.
In Donna’s younger years, both her parents seemed to think her talents were destined to be used for the Lord’s work, and whenever she tried to rebel against it, her father seemed to take it more personally than anyone else. While she wanted to make her father happy, she also wanted to spread her wings to see how she could make a career of her talent by joining other circles outside of the religious spectrum, and her mother seemed to understand that the most. After getting a gig in New York and then out of the country, she finally felt she was paving her way despite the obstacles she faced with men in and out of her life, as well as learning all the ins and out of living in a country with customs she wasn’t overly fond of or familiar with. Despite all the setbacks she faced, which included becoming a mother early on in her career, her parents were able to support her and love her from afar. She later married and became a mother of additional children, who she more closely supported with the help of her husband at the time. Much later in life, when she became ill, she still remembered being a top-rated singer who made plenty of money while receiving several accolades for accomplishments in the music industry and her community.
The musical highlights were the fantastic diversity of different female vocalists who sang differently yet were uniquely gifted with the multi-dimensional range and youthful vitality of Donna Summer’s powerful voice. Each had their own trajectory that was uniquely strong and magical and held the audience’s attention throughout. The supporting cast of other outstanding vocalists and dancers made for a worthwhile presentation that kept the audience on their feet and deeply grounded in Donna Summer’s musical story. Director Lauren L. Sobon did an excellent job of casting just the right team of vocalists, choreographers, set and costume designers, along with amazing supporting musicians who made the long-awaited trip back to the theatre worthwhile for all who were able to witness it with the support of AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Broadway At The Center.
“SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical” recently played at the Winspear Opera House
