Donna McKechnie News

Today, in conjunction with Part II of the BWW Exclusive InDepth InterView: Donna McKechnie, we are taking a look at some clips from two productions of the masterpiece musical known as FOLLIES written by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman and originally co-directed on Broadway by Hal Prince and Michael Bennett (who also choreographed). 'Who's That Woman' is one of the most legendary - and brilliant, and biting, and unique - dance numbers in Broadway history and in this clip the original choreography is recreated by the star-studded cast of the ‘98 Papermill Playhouse revival starring Donna McKechnie, Dee Hoty, Tony Roberts and Laurence Guittard, as well as Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecci, Phyllis Newman and Ann Miller under the supervision of Robert Longbottom and Jerry Mitchell. As a bonus, we also have the number as performed in the original Broadway production. This is something any tried and true Broadway baby surely can't miss!

The next four dates for Show Off! will be Friday 28 May 2010, Friday 11 June 2010, Friday 25 June 2010 and Friday 9 July 2010. All will take place at Cafe Koha in Covent Garden.

The American Theatre Network is proud to announce the launch of Great Entertainers on Broadway, a new summer series of live performances by some of today's most talented and well known stage, television and cabaret entertainers. The series will be presented in late July and early August at the Times Square Arts Center (TSAC) in the heart of New York City's world famous theatre district.

Today, I am sharing with you Part II of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director-choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part II of this comprehensive chat we discuss her new show with Kaye Ballard and Liliane Montevecci that kicks off next year titled BROADWAY LADIES, working with choreographers Jerome Robbins and Ron Field, Bennett's thoughts on Leonard Bernstein, Robbins and ON THE TOWN, what Robbins work meant to Bennett growing up, what Gwen Verdon's work meant to her, her thoughts on punk rock and amplification in the theatre as well as working with Rock Hudson, Dick Van Dyke and, of course, Bennett himself.

Broadway Tony-Award winning star Donna McKechnie enjoyed one of her greatesttriumphs as Sally, in the acclaimed revival of the Stephen Sondheim - James Goldman musical, Follies, in the spring of 1998.

Broadway Tony-Award winning star Donna McKechnie enjoyed one of her greatest triumphs as Sally, in the acclaimed revival of the Stephen Sondheim - James Goldman musical, Follies, in the spring of 1998. "She defined the art of torch singing with 'Losing My Mind,' raved Variety, joining the New York Times and other critics in unstintingly praising her performance. She is now coming to Australia for the first time in a new show directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.

Broadway Tony-Award winning star Donna McKechnie debuted her brand-new incarnation of MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE in Australia, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and presented by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She has wow-ed audiences, garnering rave reviews and multiple standing ovations in both Adelaide and Melbourne and now, just one stop remains in Sydney on Thursday, June 24th (see below for ticketing information), with the touring production presented by David M. Hawkins in association with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Here are a few special photos of one of Broadway's favorite leading ladies on, and back stage, delighting audiences down under, where we are hearing words used liked 'diva' and 'legend.' Early word is that the phone is ringing and offers are coming in from various markets and we're keeping our fingers crossed here for New York as well!

Today, I am sharing with you Part I of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director- choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part I of this comprehensive chat we discuss her earliest featured roles on Broadway, working on the groundbreaking COMPANY and her thoughts on collaborators Bennett, Sondheim and Hal Prince; as well as her thoughts on the current state of Broadway, the out-of-town experience in the Golden Age and creating Cassie in A CHORUS LINE. Plus, of course, we discuss her fantastic new show and much, much more!

The Forum Theatre Presents 'They Changed Broadway: From Berlin to Bernstein and Beyond' a benefit performance June 13 at 4pm. 'They Changed Broadway' will benefit Congregation Neve Shalom of Metuchen New Jersey.

Cabaret at the Castle Presents 'Kathryn Crosby: My Life with Bing' 6/29

The next four dates for Show Off! will be Friday 11 June 2010, Friday 25 June 2010 and Friday 9 July 2010. All will take place at Cafe Koha in Covent Garden.

Broadway Tony-Award winning star Donna McKechnie enjoyed one of her greatesttriumphs as Sally, in the acclaimed revival of the Stephen Sondheim - James Goldman musical, Follies, in the spring of 1998.

Liz Callaway has joined the roster of stellar performers in Great Entertainers on Broadway, the new summer series of live performances by some of today's most talented and well known stage, television and cabaret entertainers which premieres in late July and early August at the Times Square Arts Center (TSAC) in the heart of New York City's world famous theatre district.

The next four dates for Show Off! will be Friday 28 May 2010, Friday 11 June 2010, Friday 25 June 2010 and Friday 9 July 2010. All will take place at Cafe Koha in Covent Garden.

The next four dates for Show Off! will be Friday 28 May 2010, Friday 11 June 2010, Friday 25 June 2010 and Friday 9 July 2010. All will take place at Cafe Koha in Covent Garden.

Jacob's Pillow announces its 2010 full season calendar, including more than 200 free performances, talks, photography exhibits, tours, and events. Free event highlights include the Blake's Barn exhibit Lois Greenfield: Imagined Moments, featuring Greenfield's signature dance photography, and 'Let's Dance!' a new community event on July 4 with free dance classes and workshops for teens and adults. PillowTalks, held Thursdays at 5pm and Saturdays at 4pm, include Virginia Johnson, recently named Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (June 24), choreographer/director Bill T. Jones (July 22), and the return of Pulitzer Prize winner Jules Feiffer (July 31). Inside/Out performance highlights include the all-female hip-hop group Decadancetheatre (July 7), the dancers of The School at Jacob's Pillow's first ever Tap Program (July 10), alumnus of The School at Jacob's Pillow and Artistic Director of his own ensemble, Avi Scher (July 23), and ¡Flamenco Revolución! (August 27).

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) will release a live recording of the concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge, whose critically acclaimed production of 'Ragtime' transferred from the Kennedy Center to Broadway last fall and is nominated for six Helen Hayes Awards, will direct and choreograph the Reprise Theatre Company production of the 1962 Pulitzer Prize winner 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.' The production will end its run May 23rd.

The Forum Theatre Presents 'They Changed Broadway: From Berlin to Bernstein and Beyond' a benefit performance June 13 at 4pm. 'They Changed Broadway' will benefit Congregation Neve Shalom of Metuchen New Jersey.

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) will release a live recording of the concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.