Donna McKechnie News

Today we celebrate a major milestone anniversary of a legendary Broadway mainstay, A CHORUS LINE.

In anticipation of his own upcoming solo concert debut, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New sat down with three respected artists in the cabaret world to ask them about the impetus for getting into cabaret, what they've learned, and what inspires them.

The smell of cigarette smoke, sounds on the catwalk, and other strange sounds in the upper balcony during performances of 'The Visit' at the Lyceum has the cast and crew thinking it could only be one thing: the ghost of Bob Fosse.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the Orange County premiere of the Smash-Hit, Off-Broadway musical, MURDER FOR TWO, book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair, choreography by Wendy Seyb, musical direction by David Caldwell and direction by Scott Schwartz.

Baldwin-Wallace University today announced alumni Mark Danni of Naples, Florida has been named a 2015 Outstanding Educator. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Danni is a 1988 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace University.

The Public Theater announced a special 40th anniversary tribute to A CHORUS LINE on Thursday, April 16 in honor of the first performance of this legendary musical that premiered in The Public's Newman Theater 40 years ago and went on to make musical theater history.

Rick McKay, the producer/director of Rick McKay's Broadway: The Golden Age Film Trilogy, just unveiled the last 25 minutes of the 2010 'Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch' benefit concert for Fran Liebergall, the original rehearsal pianist and Musical Supervisor of A CHORUS LINE. Watch footage of the event below!

Tonight, March 6, noted arranger Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook showmanship to the Schimmel Center at Pace University in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Irving Berlin.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: JOSEPHINE AND I begins off-Broadway and more!

Producers announced today that Tony® Award-winner Donna McKechnie will be the STANDBY for the lead role of Claire Zachannassian in the highly anticipated musical, The Visit, soon to open on Broadway. The Visit will begin performances at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 26 with an Opening Night set for Thursday, April 23. Tickets are now available on Telecharge.com.

MILWAUKEE, WIS. 02/02/2015 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Pops presents One Singular Sensation: A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch tonight, February 14, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The performance celebrates four decades of his magnificent contributions to music. Hamlisch, who wrote timeless music for both Broadway and film, won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, and a Tony in his lifetime. The concert features conductor Larry Blank with vocalists Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson, and Doug LaBrecque.

On Friday, March 6, noted arranger Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook showmanship to the Schimmel Center at Pace University in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Irving Berlin. Hailed by George Gershwin as 'the greatest songwriter that has ever lived,' the legendary Irving Berlin composed some of the most influential and widely-known songs ever written, many of which have come to form the Great American Songbook. Fred Barton now brings the power of Berlin's Broadway sound front and center, with a hot 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 17 Broadway singers and dancers, and direction and choreography by Jason Wise.

Centenary Stage Company to present World Premiere production of Joni Fritz's Susan Glaspell Award Winning In the Car with Blossom and Len on February 20 and running until March 8 in the Sitnik Theatre of the David and Carol Lackland Center. Work-shopped during last season's annual Women Playwrights Series, In the Car with Blossom and Len proved that family dynamics can be the source of endless comedic material and received an overwhelming response.

MILWAUKEE, WIS. 02/02/2015 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Pops presents One Singular Sensation: A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch on February 14, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The performance celebrates four decades of his magnificent contributions to music. Hamlisch, who wrote timeless music for both Broadway and film, won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, and a Tony in his lifetime. The concert features conductor Larry Blank with vocalists Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson, and Doug LaBrecque.

TheatreZone is returning to its roots to celebrate their 10th anniversary with four live concerts featuring a cast of 13 fan favorite performers from the non profit theatre group's past decade of musicals.

Centenary Stage Company to present World Premiere production of Joni Fritz's Susan Glaspell Award Winning In the Car with Blossom and Len on February 20 and running until March 8 in the Sitnik Theatre of the David and Carol Lackland Center. Work-shopped during last season's annual Women Playwrights Series, In the Car with Blossom and Len proved that family dynamics can be the source of endless comedic material and received an overwhelming response.

After seeing the new INTO THE WOODS movie twice over the holidays, I posted on Twitter about how two of the songs had stuck with me. After a tweet conversation, my BWW colleague Jeff Walker and I decided to put our heads together to try and come up with a list of Sondheim's most hummable tunes. Despite not discussing it beforehand, Jeff ended up picking songs from the 1960s and 70s, and I filled in the gaps with numbers from the 80s and 90s.

Please mark your calendars for the next Steps Beyond's Artists Talk: 'Hear It From The Pros,' a discussion on working in the business of Broadway with three stars who have enjoyed successful and long-term careers. DONNA McKECHNIE, GROVER DALE, and RANDY SKINNER will share fascinating stories and information about their years on Broadway, TV, film, and cabaret, discussing how to thrive, survive, and stay relevant in a competitive and ever-changing business. The artists will also take questions, and a reception will follow. Today January 24, 7 PM, at Steps on Broadway, 2121 Broadway.

Steps on Broadway, one of New York's premiere dance studios, has announced that the Steps Beyond Foundation, its educational and presenting program, has received non-profit status, enabling the organization to provide more services and support to the artistic community.

The John W. Engeman Theater has announced the cast and creative team for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Performances begin tonight, January 22, 2015 at 8:00pm and run through March 8, 2015.