Donna McKechnie, Will Swenson, and More Join Cast of PZAZZ 101 Series

Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line, Company, Promises, Promises), Tony Award nominee Will Swenson (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Hair), Jill Paice (Rebecca, Death Takes A Holiday, Curtains), Jeremy Kushnier (Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys, Footloose) and Jim Walton (Merrily We Roll Along, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd) have joined the cast of the Broadway-themed web series PZAZZ 101.

Created and performed by Wade Dooley (The Awesome 80s Prom), a new episode of PZAZZ 101 is released each Wednesday at www.PZAZZ101.com.

Also featured are Mary’s “regular” class members Megan Bowers, Danielle Faitelson, Paige Patterson, Maria Pendolino, Ernie Pruneda and Brian Marchetti.

The second season of PZAZZ 101 has been causing a stir on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter with episodes featuring other previously-announced cast members including Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Baby It’s You), Laura Osnes (Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes) and her husband Nathan Johnson, Kyle Dean Massey (Wicked, Next to Normal), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, (A Little Night Music), Tony Yazbeck (Chicago, Gypsy), Elizabeth DeRosa (Mary Poppins), Taylor Sternberg (Jersey Boys), Jed Resnick (Avenue Q), Rashidra Scott (Sister Act) and David Hull (How to Succeed...).

"My dear friend, Mary, and I had such a wonderful time working together on my last headshot session,” said Laura Osnes. “She was so patient, despite my near-inadequacy, and I hope that my new headshot will really set me apart and help me win that Tony Award some day.” Osnes’s episode was one of the fastest climbing in series history with fans creating their own images and avatars on Tumblr. (http://lauraosnesfansite.tumblr.com/post/28486984914)

The series, directed by Isaac Klein (Assistant Director of Broadway’s West Side Story and Gypsy), is centered around Mary Shennanbargger, former performer turned teacher, as she helps Broadway’s best and brightest find their footing on the Great White Way. She knows everything there is to know about entertainment and she’s ready to share the wealth. Pull up a chair, grab a Werther’s and get ready to say “Wow!”

Season one of PZAZZ 101 featured Wesley Taylor (Smash), Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot), Jenn Colella (High Fidelity), Marla Mindelle (Sister Act), Rachelle Rak (Catch Me If You Can) and, as always, Mary’s favorite pianist, James Jackson, Jr. (I Love Myself When I’m Laughing at Joe’s Pub). Previous episodes are available at PZAZZ101.com.

Season two of PZAZZ 101 is produced by Brian Marchetti and Maria Pendolino with photography by Jesse Patch and Ryan Hunter and original theme music and lyrics by Steven Silverstein (Blood Brothers, When Pigs Fly) and Andrew Zachary Cohen (Lombardi, Finian’s Rainbow).

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes