Donna McKechnie Performs Musical Cabaret at Mahaiwe

Donna McKechnie

Donna McKechnie

(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – The Tony Award-winning star of the original cast of A Chorus Line, Donna McKechnie, will perform My Musical Comedy Life on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at 7 at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The one-woman show garnered McKechnie a Mac Award Nomination for Best Female Singer and the Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Major Engagement.

Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, with musical direction by Alex Rybeck, the show encompasses music from some of Broadway’s most celebrated composers, including Stephen Sondheim, Ed Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Cy Coleman, as well as more contemporary artists, including Francesca Blumenthal and Ann Hampton Callaway.

McKechnie enjoyed one of her greatest triumphs as Sally in the acclaimed revival of Follies in the spring of 1998. Since that appearance, she choreographed and performed in No Way To Treat a Lady at the Arts’ Theatre in London’s West End, where she had starred in Cole Porter’s Can-Can at the Strand a few seasons before.

McKechnie’s Broadway credits include: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (national tour); The Education Of Hyman Kaplan; Sondheim – A Musical Tribute (which she also choreographed); On The Town; Promises, Promises; Company and State Fair, for which she received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for the 1995-1996 season. McKechnie played the lead in Bob Fosse’s last production, a national tour of Sweet Charity, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award.

McKechnie has performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret and with symphony orchestras. She made her opera debut in December 1996, guest starring in the San Francisco Opera’s production of Die Fledermaus.

She has appeared as a guest star in numerous television musical specials and dramatic series including Fame, Cheers, Family Ties, Twirl and Dark Shadows. Donna portrayed The Rose in the film, The Little Prince.

McKechnie is regarded internationally as one of Broadway’s foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. She recently choreographed the highly acclaimed Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl and was featured in the documentary film, Every Little Step, which was released last year. Tickets to her show at the Mahaiwe (413.528.0100) are $40 to $60.

 

 

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