The Legendary Donna McKechnie 'My Musical Comedy Life' Opens Tonight!

Donna McKechnie, BROADWAY ICON & STAR
OF THE ORIGINAL "A CHORUS LINE"
Performs "MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE" February 12th and 13th
in a three performance run at The PlayGround Theatre

MIAMI SHORES --- Donna McKechnie, Tony-Award winner and star of the original "A Chorus Line" performs her unique theatrical experience, "MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE" in an exclusive, South Florida engagement as part of The PlayGround Theatre's new project, Between Engagements. Ms. McKechnie, one of Broadway's most beloved and enduring stars appears in the limited, three-performance run at The PlayGround Theatre in Miami Shores on Saturday, February 12th at 8pm and Sunday, February 13th at 2pm and 7:30pm. "MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE," is Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with Musical Direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

Tickets for the Saturday, February 12th performance are $50 and $100 (which includes premium seating & post-performance party). Sunday's 2pm performance tickets are $30, with 7:30pm performance tickets at $45. Tickets and information available at The PlayGround Theatre box office, 305-751-9550, www.theplaygroundtheatre.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Accomplished Director/Producer Richard Jay-Alexander will join Ms. McKechnie in offering intimate master classes and workshops to a limited number of local actors and performing arts students.

• Mr. Jay-Alexander will conduct two workshops on Saturday, February 19th for children and teenagers considering careers in theatre. There is a $30 fee for all workshop participants.
o 10am-1pm for ages 7-13
o 2pm-5pm for ages 14-17

(Donna with Robert LuPone In The Original Production Of A CHORUS LINE)

• Ms. McKechnie's master class will be held on The PlayGround Theatre stage on February 7th, 4-7pm (participants must be 15+). Attendees will have one-on-one access to Ms. McKechnie. The fee for the master class is $35. Space will be extremely limited; some scholarships will be available. 

Ms. McKechnie, the Tony-award wining star of "A Chorus Line" is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. Some of Ms. McKechnie's 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 H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N," "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 1996 season. She has starred in numerous productions, in London's West End, including "PROMISES-PROMISES," "COMPANY," "NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY" (which she also choreographed), "CAN-CAN," and "FOLLIES." Bob Fosse invited Ms. McKechnie to play the lead in his last production, a national tour of "SWEET CHARITY," for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Her regional credits "IRMA LA DOUCHE," "CABARET," "THE IMAGINARY INVALID," "THE GOODBYE GIRL," "FOLLIES," "MACK AND MABLE," "GYPSY," "I DO-I DO!," "MISALLIANCE," "SHEBA," "THE GLASS MENAGERIE," "STEPPING OUT," "GIRL'S ROOM" and "INSIDE THE MUSIC" (her one woman musical with text by Christopher Durang).

Ms. McKechnie has performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret, and with symphony orchestras. She has appeared as a guest star in numerous television musical specials and dramatic series including "FAME," "CHEERS," "FAMILY TIES," "HULLABALLOO," "TWIRL," and "DARK SHADOWS." She also portrayed The Rose in the film "THE LITTLE PRINCE." Her recently released memoir, "TIME STEPS: My Musical Comedy Life," was published by Simon & Schuster. Last summer, she choreographed the highly acclaimed "GUYS AND DOLLS" at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. Donna was featured in the documentary film "EVERY LITTLE STEP" which was released last year. She began the summer of 2010 performing at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has recently completed her first tour of Australia with "MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE."

Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

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