Photo Flash: McKechnie, Ballard, Montevecchi Prepare for FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE

Hollywood and Broadway legends Kaye Ballard, Donna McKechnie and Liliane Montevecchi will star in a one-night-only gala performance "From Broadway with Love" at the historic Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The Broadway performance will benefit Animal Protection of New Mexico, a non-profit organization that has been challenging historic and widespread animal cruelty in New Mexico for more than 30 years.  Hilary Knight, internationally renowned illustrator, will design the art for the event.

Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, "From Broadway with Love" will reunite Ballard, McKechnie, and Montevecchi in a one-time performance for the first time since performing together in Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" in 1998.  "I am thrilled to be working with these three great, legendary and uniquely gifted women in a one-of-a-kind event that will raise money for such a worthy cause," said Richard Jay-Alexander, director of "From Broadway with Love."  The show will begin with Ballard, McKechnie and Montevecchi performing together with music, comedy and dance.  It will continue with individual performances from the Broadway stars, and they will reunite in the show's grand finale.

"Animal Protection of New Mexico is deeply honored to benefit from this special Broadway performance with three of 'The Great White Way's' most beloved stars" said Lisa Jennings, executive director of Animal Protection of New Mexico.  "We have been working to promote the humane treatment of animals since 1979 through education, public outreach and enhanced laws.  With an event such as this, we can further encourage people to make a positive difference for animals on a daily basis.  The humane treatment of all animals is a passion for Kaye, Donna and Liliane and their performance is sure to bring down the house."

Ballard starred on Broadway in "The Golden Apple," "Carnival," "Molly," "Pirates of Penzance," "Gypsy," "Funny Girl," "Nunsense," and Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."  She has been in numerous films including "The Girl Most Likely," "A House Not A Home," "Freaky Friday," "Which Way To The Front," and "The Ritz."  Ballard has guest starred in numerous television programs including "The Doris Day Show," "The Muppet Show," "Match Game," "The Tonight Show," "Carol Burnett Show," and the live telecast of Rodger & Hammerstein's "Cinderella."  In addition, she co-starred with Eve Arden in the NBC sitcom "Mothers-in-Law" which was re-released on DVD in July. 

 Recently completing "My Musical Comedy Life" in New York and touring in Australia, Tony Award winner McKechnie has been performing in on-stage productions for more than 50 years.  She is best known for her Tony Award winning role as Cassie in the musical "A Chorus Line."  In addition, McKechnie has starred in numerous Broadway productions including "The Education of Hyman Kaplan," "Promises, Promises," "State Fair," "On the Town" and Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."  She has guest starred in several television programs including "Cheers," "Fame," "Family Ties," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In."

Receiving a Tony Award for her portrayal of Liliane La Fluer in "Nine," Montevecchi began her career as a prima ballerina.  Inspired by dance, she began a film career in the 1950s and starred in "King Creole" with Elvis Presley, "Meet Me in Las Vegas" with Cyd Charisse, "The Sad Sack" with Jerry Lewis, and "The Glass Slipper."  She left Hollywood for a leading role in "Follies Bergére."  Montevecchi's Broadway credits include starring in "Nine," "Grand Hotel," "La Plume de Ma Tanta," and Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."  She also appeared in the films "Wall Street" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and recently starred in the production "Love, Chaos and Couture" in San Francisco.

Jay-Alexander has a 35-year Broadway career.  He was associate director and executive producer of the original Broadway, touring and Canadian companies of "Les Miserables," "The Phanton of the Opera," "Miss Saigon," and "Five Guys Named Moe," He was also associated with the Broadway revival of "Oliver!" and the Broadway production of "Song & Dance."  In addition, Jay-Alexander is known for staging major concert performances with Grammy Award winners including Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, and Bette Midler.

Artist Hilary Knight has designed the playbill for "From Broadway with Love."  Among his other theatre posters are "Gypsy," "Irene," "Hallelujah Baby!" and "Sugar Babies."  Mr. Knight has illustrated more than 60 books and worked for a variety of clients including the cover of the 2010 Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalog.  This past spring, he created a mural for Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hilfiger's apartment in New York's Plaza Hotel, home of Mr. Knight's and Author Kay Thompson's illustrious creation Eloise.

The benefit performance "From Broadway with Love" starring Kaye Ballard, Donna McKechnie and Liliane Montevecchi will take place on December 4, 2010 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 West San Francisco Street, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets range in price between $35 and $400.  The $400 priced seats include a post-show champagne reception and vegan dinner attended by the cast and crew, as well as a collectible oversized print of the playbill cover autographed by Ballard, McKechnie, Montevecchi, Jay-Alexander, and Knight.  Tickets are available at www.TicketsSantaFe.org, or by calling the box office at 505 988-1234.  All proceeds from the event will benefit Animal Protection of New Mexico.

The Lensic is a performing arts center located in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It opened in 1931 as a movie and vaudeville theater, operating for 69 years before closing in 2000. The non-profit Lensic Performing Arts Center re-opened in April 2001, following an ambitious renovation funded by a capital campaign that raised $9 million. The twelve-month renovation restored the theater's period architectural splendor and substantially increased its technical capabilities. The Lensic is now a world-class, state-of-the-art, 821-seat performance venue and has quickly emerged as one of New Mexico's 'treasures.' It is a fine example of the power of community collaboration and commitment and serves as a vibrant cultural catalyst for Santa Fe and beyond, along with being a significant resource for New Mexico.

The Lensic enriches lives by bringing diverse art and people together in the historic theater, a cornerstone of downtown Santa Fe since it opened.  It presents and supports local and national artists and serves as a center for education, community and youth events through its accessible and affordable programming.