Donna McKechnie News

A fascinating and rare vintage documentary tracing the final weeks of the original Broadway production of legendary multi-award-winning musical juggernaut A CHORUS LINE is now available to view in full.

Birdland Jazz Club announces its February 2014 schedule, featuring: 4 Generations of Miles with Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Buster Williams & Sonny Fortune; Reflections of Monk with Tom Harrell, Greg Osby, Melissa Aldana, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Allison & Matt Wilson; Quest with Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure & Billy Hart; Joey DeFrancesco Organ Trio; Cyrille Aimee; Barbara Carroll; Christina Bianco's Birthday Bash; Jay Leonhart Duo; Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne; Anne Tofflemire; Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

TONY and EMMY Award winner Leslie Uggams has replaced Faith Prince for the performance of 4 Girls 4 at the State Theatre in Easton on Friday, April 4. The announcement was made by the show's producer. Uggams will appear with Andrea McArdle, Maureen McGovern and Donna McKechnie. John McDaniel is the Music Director.

The book launch for Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, will take place January 27, 2014 from 6-8 pm at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue.

2013 was an incredible year of theater!

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show just last week. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

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:

Today we are talking to an instantly recognizable stage and screen performer known for a variety of powerful and memorable roles, including those which have earned her two Tony Awards as well as two Emmys - the elegant and cool Bebe Neuwirth. Talking all about the songs and stories that play a part in her fantastic new live solo album STORIES… IN NYC: LIVE AT 54 BELOW, the versatile triple-threat opens up about many of her masterful collaborations over the years - including working with Michael Bennett on A CHORUS LINE and Bob Fosse on SWEET CHARITY, not to mention her iconic portrayal of Velma Kelly in the original cast of the still-running revival of Kander & Ebb's CHICAGO. Plus, Neuwirth shines a light on some of her most celebrated screen roles, as well, including offering a candid behind the scenes story from her unforgettable scene in Woody Allen's CELEBRITY and more. Plus, Neuwirth comments on some of her current and upcoming projects, including her recurring role on CBS hit BLUE BLOODS and her recent appearances on THE GOOD WIFE as well as much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with one of Broadway's best.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show on Monday, December 9 at 7pm. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' Scroll down for photos!

Catch the NEW episode of Dave's Gone By (#447 - Oh, Donna) - LIVE, today, Saturday, Dec. 7, 9am-noon(MT) streaming on UNC Radio (www.uncradio.com).

Birdland Jazz Club has announce its upcoming schedule for December 9-15, featuring Donna McKechnie, Shoshana Bush, Frank Wildhorn, Jazz Stories: Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, and more!

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. It's her birthday today, November 16, and in celebration, BroadwayWorld has rounded up a selection of her performances over the years. Click below to watch!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their zesty line-up of impressive talent for the month of December 2013. Featuring: Michael Feinstein, Stacey Kent, Jazz Stories with Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Cabaret, Cheyenne Jackson, Donna McKechnie, Frank Wildhorn & Friends with Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Jane Monheit and more, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Native Soul, Victoria Shaw, Natalie Toro, Shoshana Bush, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

On Monday, November 11th the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century performed “Next Look,” an exclusive benefit showing in preparation for the company's full-length New York City debut at the Joyce Theater next year. The benefit performance included reconstructed works from show-stopping musicals such as Contact, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, and Promises Promises.

In Nothing Like a Dame, theater journalist Eddie Shapiro opens a box full of knowledge, through in-depth conversations with twenty leading women of Broadway. The new book will be released on Febuary 7th, 2014.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series will present singer Anne Tofflemire in concert on Monday, November 18 at 7pm. Backstage Bistro Award-winning singer Anne Tofflemire returns to New York with her latest show, This Funny World, an evening of popular songs from Rodgers & Hart, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell, Irving Berlin, Charles Strouse & Lee Adams. Accompanist/music director for the evening will be Ross Patterson. Anne Tofflemire was raised in Northern California, where she starred in the long running San Francisco productions of Side by Side by Sondheim and Rap Master Ronnie. She was discovered by the Academy Award winning lyricist Sammy Cahn, with whom she toured nationally and internationally in his Sammy Cahn: Words and Music. Her other theatre credits include Peter Pan opposite Cathy Rigby, Maria in West Side Story, A Little Night Music, and understudying, as well as going on for Donna McKechnie as Mama Rose in Gypsy. Her cabaret appearances include Town Hall, Firebird Cafe, Delmonico's, and Eighty Eights in Manhattan, the Plush Room in San Francisco, the Gardenia in Los Angeles. Her CD, Let's Face the Music, was released by Harbinger Records.

Monday, October 21st was a luminous night for DO40, panelists, performers - and especially the sold-out audience who attended Dancers Over 40's latest panel and performance, this time honoring Director/Choreographer Ron Field. Along with seven members from the original production, on hand were Marge Champion, Sandy Duncan & Don Correia, Joel Grey, Donna McKechnie, Lee Roy Reams and Ben Vereen. A star-studded night, indeed for DO40!

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) will present a benefit evening of classic musical theater dance numbers from A Chorus Line, Contact, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, 42nd Street and Promises! Promises on Monday, November 11 at New York City Center, Studio Five at 7:00 p.m. Each piece has been coached by artists intimately involved in their original productions. The evening will be directed by Artistic Director Margo Sappington and feature live music with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz. ADM21 is a new non-profit dance company founded by Executive Director Nikki Feirt Atkins, dedicated to creating a living and vibrant archive of classic and current notable musical theater choreography.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Roundabout Theatre Company today hosts a private reading for a potential new production of Stephen Sondheim's Company, which might include some gender reversals in the casting of SOME of the show's iconic characters. Also, contrary to published reports, Nathan Lane is not currently attached to the workshop. We have confirmed that featured amongst the cast are Bobby Steggert, Michael Urie, and Alan Cumming. The New York Times is now reporting that Tony-winning director John Tiffany is directing and 2008 Tony nominee Daniel Evans is playing 'Bobby', who will be gay in this version of the show.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Roundabout Theatre Company has been hosting private readings for a potential new production of Stephen Sondheim's Company, which might include some gender reversals in the casting of SOME of the show's iconic characters. Also, contrary to published reports, Nathan Lane is not currently attached to the workshop. We have confirmed that featured amongst the cast are Bobby Steggart, Michael Urie, and Alan Cumming. The New York Times is now reporting that Tony-winning director John Tiffany is directing and 2008 Tony nominee Daniel Evans is playing 'Bobby', who will be gay in this version of the show.