 Donna McKechnie
(Faculty)Donna will be teaching:
Musical Theater
Voice for the Musical Theater Stage at the following locations:
Washington D.C. Bio
Tony Award-winning star of A CHORUS LINE, Ms. McKechnie is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing stars. Donna has recently returned from London after a successful "out of town" tryout with her new cabaret show, "Gypsy in My Soul."
Her cabaret show, MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, which received unanimous raves from New York theater critics, won a MAC AWARD NOMINATION for Best Female Singer and the BACKSTAGE BISTRO AWARD for Outstanding Major Engagement. Donna's full-length auto-biographical theatrical show, INSIDE THE MUSIC (with text by Christopher Durang) captives audiences wherever it is performed.
Donna enjoyed one of her greatest triumphs as Sally in the acclaimed revival of FOLLIES in the spring of 1998. Since that appearance, she choreographed and performed in NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY at the Arts' Theatre in London's West End where she had starred in Cole Porter's CAN-CAN at the Strand a few seasons before.
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 HYMAN KAPLAN; 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 1995-1996 season.
She also starred in dozens of regional theatre productions including Cole Porter's YOU NEVER KNOW at the Pasadena Playhouse, I DO! I DO!, MISALLIANCE, THE GOODBYE GIRL and GYPSY. Ms. McKechnie played the lead in Bob Fosse's last production, a national tour of SWEET CHARITY, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award.
In 2001, Donna received a nomination for an OVATION AWARD for Best Featured Actress (MACK and MABEL) from the LA Theater Alliance League.
Donna has performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret and with symphony orchestras. She made her opera debut in December 1996, guest starring in the San Francisco Opera's production of DIE FLEDERMAUS.
She has appeared as a guest star in numerous television musical specials and dramatic series including FAME, CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, TWIRL and DARK SHADOWS. Donna 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.
Donna McKechnie
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