Tony Winner McKechnie Makes a Splash May 12

By Andrew Gans
May 12, 2008

Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award-winning star of the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line, makes an appearance at Splash Bar in Manhattan May 12.

McKechnie and author Frank Vlastnik will be on hand to autograph copies of their respective books, "Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life" and "Broadway Musicals — The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time."

And, as part of Scott Nevins' Curtain Call series at the popular dance club, McKechnie will perform several of her Broadway showstoppers following the weekly "Musical Mondays" video presentations of Broadway performances. McKechnie's concert is scheduled for 11:30 PM.

Best known for her Tony-winning performance as Cassie in the original production of A Chorus Line, Donna McKechnie has appeared in a plethora of musicals both on and Off-Broadway, some of which include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Company, State Fair, Can-Can, Annie Get Your Gun, I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road, State Fair and Promises, Promises. In her first full length, one-woman musical celebration, Inside the Music, McKechnie performed songs from several of these productions and offered personal anecdotes about her experiences with some of the theatre’s finest actors, directors, producers and writers. A live recording of that act was released on the Fynsworth Alley label. Simon & Schuster published McKechnie's autobiography, "Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life."

Frank Vlastnik — author of "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time" — appeared in the original Broadway casts of Big, Sweet Smell of Success and A Year with Frog and Toad. He can currently be seen Off-Broadway in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Westside Theatre.

Splash Bar is located in Manhattan at 50 W. 17th Street. Admission is free until 10 PM; there is a $5 charge after that time. Attendees must be 21 or older with identification.