When was the first time you heard Donna Summer?
If you're younger, perhaps you saw a film or TV show with 'Hot Stuff' or 'I Feel Love' used in it. If you're a little older, perhaps you were out on the disco dance floor when one of her endless string of hits came on.
Whatever your story, Marcia Hines has you beat. Growing up in Boston, Hines' first experience hearing the disco icon sing wasn't as Donna Summer – it was Donna Gaines. "We used to sing all around the city," the veteran performer recalls, speaking from her Sydney home.
"It was me, Donna and Donna's sister Linda. I knew their family quite well, in fact we'd sing together in church, and we'd all get entered into these talent shows – and they were terrible talent shows, too, but we'd do them all the same.
"Linda ended up getting in a production of 'Hair' there, too. Donna was a few years older than Linda and I, and we just thought she was the coolest girl in Boston. Whenever she did anything, we'd try and copy her."
Although Hines never saw the future Donna Summer again once she moved abroad ("we were always ships in the night," Marcia says), she always looked at her achievements with a great sense of admiration.
Now, she seeks to celebrate the late Summer with an all-new live show: the aptly-titled Marcia Sings Summer. "She dared to be different," Hines says of her one-time singing partner.
"She allowed herself to be left of centre, and that's a great thing. She didn't think she needed to follow in anyone's footsteps, or sound like anybody else. All she needed was her great range and her fine, fine voice."
Hines goes on to note that the show is an extensive retrospective, mining Summer's repertoire to ensure the most fitting tribute possible. "I chose the [songs] that I really knew and I really loved," Marcia says.
"One thing you should know about me is that when I listen to music, I listen deeply. I fantasise within it. 'State Of Independence' does it for me. 'Love To Love You Baby' does it for me.
"We're in rehearsals for this show at the moment, and when we're rehearsing these songs it makes me believe greatly in their power. I think we've really crafted a really fine tribute to Donna and all of this great music she left."
Joining Hines as part of the show will be special guest vocalist Casey Donovan – whom Hines first met as a precocious teenager auditioning for 'Australian Idol', going on to win the whole thing circa 2004.
Hines, of course, was a judge on the show and quickly developed a mentor/ mentee relationship with the young singer. Twenty one years later, however, it's a different story. "We're equals, absolutely," Hines says of Donovan.
"Casey's always been strong and self-assured – she's a Taurus, after all – and we have the same work ethic. She knows exactly who she is, and you know exactly what you're getting when you work with her. That's really important in this industry."
At 72 years old, it seems as though Marcia Hines is still as hungry a performer as she was when she first arrived in Australia at 16 – and projects like Marcia Sings Summer are testament.
She talks passionately about being onstage and creating shows that she loves, and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. "Someone asked me recently when I'm gonna retire," she says. "I said, 'and do what – garden?'"
Marcia Sings Summer: Marcia Hines & Casey Donovan 2025 Tour Dates
Sun 5 Oct - Hamer Hall (Melbourne)* 2pm matinee showFri 10 Oct - Sydney Opera House
Sat 11 Oct - Sydney Opera House
Sun 12 Oct - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)* 2pm matinee show
Sun 12 Oct - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)* 6pm show
Wed 22 Oct - Thebarton Theatre (Adelaide)
