'Hot Stuff': Theme filled Donna Summer musical keeps Hanover Theatre audience moving, grooving
WORCESTER — "SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical” grooved into The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts Thursday night and left the audience clapping, cheering, singing along and more … but is it a good musical?
The answer is a resounding "absolutely," not perfect but coming very close, thanks mostly to a talented ensemble supported by a phenomenal multimedia backdrop that helped moved the story along seamlessly.
Featuring a book by Colman Domingo and Robert Cary, the show is directed by Lauren L. Sobon and features choreography by Natalie Caruncho based on the original choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
A lot of themes are showcased in the show, but one that elevates it is strength.
Donna Summer was a superstar, a strong performing legend, but this musical allows us to see a more vulnerable side to Summer, who in life was a very private person.
One personal struggle Summer had as a child while attending church is mentioned briefly but is almost never mentioned again.
Later, we see her achieving her massive success in a world where economic disparity between male and female artists was and still is vast, and this success came with significant sacrifices and cost.
The musical also recalls how, before Summer met her husband, Bruce Sudano (John Guaragna), Donna was in a personal downward spiral. Sudano came in at a pivotal moment as fame and fortune took its toll on Summer.
Sudano helped Donna achieve a more stable balance between work and family.
The musical successfully celebrates Summer's life and accomplishments as a Black woman, as an artist and as a person.
There are over 20 iconic songs in the retrospective of Summer’s life and career but, when you leave the Hanover, not only will you exit recalling Summer's musical legacy, you will exit having gotten to know a little more about Donna the person.
The audience becomes immersed in the evolution of LaDonna Adrian Gaines as a human being and as an accomplished artist who grew well beyond Summer's "disco queen" image.
Three actresses play the role of musical icon Donna Summer at different points in her life as “Diva Donna” (Brittny Smith), “Disco Donna” (Charis Michelle Gullage) and “Duckling Donna” (Amahri Edwards-Jones).
When these performers sing separately they carry the material quite well. When the trio combine their voices, though, the blend is so magical it causes chills.
Toward the beginning of the show, a line announces "LaDonna Gaines was born in Boston," which elicited cheers from the local crowd.
Among the show's retrospective of Summer hits, fans coming to The Hanover Theatre can expect to hear favorites such as “I Feel Love,” “Love to Love You Baby,” “White Boys,” “Heaven Knows,” “On the Radio,” “Bad Girls” and the iconic empowerment anthem “She Works Hard for the Money.”
Much to the credit of the showrunners responsible for the structure of this musical, they did not just try to cram every single Donna Summer song into this show and have it somehow make sense.
There are a few Summer hits not included here (as examples, "The Wanderer," "State of Independence" and her cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic" are not featured in the show).
Where the music did not seem to serve the retrospective came at dramatic moments where no music at all would have probably served the material better.
During a scene involving domestic violence, the song "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" underscored the moment as police became involved. It made the moment almost look comical while clearly not the intent. A similar moment occurred when the song "Dim All the Lights" was used to underscore a significant death.
These moments aside, there will be many in the audience who will, at several points, want to get up and dance during the show and, in fact, are encouraged to do so by the actresses at the very start.
By the time the show's finale, "Last Dance," is reached, there will be absolutely no stopping anyone from clapping, cheering, singing along and more.
Clearly an indication that Donna Summer was … and still is … "Hot Stuff."
Approximately 115 minutes with no intermission. Contains flashing strobe lights and may not be suitable for children ages 12 and under.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association.
'SUMMER: the Donna Summer Musical'
3½ stars
Book By Colman Domingo and Robert Cary. Director Lauren L. Sobon. Choreographer Natalie Caruncho. Associate Choreographer Angelica Beliard. Original Direction Des McAnuff. Original Choreography Sergio Trujillo.
Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Performances: 2 and 8 p.m. April 2; 1 and 6:30 p.m. April 3. Tickets $39-$79. Call 877-571-7469 or go to thehanovertheatre.org.
Cast Includes: Brittny Smith, Charis Michelle Gullage, Amahri Edwards-Jones.