Donna McKechnie was born on November 16,1942 and is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer.
19 Facts About Donna McKechnie
2.
Donna McKechnie is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on her most noted role, the character of Cassie in the musical A Chorus Line.
3.
Donna McKechnie earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this performance in 1976.
4.
Donna McKechnie studied for many years at the Rose Marie Floyd School of Dance in Royal Oak.
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Donna McKechnie studied theatre at HB Studio in New York City.
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Donna McKechnie appeared as Philia in the national tour of Forum, starring Jerry Lester, with Paul Hartman, Erik Rhodes, Arnold Stang and Edward Everett Horton, produced by Martin Tahse.
7.
Donna McKechnie was part of Bennett's group therapy-style workshops that evolved into the Broadway smash A Chorus Line, in which she portrayed Cassie, a character based in large part on herself.
8.
Donna McKechnie danced her third famous Bennett-McKechnie number, "The Music and the Mirror", in which the vocal sections were tailored to her unusually wide range.
9.
Donna McKechnie's performance earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
10.
Donna McKechnie married Bennett in 1976, but after only a few months they separated and eventually divorced, although they remained good friends until his death from AIDS in 1987.
11.
In 1980, Donna McKechnie was diagnosed with arthritis and told she never would dance again.
12.
Donna McKechnie pursued various physical, psychological, and holistic healing remedies, and was well enough to return to the Broadway company of A Chorus Line in 1986.
13.
Donna McKechnie participated in the Chorus Line extravaganza to celebrate its then record-breaking run on Broadway in September 1983.
14.
Donna McKechnie played Suzi Laird on several episodes of Fame.
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Donna McKechnie starred opposite Carol Lawrence in the Los Angeles and New York production of Joni Fritz's Girl's Room, produced by Dennis Grimaldi and directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, both former Michael Bennett dancers.
16.
In 2001, Donna McKechnie created the role of Lela Rogers, mother of Ginger Rogers, in the world premiere of Ginger: The Musical.
17.
In 2002, Donna McKechnie starred in the pre-Broadway production of the Jerry Herman musical revue Showtune.
18.
In June 2010, Donna McKechnie appeared at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
19.
Donna McKechnie was on the faculty of HB Studio in New York City.