Donna McKechnie - Music and the Mirror

[joseperello1]

I am sure there have been oustanding Cassies during this musical long life. It's difficult, however, top this. Donna was many things: Elegant, Cute, Graceful, Delicate and, I almost forgot, PERFECT.

Well.. after all she IS Cassie.

[ruggerdgmail]

Thank you for sharing that. What a walk down memory lane. Spectacular. She did own that role.

[bluebettle]

The slow shutter speed makes this video even better.

[TllGrrl]

Donna McKechnie didn't just "perform" that piece, she OWNED it.

[Berglernut]

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing ...

[purser132]

how could ANYONE dislike this?

[torreylv2]

Wow .... this brought tears to my eyes!!!!

[ellandelachapelle]

Stunning.

[jjarndyce]

Saw this the week it opened. Will always love it. BUT - and don't shoot me - I thought then, as I think now, this particular choreography is lame. Bennett was fabulous with lines but he was lost with a solo.

[mc90604]

@jjarndyce Donna did the choreo herself for this dance.

[isitfunthere1]

Leave it to Donna M. to make me cry ONLY using the power of heart, spirit, motion and most importantly, dance. I don't think anyone else could.

[parkerstage]

All these years later and no one can come close to what she did to this number. Still does and always will amaze me!!!!!!!!! Thank you for posting!!!

[parkerstage]

All these years later and no one can come close to what she did to this number. Still does and always will amaze me!!!!!!!!!

[DonnieDarkoTir]

She won the Best Actress Tony for this 9 min of stage time. Brilliant!

[zzindorf]

I love her performing, but oh, the choreography. I would love to know what Betsy Haug would have done with this music. And with a dancer like McKechnie.

[rlee1976]

More than being so much the embodiment of a perfect ballerina with one hell of a penchant for jazz/theatre dance, Miss McKechnie looks truly as if she really is whipping herself into a frenzy of improvised dance to prove to Zach and to HERSELF she can still do it, and the fluidity of movement is pure joy and ambition fused together... that's the most articulate I can be about what Donna brought to this (what-would-become) iconic dance! Thank you, Donna, for sharing your soul with us!

[vballboy1420]

obsessed.

[artofpoetry]

seeing her tonight in a one-night only performance in sydney, australia! and the theatre is down the road from my house. so excited. a broadway legend in my neighbourhood

[bertiejr]

OMG....i never thought any video from an original cast member existed. ????are there others????

thx

[MrBooBoo15]

Ultimate voice and WHAT A DANCER!!! Talk about a triple threat!!!

[ddbjl7727]

thank you for cleaning this video up. i lost my eyesight squinting to see every movement before. again, thank you

[vballboy1420]

the turns into the back head pops around 4:40 are epic.

[evret0503]

She certainly did prove herself...the best of all the Cassie's....gorgeous, flawless dancer!

[lulujean88]

I just watched doc. EVERY LITTLE STEP, re. the revival of Chorus Line. There were some clips of past performances, but this video was longer. Loved being able to see the whole thing. Recommend every Chorus Line fan to rent EVERY LITTLE STEP. You'll love it. Watch the extras and watch full performances old and new on YouTube. Thank you Robertou.

[bertiejr]

@lulujean88 i've seen CL a multitude of times,,,at least 10. the first time had more than half of the original cast, but not mckechnie. i have found that with each succeeding generation of CL, the performances get worse and worse. unlike most musicals that rely on the main leads, CL needs the whole cast to be top notch.

[dago942]

Thank you so much I love this so much!

[angelsolaris23]

AMAZING!

[noisycanary]

No one could match Donna as Cassie!

[rainboots23]

Wow, that's much better than the other videos. Thank you.

[spn1007]

I still remember seeing her about a month after ACL transferred to Broadway. One of the highlights of my life as a theatre-lover! I saw Ann Reinking later that year. She was great too, but NOT Donna!

[troisoceans69]

She is the ultimate Broadway dancer!

[gabsylv]

Thank you for cleaning! Much appreciated ^^

[jeffdw1970]

I prefer this one because it is more frantic (yet elegant at the same time). You get that Cassie is dancing for her life - for a job. There is that sense of urgency that I love.

[brendabignose]

I've just watched the clip again with your comments in mind and I totally get what you mean. It's grown on me!

[brendabignose]

she is truly magnificent. i must say though (nothing to do with the quality of this fantastic video!!) that i prefer her interpretation in the 1988 video (the colour one). i can't put my finger on what it is i prefer - i think it may be that the tempo is slower which gives the number a less frantic feel... anyone else feel the same?

[genebencomo]

Perfection. Period.

[jodocagonlaostia]

Every single movement is... perfect.... WOW!! O.O

[cricketbat]

I just saw her peform at Interlochen. And she did it with the same passion and grace that she does it here!

[antod11]

Dear God! How breathtaking, just beautiful. I'm not a dancer and have no knowledge of technique but even I can see how mind boggling this is, her upper body and arms are just extraordinary.

Wonderful!

[MansManBk]

Donna was amazin!

[Jarrod005]

Donna IS amazing.

[alamaboy]

Oh my god ! thank you so much for posting this . She was and still is an inspiration . Would love to get hold of a copy of the video . But again many thanks for sharing one of Musical Theatre's greatest moment

[premon]

She is the cream of the crop

[someforunclejoe]

no one does it at this speed anymore. no one. amazing. i'd die.

[OzlemCraig]

very, very difficult, huh? Huge discipline looks like, i would have died.

[SUPERALITO]

omg..!!!! she is the best..!!!!

[antod11]

Brilliant , never been bettered. Bravo Donna, MAGNIFICENT!

[randomperson27]

we just finished learning the original broadway choreography to this number (aka this) at my dance studio sheesh it was so hard!!! but fun to learn.

[roxymuzak]

I think she's the best singer in the show.

[AKDPerformer]

So versatile, one of my favorite performers:)

[mishascot]

Not only that, she did this 8 times a week, what an amazing dancer and performer. Absolutely stunning, thank you for posting this.

[chocolatesouljah]

That's what amazes me so much about Broadway. I always remind my students when the are feiging boredom in dance class to remember think of those Broadway babies on Wednesdays 2pm & 8pm! Even Elaine Stritch said it could get boring so discipline is key.

[mikecoleman1]

A strong dancer who exudes fragility and desperation as the character Cassie. Now there's a combination!

[chocolatesouljah]

Wow! Such precision, agility and fluidity and bravado. As well as that something extra: True star power! Thanks for posting. A rarity made even more rare by the caliber of the performance.

[lf1234]

Does anyone have video of Charolette's rendition? I wanna see what everyone's bitchin' about!!!!!!!!

[DRAMADORK620]

the revival cassie is an amazing dancer but her vocals are no where close to Donna's. Donna is the whole package!

[KEAdams992]

why is she SO AMAZING?

[olegbb]

She can sing and act very well, but she's so amazing here because she's a very strong dancer....physically strong. I've seen other Broadway Cassie's....they can't turn as fast as she can and with the same precision. She just has a whole arsenal that makes this number magical and soar.

[Tomfordy]

amazing!

[chibbychic12]

She's the best ever at this song...:)

[BalletBabyBoy]

Can you do the rest of the show while you are at it..I can give you a copy.

[rodanvideo]

This video is better than the "restoration" that I attempted. Nice Goin'!! I love this sequence!! Seeing the "original" Donna is always a thrill.

[WheresMyPrize]

Bless you! My heart drops every time I watch this.

[Elphabo]

I know! I think that I'm used to it and there's no way she can still make me light-headed, but every single time i watch it i end up saying "holy crap"

[jeffdw1970]

wow!