Donna McKechnie News

The New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), NYC's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced tonight the complete list of winners for the 2012-13 season. The Bessies, produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, were held at the legendary Apollo Theater at 8:00 p.m., following red carpet interviews and photographs with the nominees in attendance. Former Cunningham dancer Gus Solomons jr. and former American Ballet Theatre principal Martine Van Hamel co-hosted the evening and also performed Paul Taylor's rarely seen 1957 Duet as part of the evening's performances.

Following an unprecedented thirty-one show run, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, the acclaimed and award-winning cabaret series, continues on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm at 54 Below. Sondheim Unplugged is currently celebrating the third year of it's smash run, having begun this journey of celebrating Sondheim in July of 2010.

The on-site box office at the G&L Theatre, home to Naples equity theater group TheatreZone, will re-open today, October 2, from 10 am until 12 noon, today announced artistic director Mark Danni.

Broadway Actress Soara-Joye Ross (Les Miserables, Dessa Rose, Dance of the Vampires) will be making her Solo Cabaret Debut in 'This Is My Life…Gotta Fly!' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on October 7th at 7pm for one night only.

'Sondheim: A Musical Tribute' was the title given to a benefit staged in March 1973. American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the National Hemophilia Foundation first wanted to honor Harold Prince, but he declined, so they chose Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim thought it would be 'merely a dinner,' but it was actually a full-scale production with 33 performers and a 30-piece orchestra, staged on the set of the then-running 'A Little Night Music' at the Shubert Theatre. Below, check out footage from a short documentary that was made about the show.

Donna McKechnie, beloved Tony-winning original 'Cassie' joins in a celebration of the upcoming fortieth anniversary of the creation ofA Chorus Line at the annual Fire Island Pines Literary and Theater Weekend, a hugely popular event held annually at The Madison Fire Island Pines.

Philadelphia's treasured musical tradition Holiday POPS! returns to Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for nine festive performances, December 6 through December 21, 2013 led by Britain's celebrated American-born conductor David Charles Abell, who is known for conducting the two "Les Miserables" anniversary celebrations, televised throughout the world. As The POPS' exceptional musicians present the beloved seasonal tunes in exciting arrangements, each concert also features three spectacular choirs and the ever-popular audience sing-along, in a rousing program guaranteed to please young and old. For 2013, The Philly POPS is pleased to welcome acclaimed dramatic soprano Angela Brown making her POPS debut during this annual family favorite.

Following an unprecedented thirty show run, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, the acclaimed and award-winning cabaret series, continues tonight, Sept 15 at 7pm at 54 Below. Sondheim Unplugged is currently celebrating the third year of it's smash run, having begun this journey of celebrating Sondheim in July of 2010.

It's a new era for The Philly POPS and a chance for audiences to share in the excitement of this first season under the baton of new music director Michael Krajewski. The Philly POPS opens its 2013-14 season with the theme 'Viva Philadelphia!' - a celebration of the City and of Philadelphia's Italian spirit as well as a demonstration of the maestro's special love for vocal music. It's a fitting theme, as the new maestro celebrates the City that will be another POPS home for this nationally recognized conductor. It's also fitting as this first series of The POPS 35th season falls on Columbus weekend, a time of special significance in a city with a rich Italian heritage. With performances on Friday, October 11 through Sunday October 13, POPS concerts will continue to be presented in a series of Friday evenings at 8 p.m., followed by Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. at Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.

This month, UNPLUGGED will welcome just announced guests George Lee Andrews and Harvey Evans, as well as special guests Dee Hoty, Pamela Myers, Sarah Rice & Alice Ripley. The cast also includes cabaret and Broadway veterans Trent Armand Kendall (Broadway's Smokey Joe's Cafe, Into the Woods),Award-winning vocal group Marquee 5, T. Oliver Reid (Broadway's Sister Act, The Color Purple), Julie Reyburn(MAC/Bistro/Nightlife Award winner) and Lucia Spina (Broadway's Kinky Boots, South Pacific). Sondheim Unpluggedis hosted by 54 Below's Director of Original Programming, Phil Geoffrey Bond, with Musical Direction by Joe Goodman. In 2011, Sondheim Unplugged received the 2011 Bistro Award for Outstanding Cabaret Series, and was nominated for the 2011 MAC Award.

An evening with Tony Award-Winner McKechnie performs SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher is 15:54, and more:

Active Fox Productions releases two new films TIO PAPI and 36 SAINTS today, September 6th.

Following an unprecedented thirty show run, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, the acclaimed and award-winning cabaret series, continues on Sunday, Sept 15 at 7pm at 54 Below. Sondheim Unplugged is currently celebrating the third year of it's smash run, having begun this journey of celebrating Sondheim in July of 2010.

The on-site box office at the G&L Theatre, home to Naples equity theater group TheatreZone, will re-open Wednesday, October 2, from 10 am until 12 noon, today announced artistic director Mark Danni.

Lampkin Magic Productions presents WNIT's RISING STAR MAGNIFICENT 7 LIVE IN CONCERT at the Palais Royale, 105 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, on Friday, October 11, at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $20.00 and on sale now at the Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 574-235-9190 or 800-537-6415, or online at www.MorrisCenter.org. The Morris Box Office is open regular business hours Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 p.m. and is located at 211 North Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana. Tickets can also be purchased with credit card at Morris Ticket Outlets: Hammes Bookstore & Cafe located in Eddy Street Commons, South Bend, IN; O'Brien Recreation Center, 321 East Walter Street, South Bend; and Super Sounds Catalog Center located within TG Music, 123 South Main Street, Goshen, IN.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that Donna McKechnie's new bi-monthly talk & variety show will premiere on January 6 at 7pm. Broadway legends Tommy Tune, Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince and Jerry Mitchell have all signed on to be part of the series, with dates to be announced.

Legendary multi-Tony Award-winning actor, choreographer and director Tommy Tune recently hosted a chic fete in honor of the one and only stage and screen performer Carol Channing and her return to New York City and a video of select moments from the event are now available.

Last night at his home Tommy Tunehosted a cocktail party the one and only Carol Channing welcoming her back to NYC. Ms. Channing was toasted and honored by guests including Tyne Daly, Donna McKechnie, Lucie Arnaz, Lorna Luft, Brooke Shields, Liliane Montevecchi, Robert Klein, Michael Riedel, Frank DiLella, Arlene Dahl, Peter Glebo, Wayne Gmitter, Jim Caruso, Bruce Vilanch, Chris DiLella Jamie deRoy, Richard Skipper and more. Cinderella's Laure Osnes and her husband Nathan Johnson serenaded Ms. Channing with Before the Parade Passes By.