Donna McKechnie, the Broadway trouper legendary for playing "Cassie" in A Chorus Line, steps into the solo cabaret spotlight at Arci's Place in Manhattan July 24-Aug. 4.

An Evening With Donna McKechnie features songs and stories from the varied career of the Tony Award-winner, who appeared in such landmark shows as How to Succeed in Business, Promises, Promises and Company. This is her first cabaret appearance since 1987, although she has been developing a theatre version of this Evening called Inside the Music. Thommie Walsh (her fellow Chorus Line performer) directs. Musical director Phillip Fortenberry is on piano. McKechnie previewed her act at Arci's for one night in June and returns for this longer run.

McKechnie will soon star in an intriguing theatrical footnote: She'll play Lola in a musical version of Come Back, Little Sheba, called Sheba, Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the White Barn Theatre in Westport, CT. The show closed out of town in the 1970s. The original Ralph Burns orchestrations were unearthed and the full production at White Barn plays only four performances. Lee Goldsmith wrote book and lyrics, Clint Ballard wrote the score.

An Evening With Donna McKechnie performances are 9 PM Tuesday, 8:30 PM and 11 PM Friday-Saturday. Tickets are $30 with a $15 food-drink minimum. Arci's is at 450 Park Avenue South between 30th and 31st Streets. For information or reservations, call (212) 532-4370.

* Karen Mason, the respected actress-singer who starred in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway and in Los Angeles, continues her engagement, titled Classics, at Arci's to July 21. Mason will co-star in Broadway's Mamma Mia! as Tonya, pal of the mother-of-the-bride. Barry Kleinbort directs and Christopher Denny musical directs Classics.

— By Kenneth Jones