Donna McKechnie Returns to Laurie Beechman 11/3; Richard Jay-Alexander Directs

The Laurie Beechman Theatre announced that Tony Award-winner DONNA McKECHNIE will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life, which will play the midtown venue on Wednesday, November 3rd at 8pm. There is a $35 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/beverage minimum (a full dinner menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within The West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave)., in the heart of New York's theatre district. For tickets, please contact Smarttix at www.smarttix.com or 212 868 4444.

Ed Note: If you missed Donna's last concert at the Beechman -- this is a MUST see - get your tickets now!

Following a sold out engagement in July, Ms. McKechnie returns to The Beechman for one night only. My Musical Comedy Life marks Ms. McKechnie's first New York engagement in five years. Earlier this year, she received glowing notices when she toured with this show in Australia, visiting both Sydney and Melbourne and also appearing as a featured artist in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival at the invitation of Artistic Director, David Campbell. My Musical Comedy Life 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. The show features direction by Richard Jay-Alexander and musical direction by Alex Rybeck.

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. Last summer, 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. She began the summer of 2010 performing in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has just completed her first tour of Australia with My Musical Comedy Life.