Donna McKechnie News

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company will return, for their third consecutive season, to Theatre Row. The slate of show will include three productions running for two consecutive weeks each from Thursday, April 13 through Sunday, May 21, 2023.

BIRDLAND THEATER will present acclaimed vocalist Carole J. Bufford in the New York debut of her concert “Vintage Pop!” for a special six-show run from Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11, with performances each night at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.

Twenty one limited-edition prints of acclaimed caricature artist Al Hirschfeld – signed by the iconic stage and screen stars featured in the image – are being auctioned online to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, in partnership with Heritage Auctions, the largest collectibles auctioneer in the world.

Birdland Jazz Club will present Billy Gilman – the platinum-selling country music artist known for his run on NBC’s “The Voice” — in “A Billy Gilman Christmas” on Monday, December 5 at 7:00 PM.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this November with a full slate of nightly performances! 

Birdland Jazz Club will present the New York concert debut of actress and vocalist Maddie Baillio – best known for her appearances in the Amazon film Cinderella and NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” – on Monday, November 21 at 7:00 PM.

 54 BELOW will welcome Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie back after a previously sold-out 2022 run with her show Take Me to the World – The Songs of Stephen Sondheim. The Broadway legend will honor the great composer with song selections from Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Anyone Can Whistle, and more.

Birdland Theater will present Nashville vocalist Wendy Moten – best known for her 2021 run on NBC’s “The Voice” – in an exclusive six-show concert engagement from Friday, November 18 to Sunday, November 20 with performances at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM each night.

BIRDLAND THEATER will present vocalist Christian Holder in his new show “Dreams and Inspiration” – featuring a special appearance by Donna McKechnie – on Monday, November 7 at 8:30 PM.

Porchlight Music Theatre was joined by nearly 200 people to launch its 28th season, honor the 2022 ICON Award recipient, one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie,  present The Luminary Award to Dan Ratner and The Genevieve and Daniel Ratner Foundation and raise funds for its artistic and educational programs. Check out photos!

Prediction:  for the next few days, everyone will be talking about Hugh Panaro and his mesmerizing solo concert debut here in New York City, at 54 Below.  What took so long? Who Knows.  But that doesn’t matter anymore because his two-day run on October 5th and 6th is totally sold out, which means he’ll be back and, surely, be exporting this all over the country, to London, Canada, and Australia, where audiences love exactly what he is giving them- BROADWAY, and plenty of it, but through the singular lens of his career. 

Jason Graae brings his Graaetest (not a typo!) Hits – The Sequel to the El Portal October 21, 2022, accompanied by musical director Gerald Sternbach. I got a chance to catch up with Jerry after years of path-crossing at benefits and concerts.

Ann Kittredge will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd Street – between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Sunday, October 23rd at 7pm with her Musical Director Christopher Denny (piano), Sean Harkness (guitar), Mary Ann McSweeney (bass), Rex Benincasa(drums) and special guests Robbie Kondor and Steve Ross.

Celebrities and Clint Holmes' fans filled every seat in 54 Below last night for the final performance of “Between The Moon and New York City”.   Check out the photos from 54 Below and the after party!

The new jazz duet,“We Talk Without Words,” recorded by Jersey Boys’ TONY ®AWARD Winner, Christian Hoff with his wife, Melissa Hoff has been released! A dreamy jazz waltz with a fun-filled, frenetic bridge, the husband and wife musical team prove that “kindred spirits” share a language all their own. Listen here!

Cortney Hall and Matthew Rodrigues of “Chicago Today” on NBC5 will be hosting Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre fundraising event, the ICONS Gala. The ICONS Gala, chaired by Joe Higgins and Scott Hoesman, will be Friday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago.

Playhouse Theatre Academy will welcome back Stephanie Pope Lofgren for two exciting Fosse master classes. Stephanie is currently directing Playhouse on Park’s production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, which tells the story of Billie Holiday’s final performance.

Sondheim Unplugged will celebrate its 100th performances as series creator passes the torch to a new host.

Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work. 

Fane, the independent programmer of Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel in Piccadilly, has announced that after six very happy years programming the venue, they will be passing on the programming baton at the end of 2022.