Porter Lee Anderson III

Summer is coming to West Palm Beach at last with SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical making its premiere engagement at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts May 20-26.

And while that is one of the true musical highlights of Summer – The Donna Summer Musical, it also focuses attention on the fact that the musical itself – or, rather, its problematic book – often seems unable to figure out how to focus the spotlight on its heroine. Taking a non-linear pathway through the story of the diva’s life, Summer – The Donna Summer Musical is oftentimes confusing and sometimes perplexing, despite the fact that the musical score (attributed to Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara and “others” in the playbill) is wonderfully entertaining and certain to unleash a flood of memories for audience members of a certain vintage.

At Straz Center through January 16 is a tribute to a beloved icon of music, Donna Summer. DONNA: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL examines the singer's life, how she broke barriers to perform her own music. The score features over 20 classic hits, including 'Bad Girls,' 'Love to Love You Baby,' and 'Hot Stuff.'