donna mckechnie

Broadway legend Donna McKechnie leads full cast of The Wild Party

Full cast announced for The Wild Party.

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

It has been announced that Broadway legend Donna McKechnie will join the cast of Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party which runs at The Other Palace Theatre (formerly the St James) from 11 February to 1 April 2017.

McKechnie will play Delores, the role originally created onstage by Eartha Kitt. She will join the previously announced Frances Ruffelle who stars as Queenie, alongside John Owen-Jones, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Ako Mitchell, Lizzy Connolly, Bronte Barbe, Dex Lee, Tiffany Graves, Melanie Bright, Simon Thomas, Gloria Obianyo, Genisis Lynea, Steven Serlin and Sebastien Torkia.

Directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, The Wild Party is based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 poem of the same name and tells the story of lovers Queenie (Ruffelle) and Burrs (Owen-Jones) who host a gin-soaked evening for assembled theatrical guests at their Manhattan apartment. Featuring music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and book by Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe, the musical was originally presented on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre in April 2000, running for just 68 performances.

Presented in five acts or scenes, it takes the form of a number of vaudeville sketches which casually disintegrate as the evening wears on. Queenie and her partner Burrs plan to throw a "wild party", and invite a colourful cast of characters that epitomise the world of 1920s New York, including a fading star, an "ambisextrous" socialite, a gay brother act, a lesbian stripper, a boxer and an underage innocent girl. Queenie's best friend and rival Kate brings her new lover who attracts Queenie's attention, as as the party descends into gin, sin and booze, truths are exposed and questions are asked of all the guests.

Drew McOnie won the Olivier Award earlier this year for his work on In The Heights. His credits include the new dance pieces Drunk and Jekyll and Hyde (Old Vic) as well as recent productions of Chicago, Oklahoma! and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre). He is currently directing and choreographing the UK premiere of Strictly Ballroom.

Donna McKechnie won a Tony Award for creating the role of Cassie in Michael Bennett's original production of A Chorus Line in 1976. She featured in the original production of Promises, Promises dancing one of the iconic numbers "Turkey Lurkey Time" and also starred in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's Company where she danced "Tick-Tock". Her work in London includes Can-Can and the role of Phyllis in a concert performance of Follies at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Tickets for The Wild Party are now on sale.

Originally published on

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