Donna McKechnie Signs on for REAF's HELP IS ON THE WAY 22

Donna McKechnie has just signed on to appear at the REAF Help Is On The Way 22 show on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

"Help is on the Way" is Northern California's largest annual benefit concert benefiting AIDS and hunger programs. It's an elegant evening of fun designed to raise funds for Bay Area AIDS services and hunger programs.

McKechnie received a Tony Award for her performance in the original production of A CHORUS LINE and is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies.

Donna's most recent appearance was at Feinstein's/54 Below in A VISIT WITH KANDER & EBB, which featured McKechnie and her special Broadway guests offering a kaleidoscope of classic Broadway songs from the illustrious career of John Kander and Fred Ebb.

This past summer she was featured in Christopher Gattelli's new musical, IN YOUR ARMS, at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

In 2015 she created the musical staging for a production of SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS starring Leslie Caron at the Laguna Playhouse. Donna is now co-starring in a new production called 4 GIRLS 4 with Maureen McGovern, Andrea McArdle and Faith Prince produced by Wayne Gmitter.

She appeared at 54 Below, NY's celebrated Supper Club, presenting SAME PLACE: ANOTHER TIME, her new musical show and then performed it in London at the Crazy Coqs Supper Club as well as recorded the show live which was produced by Jay Records. In April 2016 she performed in a new Musical Review called, A VISIT WITH KANDER AND EBB.

Her Broadway shows include HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM,(NAT'L TOUR), THE EDUCATION OF H*Y*M*A*N-K*A*P*L*A*N, SONDHEIM- A MUSICAL TRIBUTE (which she also choreographed),ON THE TOWN, PROMISES-PROMISES, COMPANY and STATE FAIR, for which she received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for the 1996 Season, and THE VISIT. She was also featured in ANNIE WARBUCKS and LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE in NY productions.

She has starred in numerous productions in London's West End, including PROMISES-PROMISES, COMPANY, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (which she also choreographed), Cole Porter's CAN-CAN and Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES.

Bob Fosse invited Ms. McKechnie to play the lead in his last production, a National tour of SWEET CHARITY, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Donna's regional credits include THE GLASS MENAGERIE, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES (with River City Rep), IRMA LA DOUCE, CABARET, THE IMAGINARY INVALID, THE THREE PENNY OPERA, THE GOOD-BYE GIRL, FOLLIES, MACK AND MABEL, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, GYPSY, I DO-I DO!, MISALLIANCE, STEPPING OUT, GIRL'S ROOM, and INSIDE THE MUSIC, (her one woman musical with text by Christopher Durang). More recently, she was in John Doyle's production of TEN CENTS A DANCE at Williamstown Theatre Festival and the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ.

Donna's one woman musical, MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE received unanimous raves from NY theatre critics, won a Mac Award Nomination for Best Female Singer and the Bistro Award for Outstanding Major Engagement. She also received a nomination for an Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress (MACK AND MABEL) by the LA Theatre Alliance League. She made her Opera debut in 1996, guest starring in the SF Opera's production of DIE FLEDERMAUS.

Donna has also performed extensively on the concert stage and with symphony orchestras all over the country. She has appeared as guest star in numerous TV specials and dramatic series including HBO SHOWSTOPPERS, FAME, CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, HULLABALOO,TWIRL, and DARK SHADOWS. One of the highlights of her recent professional life was to choreograph the highly acclaimed GUYS AND DOLLS at the Hollywood Bowl directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.

A few seasons ago she opened the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and completed her first tour of Australia performing My MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE. Ms. McKechnie's memoir, TIME STEPS- My Musical Comedy Life, was published by Simon and Schuster.

Donna was featured in the documentary film, EVERY LITTLE STEP and played the Rose in the film of THE LITTLE PRINCE. This is Donna's third appearance in a "Help is on the Way" production

IF YOU GO:

HELP IS ON THE WAY 22 - On The Red Carpet, "Idols & Icons"

Featuring tributes to Stephen Sondheim, Carole King, David Bowie, Natalie Cole, Prince & more!

22nd Annual Gala - Northern California's Largest Annual, Star-studded Concert & Gala benefiting Meals on Wheels of San Francisco &AIDS Legal Referral Panel

SUN., AUG. 21, 2016 - HERBST THEATRE - 401 VAN NESS AVE. in SF

Silent Auction (main lobby): 4:00 pm

VIP Gala Seated Dinner: 5:00 pm

New This Year:

The 3-course seated dinner will be catered by Molto Benne Catering with paired wines provided by Viszlay Vineyards preceded by a 30 minute cocktail reception on the terrace off the Green Room.

A brief fashion show segment will feature the gowns of Anna Ortega. Live auction at dinner.

Performance: 7:30 - 9:30 pm

Club REAF After Party with cast: 9:30 - 11:45 pm (music by GoBANG)

Including (scheduled to appear): Contantine Maroulis, Kimberley Locke, La Toya London, Melinda Doolittle, Marissa Jaret Winokur, DONNA McKECKNIE, Jai Rodriguez, Carole Cook, MICHAEL WALTERS as Dame Edna, BRANDEN JAMES with James Clark, Paula West, Sally Struthers, JASON BROCK, SONY HOLLAND, TRISTAN BOUGARDE, THE CAST OF BEAUTIFUL (B'way Touring Cast Of The Carole King Musical)

VIP & Gala Underwriter Tickets: www.reaf-sf.org or call 415- 273 -1620.

VIP Underwriter level tickets are $350 and include pre-show seated dinner, performance and Club REAF after party. Gala Underwriter tickets are $175 and include performance and Club REAF afterparty. All Underwriters are also invited to an Underwriter Appreciation Party at E&O Kitchen and Bar on August 9, 2016. A portion of the Underwriter level tickets help underwrite the cost of the event. An extensive silent auction precedes the show starting at 4:00 pm.

Performance Only Tickets - $75 & $50 (Dress Circle & Balcony) - Performance Only Tickets available from City Box Office - 415-392-4400 or www.Cityboxoffice.com.

HELP IS ON THE WAY XXII is produced by The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, founded by the late Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet in memory of their sons, John Richmond and Doug Ermet, who both lost their lives to AIDS. In 1995, the two women decided not to get mad but get even when they launched a musical AIDS benefit to honor their sons by raising funds for AIDS service organizations. To date REAF has raised well over $3 million dollars for AIDS services and, beginning in 2015 also began to support hunger programs and programs for homeless and underserved youth.

GALA CO-CHAIRS: Sophie Azouaou, Dr. Albert Chow, Ashley McCumber, Eileen Blum Bourgade

HONORARY COMMITTEE: Senator Diane Feinstein & Mr. Richard Blum, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Mark Leno, Supervisor Scott Weiner

GALA COMMITTEE Kaye Cloutman, Joel Goodrich, Dr. David Kang, Dr. Lisa Kang, Jon Leitner, Jerold Osato, Terea Rodriguez, Esfir F. Shrayber, Bilques Smith, Doug Waggoner, Lawrence Wong, Dianne Pettigrew-Yancey

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