Directed by Robert J. Eagle and choreographed by Eileen Grace, Nanette will play the Waltham theatre through Aug. 16.
Joining McKechnie as Lucille are Jessica Greeley as Nanette, Mary Jane Houdina as Sue, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy as Pauline, Russell Rhodes as Billy, Jerry Walker as Jimmy, Jason Michael Butler as Tom, Alyssa Trasher as Betty, Whitney Snow as Flora and Eleni Kmiec as Winnie.
The ensemble comprises Joseph Cullinane, Jason Gaffney, Matthew Romero, Paul Reynolds, Cory Stewart, Scott Abreu, Matthew Kossack, Robert Rodems, Andrew Holder, Michael Reckling, Michael Graceffa, Colin Pritchard, Daniel Nickerson, Jessica Azenberg, Meredith Langton, Korinne Robertson, Rachel Bertone, Annie Leese, Courtney Grassia, Valerie Mayne, Gillian Gordon, Keisha Gillies, Avital Asuleen, Amanda Chambers, Shannon McGrattan, Angela Richardson and Sarah Landry.
No, No, Nanette is based on Frank Mandel and Emily Nyitray's comedy My Lady Friends. The musical features a score by Vincent Youmans (music) and Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach (lyrics). The show includes such tunes as "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy."
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." The Reagle Players perform at the Robinson Theater, located at 617 Lexington Street in Waltham, MA. Tickets, priced $35-$49, are available by calling (781) 891-5600 or by visiting www.reagleplayers.com. Group discounts are available for ten or more by calling (781) 894-2330.
