Michael McKean Will Host 'BROADWAY ON BROADWAY 2009' On 9/13

Michael McKean, star of the upcoming Broadway play Superior Donuts, will host Broadway on Broadway 2009 (www.broadwayonbroadway.com) on Sunday, September 13th at 11:30 a.m., it was announced today by The Broadway League and The Times Square Alliance.

Presented by Buick LaCrosse and Continental Airlines, the annual free outdoor concert brings together stars and performances from current and upcoming Broadway productions to celebrate the beginning of the new Broadway season. For the event, Times Square will be "shut down" to make room for tens of thousands of attendees. This kickoff to the 2009-2010 Broadway season stretches from 43rd to 47th Streets and fans should arrive early for a good spot.

Mr. McKean, who has performed on Broadway numerous times, is perhaps best known as Lenny Kosnowski on "Laverne and Shirley" and David St. Hubbins on "This Is Spinal Tap," will host a show featuring appearances and performances by stars from upcoming productions such as Bye Bye Birdie, Fela!, Memphis, Finian's Rainbow and Ragtime as well as some of Broadway's most beloved shows, including Billy Elliot The Musical, Burn the Floor, Chicago, HAIR, In The Heights, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Next To Normal, The Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Shrek The Musical, South Pacific, West Side Story, Wicked, and more. All appearances are subject to change.

This year's Broadway on Broadway is part of Back2Broadway Month (www.ILoveNYTheater.com). Back2Broadway Month will celebrate Broadway overall, highlight the new season and provide added value components for consumers including free events, talkbacks, concerts, interactive activities and more. Events include: Broadway Salutes special event on September 22nd to celebrate those who have worked over 25 years on Broadway, Insider View Post-Show Talkbacks on Tuesdays, Broadway Tweet-ups, Broadway Open Call Karaoke, Broadway Open House Theatre Tours, SIRIUS XM Radio "Live on Broadway" hosted by Seth Rudetsky, Talent Panels on Wednesdays, Broadway Dance lessons in Times Square on Fridays, Kids Night on Broadwayâ, promotions and much more.

"It is an honor to be hosting this year's Broadway on Broadway," commented Michael McKean. "I am thrilled to be a part of the Broadway community and I look forward to kicking off the new Broadway season at this amazing event."

"You couldn't ask for a more dramatic and dynamic stage than the Crossroads of the World," said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, "and at Broadway on Broadway, Times Square plays host not only to a galaxy of stars from the Great White Way, but also welcomes an international audience of thousands fans to catch performances from their favorite Broadway shows. With Super Donuts star and comic genius Michael McKean at the helm, we're in for a great show."

"With over 20 new shows scheduled to open by the end of the year, we're thrilled to be kicking off the new Broadway season with our dazzling outdoor concert," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League." Broadway on Broadway is a perfect way to lead in to the compelling events and special show/restaurant offers that are part of the new September Back2Broadway Month!"

Broadway on Broadway kicks off the 2008 - 2009 Broadway season and is produced by The Broadway League and The Times Square Alliance. Broadway on Broadway is proudly presented by Buick LaCrosse Continental Airlines with official sponsor, The New York Times. Additional support is provided by Theatre Development Fund and the Music Performance Fund. IMG Media, the world's largest packager and producer of sports and live event television, is producing Broadway on Broadway for the third time.

The Broadway League, Inc., founded in 1930 as the League of New York Theatres, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and across the U.S. and Canada. Visit our website at http://www.broadwayleague.com.

The Times Square Alliance, founded in 1992, works to improve and promote Times Square. In addition to providing safety and sanitation services, the Alliance coordinates many major events in Times Square including New Year's Eve, manages the City's busiest Tourism Center and advocates on behalf of its constituents with respect to a host of public policy, planning and quality-of-life issues. Visit www.TimesSquareNYC.org for more information.

Michael McKean has appeared on Broadway in The Homecoming (2008 Drama Desk, ensemble), The Pajama Game, Hairspray, and Accomplice (Theatre World Award). Off-Broadway, he was in Woody Allen's A Second Hand Memory. Elsewhere: Love Song (London), South Pacific (Hollywood Bowl), On the Razzle (Williamstown). TV: "Laverne & Shirley," "Dream On," "Sessions," "Tracy Takes On," "Saturday Night Live," "Primetime Glick," "Friends," "The X Files," "The Simpsons," "Law & Order," "Alias," "Boston Legal," "The Unit," etc. Film: "This is Spinal Tap," "The Big Picture" (co-wrote both), "Clue," "Coneheads," "The Brady Bunch Movie," "True Crime," "Jack," "Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind," "For Your Consideration," "Whatever Works," many more. Recently toured 30 U.S. cities with Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer ("Unwigged & Unplugged") and appeared with "Spinal Tap" at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival and Wembley Arena in support of the recently released Tap recording, "Back From The Dead." Co-wrote the Grammy-winning theme to "A Mighty Wind" (with Guest and Eugene Levy), and the Oscar-nominated "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," with his wife Annette O'Toole.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.