'Mamma Mia!' Star Judy McLane to Grace UF Stage as Guest Artist

Award-winning Broadway powerhouse Judy McLane, long-running star of “Mamma Mia!” and several other distinguished productions, will serve as the University of Findlay’s September 2016 Donnell Broadway Concert Series Guest Artist.
Her concert, which will include Grammy-nominated Broadway musical director Phil Reno on piano, will be Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s TLB Auditorium. Ticket costs (which include handling fees) are $28 for adults, $23 for senior citizens, and $11 for non-UF students. Tickets can be purchased at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, 200 W. Main Cross St. Box office information and online ordering can be found at www. marathoncenterarts.org. Admission will be free for UF students, faculty and staff with a valid University ID.
McLane won the Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and the Drama League Honor for Outstanding Performance for her role as Vienna in the off-Broadway version of “Johnny Guitar.” She also won the Helen Hayes Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Phyllis in “Follies” at Signature Theater in New York City.
The Oliphant, Pennsylvania native thrilled audiences in over 4,000 Broadway performances of “Mamma Mia!” She starred as Donna Sheridan for 3 ½ years and as Tanya for 7 ½ years, making her the longest running lead in the play’s history. Other Broadway credits include “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Aspects of Love,” and “Chess.” Her national and international tours include the baker’s wife in “Into the Woods,” the narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” co-staring Donny Osmond, Mrs. Baskin in “Big” and “Side by Side By Sondheim” directed by Rob Marshall.
She also has participated in several regional performances across the country, such as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, and as Milly in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at St. Louis Muny.
McLane has performed a wide repertoire of music with many symphony orchestras around the world. Some of them include the Bolshoi Orchestra in Moscow, the National Orchestra of Lyon, France, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Canada. Additionally, she has performed for symphony orchestras throughout the United States, such as Detroit, Michigan, Cincinnati, Ohio and Naples, Florida. She also performed “Chess in Concert” at Carnegie Hall.
Her television performances include appearances on NBC’s “The Blacklist,” Darla on “Another World” and in “Guiding Light.”
On the big screen, she acted in “Were the World Mine,” a film using Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as inspiration.
McLane earned a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, and has studied acting with Lloyd Richards at Yale Drama School, Caymichael Patten and Joanna Merlin. She studies voice with Bill Shuman.
Her charitable work includes raising funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Angel’s of Music and Broadway Barks. She also donates her time to help several animal shelters.
For more on McLane, visit her website at www.judymclane.com, visit her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter at @RealJudyMcLane.
Reno, originally from Tiffin, Ohio, is currently the musical director and vocal arranger for the smash hit, “Something Rotten!,” a Tony Award-nominated musical comedy that opened on Broadway in March 2015 and continues to enjoy great attendance and media success. Reno received his second Grammy nomination for his work on the “Something Rotten!” cast recording. His first Grammy nomination was for the cast recording of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Reno’s other previous Broadway work has included “The Producers,” the 2010 Broadway revival of “Promises, Promises,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Though Shalt Not,” “Cats,” and “Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.” He has also contributed orchestrations for the television show, “Broadway Under the Stars” and the film adaptation of “The Producers.”
The Donnell Broadway Concert Series enables notable Broadway artists to visit campus each academic year in the fall and spring. The series provides in-concert entertainment for students and community members, as well as opportunities for UF musical theatre students to learn from accomplished professionals in master classes.
The series is produced by Micheal Anders, Ph.D., UF emeritus professor of music. Anders, who played an integral role in launching the series, assists with coordinating artist selection, itinerary planning and guest artist hosting.

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