 | | ||
 | |||
 | |||
Donna recently starred in the revival of FOLLIES at Barrington Stage, earning raves for her portrayl of “Carlotta.” In 2004, Donna starred in MACK AND MABEL at Goodspeed Opera House, earning rave reviews for her role as “Lottie Ames.” This production comes on the heals of her starring role in the concert version at Lincoln Center, where she stopped the show with “Tap Your Troubles Away” alongside The Radio City Rockettes. In 2005, Donna premiered her new concert show GYPSY IN MY SOUL featuring memories and songs she performed while on the road. Always a “gypsy”, the show features show-topping numbers from “Gypsy”, “Follies”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “Can Can” and “A Chorus Line.” Later that year, Donna created a special evening honoring The Public Theatre's founder Joe Papp for the theater's 50th Anniversary. The extended engagement of HERE'S TO THE PUBLIC at The Public's Joe's Pub, received great reviews and had audiences cheering for Donna, her band and her male dancers. Donna is the recipient of the 2002 Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Major Female Entertainer. One of Broadway's leading ladies, Donna McKechnie is also one of the more fascinating concert performers. Her concert show, MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, which received unanimous raves from New York theatre critics, and her full length autobiographical theatrical show INSIDE THE MUSIC (with text by Christopher Durang) captivate audiences wherever they are performed. The CD of INSIDE THE MUSIC was released by Fynsworth Alley. On Broadway, Donna appeared in the Theatre Guild's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer. She is best known for her Tony Award®-winning (BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL) performance as Cassie in A CHORUS LINE. She recreated the role in the first English speaking companies in Tokyo and Paris. Regionally, Donna has played most of the memorable musical leading ladies, from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC to GYPSY to MACK AND MABEL for the Reprise Series in California. Donna has the distinction of playing the three major female characters in FOLLIES, garnering rave reviews and standing ovations. She played Phyllis at The Drury Lane in London, Sally at The Paper Mill Playhouse, and most recently, Carlotta for the Reprise Series in Los Angeles, where she stopped the show every night with her rendition of “I'm Still Here.” Donna's other Broadway credits include HOW TO SUCCEED…, SONDHEIM: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE, which she also choreographed, ON THE TOWN, PROMISES, PROMISES and COMPANY. She recreated her roles in these last two productions in London's West End where she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for PROMISES PROMISES. She also starred in the English production of CAN CAN and NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY which she also choreographed. Donna created the role of Sheila Kelly in ANNIE WARBUCKS, the sequel to ANNIE, in New York. She was invited by Bob Fosse to star in his last production, an American tour of SWEET CHARITY, for which she was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award as Best Actress in a Musical. She was featured, along with Bob Fosse, as Rose in Stanley Donan's THE LITTLE PRINCE. Television audiences remember her from her days on CHEERS, HBO Musical Specials, NBC's HULLABALOO and the cult series DARK SHADOWS. Her website is www.donnamckechnie.com
And The Critics Said....
"
…raw vulnerability make Donna McKechnie quite a singular sensation"
“Exudes an inexhaustible
youthfulness that gladdens the heart as much as the eye and ear.”
“Professionalism
and pizazz grace Donna McKechnie's striking act!”
|