Des McAnuff News

SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical opens with a swell of music and a chorus full of sequined, big-haired glittered-up dancers who sure can sing. The costumes are dazzling. The strobe lights are electrifying. Everything is loud and large and pulsing and promising. a?oeYou like that modest opening?a?? Diva Donna (Dan'yelle Williamson, one of the three actors who plays Donna) asks the audience outright. a?oeWe just threw it together.a?? It's funny of course, because this is a big production, and nothing is farther from the truth. However...

Ron Legler, President of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, home of the Hippodrome Theatre, has announced the lineup for the new 2020-21 CareFirst® BlueCross BlueShield Hippodrome Broadway Series.

Astonishing is a word some would use to describe something amazing they witnessed. In most cases and with most shows this word would suffice. However, what I saw on December 7th, 2020 at ASU Gammage does not just surpass this simple word, it stamps it into the ground. SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical is beyond any praise I could write in here and by far the must-see of 2020.

Dates have been announced for the Cleveland return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The musical will make its much-anticipated return to Cleveland to play the Connor Palace as a Huntington Featured Performance on January 21 through January 26. Tickets are available at the Playhouse Square Ticket Office (1519 Euclid Ave in downtown Cleveland), by visiting playhousesquare.org, or by calling 216-241-6000. Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 216-640-8600.

a?oeSummer, The Donna Summer Musicala?? opened last night, New Year's Eve, at the Paramount like a shiny ball descending on Seattle signifying the new year. But just like the ball dropping and switching from one year to the next, it amounted to very little other than a reason to party. With a book that feels like a story conveyed by a 6-year-old with severe ADHD and staging so bad that it actually made me laugh out loud at one point, this flashy tale of the life of a Disco Diva, filled with mirror balls, strobe lights, and even a car chase on stage, falls squarely into the realm of a?oewhat were they thinking?!a??

Producers Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce announced today that Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations has once again broken the box office house record at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). Ain't Too Proud's gross for the week ending December 29, 2019, was $1,865,016.90, the highest in the history of the Imperial Theatre. The musical broke its own record of $1,710,207.90 set the week of December 8, 2019. Prior to that, Billy Elliot: The Musical held the Imperial's house record, grossing $1,663,895.00 in January 2010.

The Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, makes its much-anticipated return to Columbus to play the Palace Theatre for three performances only January 10 and 11. Part of the PNC Broadway in Columbus series, JERSEY BOYS is being presented by CAPA and Broadway in Columbus.

The national tour of SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL, a moving tribute to the voice of a generation, is coming to the Golden Gate Theatre December 3 a?" 29, 2019. Go behind the scenes in the video!

Jersey Boys, directed by Des McAnuff, is a typical, fast paced jukebox musical full of popular songs, but the storyline doesn't hit the right notes.

This week, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton stopped by Broadway's Ain't Too Proud and swung by backstage after the show to meet with the cast.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that tickets for SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL will go on sale on Friday, December 13.  SUMMER will play Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph) for a limited two-week engagement February 12-23, 2020.

Full casting has been announced for the North American Tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. The three actresses who will play the role of musical icon Donna Summer will be Dan'yelle Williamson as 'Diva Donna,' Alex Hairston as 'Disco Donna' and Olivia Elease Hardy as 'Duckling Donna.'

Producers Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce announced today that the smash hit Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations has set a new box office record at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). Ain't Too Proud's gross for the week ending December 8, 2019, was $1,710,207.90 in the 1,424 seat theater, the highest for any week at the Imperial Theatre. Prior to Ain't Too Proud, Billy Elliot: The Musical held the house record ($1,663,895.00) set in January 2010.

Just last night, New York Stage and Film celebrated its annual Winter Gala, honoring six-time Tony Award-nominated producer and philanthropist Diana DiMenna, and Academy Award and four-time Golden Globe-nominated and Tony Award-winning actor and producer Tom Hulce. The Winter Gala, a fundraising event to support New York Stage and Film's year-round theater and film development initiatives, was held at The Ziegfeld Ballroom (141 West 54th Street, New York City).

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment announced today a 2020 partnership to co-present three fan-favorite Broadway shows that will take place at the Sound Waves Theatre inside the resort destination.

Richard Ambrose is the Vice President, Entertainment for Norwegian Cruise Lines. He oversees the Entertainment Departments for Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruise Lines. Under Ambrose, Norwegian has emerged as a cruise line with top-notch entertainment, including Broadway-caliber productions.

Full casting has been announced for the North American Tour of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical. The three actresses who will play the role of musical icon Donna Summer will be Dan'yelle Williamson as a?oeDiva Donna,a?? Alex Hairston as a?oeDisco Donnaa?? and Olivia Elease Hardy as a?oeDuckling Donna.a?? SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical will make its Baltimore premiere at The Hippodrome Theatre for one week from April 14 a?" 19. Beginning Friday, December 6, tickets will be available to purchase by visiting BaltimoreHippodrome.com, calling 800.982.ARTS or visiting the Hippodrome Theatre Box Office at the corner of Eutaw St and Baltimore St. For the most up-to-date pricing information, please visit Ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are now on sale for the returning New Orleans engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Saenger Theatre March 6-8, 2020. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, JERSEY BOYS is offered as a season option for the Hancock Whitney Broadway in New Orleans 2019-2020 season.

Full casting has been announced for the North American Tour of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical.  The three actresses who will play the role of musical icon Donna Summer will be Dan'yelle Williamson as a?oeDiva Donna,a?? Alex Hairston as a?oeDisco Donnaa?? and Olivia Elease Hardy as a?oeDuckling Donna.a?? SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical will make its St. Louis premiere at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for two weeks January 15-26. 

The cast of Ain't Too Proud kicked off the 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with a medley of 'Get Ready,' 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' and 'I Can't Get Next To You.'