Donna McKechnie (born November 16, 1942) is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer. She is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on her most noted role, "Cassie" from the musical A Chorus Line, for which she earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1976. She is also known for playing Amanda Harris/Olivia Corey on the Gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows from 1969 to 1970.
Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Turkey Lurkey Time, You Could Drive a Person Crazy, The Music and the Mirror
Nominations
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production, Turkey Lurkey Time, You Could Drive a Person Crazy, The Music and the Mirror
Movies
The Little Mermaid, The Little Prince, Original Cast Album: Company
TV Shows
Hullabaloo
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Quote
1
"Once, I was out of a job and I was really scared because I couldn't pay the rent...I was cleaning the apartment, crying and feeling sorry for myself...The game show Jeopardy! (1964) was on [and] I heard my name. I looked up and I was the answer to a question. It was so ironic".
2
I was terribly shy, but I was always in harmony when I was dancing.
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Fact
1
Appearing with Carol Lawrence in the play "Girl's Room" at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. [October 2008]
2
Release of her autobiography, "Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life". [September 2006]
3
She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
4
The night her father died, Sir Laurence Olivier was in the audience of a performance of "A Chorus Line". Donna went on, claiming that the only way she could cope was to go on with the show. When she was doing a production of "Sweet Charitiy", she learned that longtime friend and former husband Michael Bennett had died of AIDS. Again, she went on for the performance, claiming it helped her deal with his death and Michael would have wanted her to.
5
The character of Maggie in "A Chorus Line" is partially based on her childhood.
6
Won Broadway's 1976 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "A Chorus Line."
7
Trained in ballet at age 7, she ran away from home at the age of 15 to New York to become a dancer. She got a show on her very first audition.
8
Met second husband, Michael Bennett, when both were dancers on the Hullabaloo (1965) variety show in the mid-60s. After he turned into a famous choreographer and director, she became a major Michael Bennett dancer, utilizing her talents in "Promises, Promises", "Company" and, of course, "A Chorus Line" in which she won both the Tony and Drama Desk awards as the over-the-hill dancer "Cassie" who gets to sing the show-stopping "The Music and the Mirror".
9
Married once very briefly in 1965.
10
Made her Broadway debut in 1961 in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
11
In the late 70s she was forced to abandon the limelight when she became nearly paralyzed by rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors told her she may never walk again, let alone dance. Thanks to intense physical therapy and proper nutrition, she battled back and miraculously returned to perform the "Chorus Line" role of Cassie again in 1983 at age 43.
12
Has performed her one-woman singing/dancing show "Inside the Music" since 1997.
13
Bob Fosse died shortly before the curtain went up on his last successful musical venture, the revival of "Sweet Charity", starring Donna in the title role.
14
1958 Graduate of Troy High School, Troy, Michigan, USA.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
36 Saints
2013
Miss El
Smash
2013
TV Series
Female Previewer
Pzazz 101
2012
TV Series
Donna
Aladdin
1990
TV Movie
Fatima the Dancing Doll
Faerie Tale Theatre
1987
TV Series
Anemone
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1986
TV Series
Sandra Wall
Fame
1984-1985
TV Series
Suzi Laird
Susan Laird
MacGruder and Loud
1985
TV Series
Barbara
Breakin' Through
1984
TV Movie
Family Ties
1983
TV Series
Cynthia
Loving
1983
TV Series
Margie (1993)
Cheers
1982
TV Series
Debra
Twirl
1981
TV Movie
Louise
The Little Prince
1974
The Rose
Dark Shadows
1969-1970
TV Series
Amanda Harris / Olivia Corey
N.Y.P.D.
1968
TV Series
Billie
1965
Dancer (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 42nd Annual Tony Awards
1988
TV Special performer: "Music and the Mirror"
Great Performances
1985
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Fame
1984
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Little Prince
1974
performer: "Be Happy"
The 23rd Annual Tony Awards
1969
TV Special performer: "She Likes Basketball/Turkey Lurkey Time"
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Billie
1965
assistant choreographer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Making the Boys
2011
Documentary this movie count not have been made without the help and support of
Every Little Step
2008
Documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Pearl Bailey Show
1971
TV Series
Herself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1969-1971
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest
Original Cast Album: Company
1970
Documentary
Herself (Kathy)
The 23rd Annual Tony Awards
1969
TV Special
Herself - Performer
Hullabaloo
1966
TV Series
Dancer
Talent Scouts
1962
TV Series
Herself
Broadway: The Next Generation
2018
Documentary filming
Herself
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2017
Documentary post-production
Herself
Move
Documentary filming
Herself
Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love
2013
Documentary
Herself
Move TV
2012
TV Series
Herself
Every Little Step
2008
Documentary
Herself - Original Cassie
Broadway: The American Musical
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself / Cassie (in 'A Chorus Line')
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
$250 Thousand
