Best Actress, 1976 Tony Awards

Donna McKechnie wins Best Actress in 1976 for A Chorus Line.

[@jackrenglish]

i went to class/acting with donna, at hb studio in nyc, in the 1960's..with charles nelson reilley...she always had quality X.......jack english

[@nylilhotman]

she did 'the music and the mirror'. that's why she was nominated and that's why she beat gwen and chita. she was even more brilliant in 'turkey lurkey time', let's face it.

[@jeanettesmith765]

I'm here because I loved her brief stint on Dark Shadows as Amanda Harris and wanted to find out more about her.

[@larryscantland7192]

Mark... wow did not know you had this... but can you believe it... A Chorus Line up against Chicago... wow

[@jackrenglish]

I WENT TO THE HB STUDIO WITH DONNA.. IN NYC....CHARLES NELSON REILLY'S MUSICAL COMEDY CLASS IN THE VILLAGE..1960'S...SHE ALWAYS HAD 'QUALITY X"..& STAR QUALITY...WELL DESERVED, DONNA....JACK R. ENGLISH,...WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIF...

[@shanshii]

Verdon's reaction to Donna's name being called is the best. Classy, classy ladies, all of them.

[@rpbphx]

Apparently NOT, from those who were there...

[@CherylClark7]

Actually, Gwen was furious- you should have heard her back stage the next night before the curtain went up in "Chicago", ripping her to shreds (Donna), and on a very personal note as well- many of us young performers did not know where Gwen was coming from- Chita was much for gracious (and quiet!) about their loss to Donna the night before on The Tonys- and yes, Michael Bennett had become the "golden boy" for heads of Shubert Organization- and he pushed for Donna to be in that Category- "POP"

[@sergiocorvacho7975]

Robert Lee, Of course, it is a big Time solo role, What are you talking about! Just the dramatic friction between her and the musical director itself , gives her more of a variety of emotions to deserve that price, she cries, laughs, dances , sings, screams, confronts ! That is a main actress! Able to display a variety of emotions on a single character.

[@kristoferwilson6593]

It was so personal to gwen bc her and bob basically gave donna her big break by having her cast in how to succeed in business

[@HumbleHarry]

Yeah, that's him. Davis also starred in the late 80s TV show "Amen," with Sherman Hemsley of "The Jeffersons" fame. And Davis starred in the late 70s sitcom "That's My Mama." McKechnie, by the way, was one of the original dancers on the mid 60s pop/rock TV variety show "Hullabaloo," where she met Michael Bennett. David Winter, who played A-rab in "West Side Story," was the show's choreographer. It's a curse knowing all of this useless trivia.

[@lazarelazaro52]

It's like the year Cabaret Vs The Godfather

[@willisthrilled]

Oh my god!!! You're so lucky!! I would have killed to see them!!! If only I was born....

[@olegbb]

what happened to the clip of donna and music and the mirror? i wish the poster had not taken it down. can someone repost it?

[@olegbb]

oh, yeah, that sounds right.

[@olegbb]

Who's presenting the award? I can't place him.

[@roxannesantoro7503]

Clifton Davis.

[@caseym5004]

Haha, yeah, which sucks cause Chicago was brilliant. Poor John Kander & Fred Ebb.

[@streisandgarlandlvr]

Ahh Patti LuPone behind Chita Rivera! She looks so bored!! lol

[@BCNbananas]

Rip-off...the ladies from CHICAGO were much better!

[@stephenbressler3292]

Sondheim's, Company, featured her in a dance number that stoped the show, five years earlier called Tick Tock. She was amazing! Company was the ground breaking musical that opened the door for A Course Line and yet again Donna gets the show stopper with The Music and The Mirror

[@ryanglitter]

Chita and Vivian look unhappy

[@CherylClark7]

She was acting- the real truth came out next night, backstage at "Chicago" Sorry! xo Original "POP"

[@caravaggio31]

Chita and Gwen shared votes and Donna won. Simple and predictable.

[@porterp]

I was miffed about the Richard Burton thing too. I guess she must have just mixed things up a little. Maybe Richard Burton presented the award for Best Musical that year, for which she and the whole cast probably would have gone on stage to accept. I have worked with Donna a couple of times on some benefit stuff, and been around her socially in the theatre community. She is quite a lady, and she is certainly not delusional. Her book makes for interesting reading.

[@kennethdesmondmosley1075]

Gwen and Chita split the vote allowing for D M’s win. Chita and Gwen each should have been given Tony’s because they were Chicago. Sad they had to compete against each other

[@thisismolly]

she was on dark shadows!

[@SpyinGirly]

Vivian looks PISSED

[@olegbb]

It must have been a confusing night for her as Richard Burton presented Michael Bennett with his Tony. However, she should have it corrected in the next publishing of her book.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

I find it interesting that Cassie only has one big solo to herself ("The Music and the Mirror"), but Diana has two ("Nothing" and the ultimate anthem "What I Did for Love") and yet Priscilla Lopez was put in Featured Actress.

[@michaeljj43]

i think it's because of her 2 big book scenes with zach.

[@theoperatripleaxel5417]

But the music and the mirror has about 11 minuts...

[@HumbleHarry]

But the man in this clip doesn't have blue eyes, nor was he ever married to Liz Taylor, twice. And his Welsh accent stinks.

[@broadwayboundguy]

@streisandgarlandlvr Hah! Good eye. She's just like "... Oh... When is this over, again?"

[@elzbieta52]

@olegbb It's up again!

[@willisthrilled]

Hmmm...Gwen was the original Charity, Chita was the tour Charity....and I know that Donna DID play Charity at some point, but in which production?

[@jasonlemoine2074]

1986 revival

[@njatty]

@@jasonlemoine2074 Actually, she was in the post-Broadway tour of the 1986 revival. She was in it the night Fosse died.

[@jasonlemoine2074]

@@njatty oops, yeah that's what I meant. It was Debbie and Anne on Broadway, and Donna on Tour

[@HumbleHarry]

How much work did Vivian Reed get on Broadway after this? She knew that was her last chance.

[@gjm2669]

What a totally STUPID thing to say……idiot!

[@HumbleHarry]

@@gjm2669 Not stupid. It's true.

[@lf1234]

She was wonderful in ACL, but how did she get nominated for LEAD actress. I mean, yes Cassie is the notable character in the show, but is her solo and confrontation with Zach enough to really call her a LEAD character?

[@Asylum07MasterMadman]

many can do fosse's moves yes, but thats because fosse is about small movements done perfectly, precisely, and in unison. ANyone can do them, only the best can master them.

[@gotherealex]

is theater still popular

[@BalletBabyBoy]

I know Donna...very sweet lady

[@bingovegas4867]

This Ed Miller on here says cast hated her and her Tony win??? Nothing could be further from the truth. A wonderful talent she most certainly deserved her Tony Award!