Singer, storyteller and showman Todd Alsup brings Donna Summer’s iconic, infectious songbook to vivid life on hits like “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Love To Love You Baby,” and “Last Dance.” All the while he delves into the Queen of Disco’s impact on him, her enduring legacy with gay men, and the joyful role disco played in their struggle for liberation. This is a glittery celebration you won’t want to miss.
The show was a smash this past summer at Provincetown’s Crown & Anchor.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Todd, just a few weeks before his performance of Donna, Disco & Us at Hunter’s.
It’s been a bit over a year since we spoke. What have you been up to?
Lots! I performed both “Donna, Disco & Us” and my solo show “Elton Undressed” all summer in Provincetown and have toured with both shows since then. Just over a year ago, I also signed on as Varla Jean Merman’s musical director. We’ve had an absolute blast performing her show “The Eras Tour” all over the country. And now I’m hard at work creating a brand-new project for PTown as well as helping Varla build her new show.
At what age did you begin performing?
I have been performing since birth. Seriously I was like singing on the top of my lungs obsessed with music as long as I can remember. It got more focused when I was 11 and I took piano lessons where someone could guide my frantic creative energy.
What was your first professional gig?
The summer between my sophomore and junior year in high school I was hired for the Oakland County Parks and Recreation traveling summer music show. It was very cheesy, but I did get paid.
When did you know performing would be your career?
Not until late as I really resisted it. I couldn’t wait to get out of Michigan and strategized to get into college in NY to begin this life. I got into early admission in NYU. I started off as a music education major. But I immediately started getting base in the music theater department’s productions. So I ended up with a degree in vocal performance. I soon realized life in Musical theater may not be for me, so I decided I wanted to write and record and perform my own music. Things kind of took off from there.
You are a singer, songwriter, pianist, and producer, is there one you like more than the others?
At different points I am grateful for each, and I am always grateful that I can jump around. Somedays I love producing and some days I love arranging, but singing will always be my top love. It feels instinctive and visceral to me since I was a baby.
Do you have a favorite song to perform?
My favorite song to sing in “Donna, Disco & Us” might have to be “MacArthur Park” – it truly is one of the greatest dance tracks of all time. There’s just something so powerful and dramatic and epic about it.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Intense, passionate, and thoughtful.
What do you do for fun?
After Covid who knows, but I do like to cook and love going to the movies and biking.
You won an Out Music Award…How did that feel?
Shocking, and amazing and it was really validating.
What should our readers expect from Donna, Disco & Us?
A very joyful and emotional experience. Obviously, her songs are just so infectious – you can’t go wrong with an evening of her hits. She and disco music were such a huge part of gay culture in the 70s. But it’s also no secret that somewhere along the way things got weird and lots of gay men have this vague idea that she turned her back on us. I really wanted to explore all of that in my show. In addition to telling the story of her influence on the larger community, I really wanted to celebrate her monumental influence on me as a little gay boy growing up in the 80s. She was my first pop obsession. She certainly inspired me musically, but she also unlocked an awareness in me that I was gay from a very young age. She then seemed to always appear at pivotal moments in my life and point me in the direction of my true self. So I built a show where I get to sing her incredible songs, and read letters addressed to her, telling her about how much she meant to me. It is a really upbeat and celebratory show.
