Lee Summers

Lee Summers
Born Leon Summers, Jr.
1958
Nashville, Tennessee
Occupation Performer, Librettist, Composer and Producer
Known for Off-Broadway musical From My Hometown

Lee Summers (born 1958) is an American theatre, television and film actor, singer, librettist, composer, director and theatre producer best known for creating and producing Off-Broadway's From My Hometown.[1] As an actor, Summers appeared as Sergeant Stiles, acting opposite Tom Selleck, in the 2nd episode of the 4th season of CBS' Blue Bloods.[2]

Early life and career

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Summers' grew up listening to Motown and funk and singing in church and school choirs and playing the trombone in school bands where he learned to read and write music. His first professional performing job was at Nashville's Opryland USA during his enrollment as a student at Tennessee State University. Upon moving to New York in 1980, Summers performed in numerous Off and Off-Off Broadway shows. His Broadway debut was in the original production of Dreamgirls.[3] Summers reprised his role in the 2001 Dreamgirls in Concert Performance with Lillias White, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and Heather Headley.

A member of the Dramatists Guild of America,[4] Summers' works have been produced and presented Off-Broadway and at numerous New York and regional theatres such as the The Milwaukee Repertory, where Summers collaborated with Kevin Ramsey to debut their original tap-dance musical, If These Shoes Could Talk,[5] which starred Harold Nicholas,[5] of the legendary Nicholas Brothers, in his farewell stage performance. Other venues and regional theatres where Summers' works have been produced include The Arkansas Repertory Theatre,[6] The Ensemble Theatre,[7] Karamu Theatre,[8] The Phoenix Theatre,[9] The Meadow Brook Theatre, The Madison Theatre at Molloy College,[10] Theaterworks in Palo Alto, California, The Triad Theatre, New World Stages, AMAS Musical Theatre, Crossroads Theatre,[11] RACCA's Seaport Salon, The Kirk Theatre, Gramercy Theatre,[12] Radio City Music Hall's[13] workshop spaces, The Kennedy Center[14] and many others. Other notable projects in development include Summers as librettist, co-lyricist and co-composer (with Timothy Graphenreed) for Yo' Alice[15] (Adaptation of Alice in Wonderland) which was conceived by Maurice Hines. Summers also collaborated with Hines on Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song for which Summers is book writer. Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song premiered at New Jersey's Crossroads Theatre in 2004 and in 2014, produced by Metro Stage Theatre in Alexandria, VA starring Freda Payne (Hit record: "Band of Gold") directed by Maurice Hines.

Summers made his Off-Broadway not-for-profit producing debut in 2003—partnering with Amas Musical theatre for the developmental production of From My Hometown. The production transferred commercially in 2004 garnering Summers the title of commercial producer. From My Hometown would be the last show to run at New York's historic Gramercy Theatre.

As a director, Summers has directed projects ranging from readings to developmental workshops to commercial productions. He has worked in venues ranging from New York’s Urban Stages,[16] AMAS Musical Theatre, The John Houseman Theatre, New World Stages,[17] The Triad Theatre, Flushing Town Hall, Theatreworks in Palo Alto, California, The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Cell Theatre and many more. Summers directed the world Premiere of Acappella The Musical for the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in 2015.

In between his artistic engagements Summers served as general manager of the historic Triad Theatre where he oversaw a $400,000 renovation and created The Just A Piano Concert Series (trademarked),[18] which has presented countless artists and benefited numerous charities.

Summers has guest lectured for The Actor's Work Program; Theatre Resources Unlimited (TRU); New York University; City College of New York; Tennessee State University; Motlow College and many others.

Summers studied theatre at Tennessee State University, vocal technique privately at (Fisk University) and later at NYU's Steinhardt School of Music. Summers studied dance from Frank Hatchett, now Broadway Dance Center. Summers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dramatic Writing for Musical Theatre from SUNY Empire State College, where he was recipient of the Yip Harburg Foundation Scholarship (The Wizard of Oz) and an MFA from New York University/Tisch School of the Arts from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

Work

Librettist

Lyricist

Composer

Playwright

Producer

Television and film actor

Stage actor and singer

Awards and competitions

Summers' works have received critical acclaim along with such honors as The New Professional Theatre's "Our Voices Award" (1996) eight AUDELCO Award nominations including “Best Musical” (2003), selection and presentation in the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals[30](2005), TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California (2005), a developmental workshop at Radio City Musical Hall (1999), developmental support from the Shubert Organization (2003), a Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Commendation[31] for his body of work in American Musical Theater (2003), New York's Bistro Award[32](2010) and four Michigan 2012 Wilde Award[33] nominations and a recent win for Best Ensemble (2012).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jones, Ken. "Harlem on Their Minds: New Musical, From My Hometown, Makes NYC Bow June 10". Playbill. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  2. "'Blue Bloods' The City That Never Sleeps (TV Episode 2013)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lee Summers". Internet Broadway Data Base.
  4. "Membership Profile - Lee Summers". Dramatists Guild of America. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "UniversityofWisconsin-MilwaukeeLibraries". Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. "Shoes Tap in Arkansas". Playbill. March 26, 1996. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. Clark, David. "BWW Reviews: The Ensemble Theatre's FROM MY HOMETOWN - An Energetic and Effervescing Summer Sensation". Broadway World. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  8. Simakis, Andrea. "Karamu Theatre brings the sounds of Detroit, Memphis and Philly to Cleveland with 'My Hometown': Fall theater preview 2013". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  9. "PhoenixTheatreHistory". PhoenixTheatre.org. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  10. "Madison Theatre at Molloy College Presents… From My Hometown". Molloy College. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "History". Crossroads Theatre Company. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  12. Jones, Ken. "Dreams of Apollo Theatre Glory Fuel From My Hometown, New R&B Musical Starting July 12". Playbill. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  13. Hofler, Bob. "Holiday season alive with staged readings, workshops". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  14. Cary, Emily. "Freda Payne as Ella Fitzgerald headlines Page-to-Stage". The Washington Times. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  15. Hofler, Bob. "Holiday season alive with staged readings, workshops". Variety. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  16. Thomas, Peter. "Musical Legends Tributes to Pearl Bailey, Kaye Ballard, Marlene Dietrich to Play Urban Stages". Playbill. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  17. "Directors Slate Announced for NAMT Festival of New Musicals". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  18. "Just A Piano". Broadway World.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Hofler, Bob. "Holiday season alive with staged readings, workshops". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  20. 1 2 "KaramuTheatreseries2007-08". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  21. "MalcolmX". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  22. "LawandOrder". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  23. "LawandOrder". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  24. "NewYorkUndercover". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  25. "The Presidents r". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  26. "Boardwalk Empire r". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  27. "Blue Bloods r". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  28. "THEATER REVIEW; A Charming Cad Gambles on Love and Doing Right". The New York Times. September 27, 2002.
  29. "Lee Summers' WINDS OF CHANGE Continues At The Triad 8/10". BroadwayWorld. August 10, 2009.
  30. "Billy Porter Stars in Funkentine Rapture at NAMT, Sept 25-26". Playbill. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  31. Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla "Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla" Check |url= value (help). Americantheatrewing.org. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  32. "2010 Bistro Award". bistroawards.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  33. "UPDATED: Nominations: The 2012 Wilde Awards". EncoreMichigan.com. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
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