Donna McKechnie News

Following six weeks of fierce competition among 20 of California's finest young musical theatre performers, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 celebrated Judy Mora's outstanding victory at the 5th annual competition's glittering Finale on Sunday, February 6, presented by Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in greater Los Angeles. Runners up included San Francisco's Michael David (2nd place); Matthew McFarland (3rd place); Emily Goglia (4th place); and Reba Buhr (5th place). Broadway World's Dean Butler was there to capture the three and a half hour event ... off and on stage - which also included a Special Guest Star performance by musical theatre, television star and pop composer/singer Blake McIver Ewing.

Everyone knows that 'all work and no play' is not good for the soul. This past summer, after a series of Master Classes in Florida, McKechnie spent a week's holiday on Miami Beach and fell in love with it. She decided that she wanted to shorten her New York winter time and committed to taking the month of February off and spend it in Miami - being a tourist, enjoying the healthy environment and food, read, visit Miami City Ballet and even attend what will be her first visit to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, at the invitation of Lee Brian Schrager.

The Philhallmonic Society will perform at Reach the World's 2011 Benefit Dinner at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, February 9, 2011.

The Philhallmonic Society will perform at Reach the World's 2011 Benefit Dinner at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, February 9, 2011. With the motto, 'we sing so others can soar,' The Philhallmonic Society is a unique organization under the leadership of international Broadway composer, conductor and producer Phil Hall, and is staged by Broadway dancer and choreographer Mark Santoro. www.thephilhallmonicsociety.org.

Lampkin Music Group is proud to announce 'What He Did for Love: A Chicago Musical Menu' presented April 3-6, 2011 at Stage 773 (formerly the Theatre Building) in Chicago.

As a dancer and choreographer, Cary Street's a pretty recognizable face in Nashville theater circles, having worked with Circle Players, Boiler Room Theatre, Towne Centre Theatre, Mansker Players, The Larry Keeton Theatre and so many more Tennessee theater companies. And that makes her an ideal choice to kick off This Dancer's Life, our newest series of interviews about the people who pursue their dreams of art and performance in Nashville.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that '30 Rock' star Katrina Bowden, theater favorite Maddie Corman (Next Fall), Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line), lifestyle superstar and restaurateur B. Smith and Daytime Emmy Award-winner Kim Zimmer ('Guiding Light'/'One Life To Live') will join upcoming casts of the hit Off Broadway show Love, Loss, and What I Wore, now in its second smash year at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

Reprise Theatre Company presents Barbara Cook in Concert. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 16 at 8:00 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Barbara Cook in Concert is the latest in Reprise Theatre Company's tradition of presenting Broadway stars and legendary entertainers in concert, which have included Patti LuPone, Carol Burnett, Sutton Foster, Ben Vereen, Kristin Chenoweth, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The Philhallmonic Society will perform at Reach the World's 2011 Benefit Dinner at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, February 9, 2011.

The Philhallmonic Society will perform at Reach the World's 2011 Benefit Dinner at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, February 9, 2011. With the motto, 'we sing so others can soar,' The Philhallmonic Society is a unique organization under the leadership of international Broadway composer, conductor and producer Phil Hall, and is staged by Broadway dancer and choreographer Mark Santoro. www.thephilhallmonicsociety.org.

Australian actor/singer/director David Campbell, whose recent CD On Broadway is fast approaching international success, was in New York this past weekend as an ambassador for G'Day USA and to promote his family album Floodlight to be released in stores in Australia February 1 and already a hit on iTunes. The album is a $4.95 contribution to aid the flood victims in Australia. In our conversation Campbell talks about the album, his background and his busy schedule in Australia as artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Following nine sold out shows, The Laurie Beechman Theatre will present the last performance of SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED on Monday, January 31 at 7pm.

As BroadwayWorld reported, Theoni V. Alredge, the costume designer for such Broadway stage hits as A Chorus Line, the original production of La Cage Aux Folles and Annie, has passed away after suffering from an infection. She was 78 years old. BroadwayWorld has spoken to A Chorus Line's original Cassie, Donna McKechnie, who worked with Alredge throughout the development of the show, collaborating with her in creating Cassie's now iconic red leotard/skirt ensemble.

BWW just recently launched a photo store to benefit BC/EFA featuring stunning images of Broadway's brightest stars. The unique feature gives readers a chance to purchase prints of our photos since the web site launched back in 2003. Previously only available at BC/EFA's Flea Markets, where we often sold out of images, we're now making a selection of photos available for purchase online and just like at the Flea Market, a portion of all proceeds will go straight to BC/EFA.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Barry Manilow in Concert for one performance only on Tuesday, March 22 at 8:00 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. This special event is presented by Reprise Theatre Company as its Annual Gala Performance. Ticket sales from Barry Manilow in Concert support Reprise's mission to produce musical theatre of the highest artistic quality and to make this art form accessible to new audiences through education and outreach programs.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

DONNA McKECHNIE, Tony-Award winner and star of the original 'A Chorus Line' performs her unique theatrical experience, 'MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE' in an exclusive, South Florida engagement as part of The PlayGround Theatre's new project, Between Engagements. Ms. McKechnie, one of Broadway's most beloved and enduring stars appears in the limited, three-performance run at The PlayGround Theatre in Miami Shores on Saturday, February 12th at 8pm and Sunday, February 13th at 2pm and 7:30pm. 'MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE,' is Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with Musical Direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

Following nine sold out shows, The Laurie Beechman Theatre will continue their hit series, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, for a tenth installment, Monday, January 31 at 7pm.

DONNA McKECHNIE, Tony-Award winner and star of the original 'A Chorus Line' premieres her unique theatrical experience, 'MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE' in an exclusive, South Florida engagement as part of The PlayGround Theatre's new project, Between Engagements. Ms. McKechnie, one of Broadway's most beloved and enduring stars appears in the limited, three-performance run at The PlayGround Theatre in Miami Shores on Saturday, February 12th at 8pm and Sunday, February 13th at 2pm and 7:30pm. 'MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE,' is Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with Musical Direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 rings in the New Year at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles. The fifth anniversary presentation of this distinguished musical theatre talent competition shines the spotlight on an unprecedented twenty (20) young contestants beginning Sunday, January 6.