STAGE TUBE: Doyle's TEN CENTS A DANCE Rehearses at Wiliamstown Theatre Festival

By: Aug. 10, 2011
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John Doyle's latest project, TEN CENTS A DANCE, will play August 11-28 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. TEN CENTS A DANCE, conceived and directed by John Doyle, features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart.

Prepare to be bewitched and beguiled by TEN CENTS A DANCE, a new musical conceived by Doyle, who applies his signature style of engaging a company of actor-musicians to bring to life the extraordinary music of Rodgers and Hart. Crooner Johnny wistfully recalls his lifelong love affair of chorus girl Miss Jones, who is embodied by five women, each portraying a different stage of her life. As Johnny and Miss Jones take "Manhattan" under a "Blue Moon" while "Falling in Love with Love," you can't help but think "Isn't it Romantic?" - even if sometimes "The Lady is a Tramp." These and so many other unforgettable songs - filled with infatuation, longing, and enchantment - will sparkle like a glass of champagne on a sexy summer evening. "All you need is a ticket, come on big boy, ten cents a dance."

The production will feature Diana DiMarzio, Jane Pfitsch, Lauren Molina, Malcolm Gets, Jessica Tyler Wright and Donna McKechnie.

Doyle is a Tony Award-winning director who has previously staged Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY and is set to direct the composer-lyricist's musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in March 2012. In the past, Doyle has also staged a new production of Chekhov's THREE SISTERS, adapted by Tony-nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl, at The Playhouse in 2009. Doyle last collaborated with Sondheim on the 2008 Off-Broadway production of ROAD SHOW and earned a Tony Award for his direction of the 2005 revival of SWEENEY TODD. He also directed the Broadway musical A Catered Affair.

Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award winning star of A Chorus Line, is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. Some of Ms. 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 H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, 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 1996 season. She has starred in numerous productions in London's West End, including Promises, Promises, Company, No Way to Treat a Lady (which she also choreographed), Can-Can and Follies. Bob Fosse invited Ms. McKechnie to play the lead in his last production, a National Tour of Sweet Charity, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Her regional credits include Irma La Douce, Cabaret, The Imaginary Invalid, The Goodbye Girl, Follies, Mack and Mabel, Gypsy, I Do, I Do! Misalliance, Sheba, Stepping Out, Girl's Room and Inside the Music (her one woman musical with text by Christopher Durang). Donna has performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret and with symphony orchestras. She has appeared as a guest star in numerous television musical specials and dramatic series including "Fame," "Cheers," "Family Ties," "Hullabaloo," "Twirl" and "Dark Shadows." She also portrayed The Rose in the film, "The Little Prince." Her recently released memoir, Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life, was published by Simon and Schuster. Also recently, she choreographed the highly acclaimed Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. Donna was featured in the documentary film, Every Little Step, which was released last year.



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