It's a busy time for Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth, who begins filming the TV adaptation of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" this month. Chenoweth, who shot to fame virtually overnight in Broadway's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, will be one of the guest artists at this season's annual Divas at the Donmar Series.
The hit program at London's famed Donmar Warehouse will celebrate its fifth anniversary season this summer, and the 31-year-old actress-singer is one of the "divas" scheduled to perform in concert. Chenoweth will offer six shows from Aug. 25 to Aug. 30 and will include works from her theatre appearances, her TV roles and her Sony Classical CD, "Let Yourself Go!"
Also scheduled to appear in this summer's series is British actor Philip Quast, who starred in the Donmar's production of The Fix as well as London stagings of The Secret Garden and Les Misérables. The "Divas at the Donmar" series has hosted a handful of celebrated performers since its debut at the trendy London theatre in 1999. Some of the talents who have taken part in the West End concerts include Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Barbara Cook and Betty Buckley. The latter recorded her Grammy nominated CD, "Stars and the Moon," live at the intimate theatre.
Kristin Chenoweth made her Broadway debut opposite Bill Irwin in a production of Molière's Scapin and followed that with a lead role in Kander and Ebb's Steel Pier, which earned the actress a Theatre World Award. Roles in A New Brain and City Center Encores! Strike Up the Band ensued, and in 1998 she portrayed Sally in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, nabbing Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for her performance. She starred in her own, short-lived TV series "Kristin," and her other TV appearances include roles in "Frasier" and ABC's television adaptation of the musical Annie. Chenoweth will also take part in Kennedy Center's Richard Rodgers celebration on April 14.
The Donmar Warehouse is located at 41 Earlham Street in London. The telephone number for the theatre's box office is 011 44 20 7369 1732; go to www.donmar-warehouse.com for more information. —By Andrew Gans
