Renowned “Mamma Mia!” Star Judy McLane to Perform at UF in January ‘19

Judy McLane, an award-winning acting and vocal virtuoso whose star turn in Broadway’s “Mamma Mia” captivated audiences, will be the University of Findlay Donnell Broadway Concert Series guest artist in January 2019.

Her concert, which will include Grammy-nominated Broadway musical director Phil Reno on piano, will be Sunday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s TLB Auditorium. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for senior citizens and $10 for non-UF students. They can be purchased at Marathon Center for the Performing Art’s box office at 200 W. Main Cross St., or online a www.mcpa.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 Distinguished 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 Olyphant, Pennsylvania native thrilled audiences in over 4,000 Broadway performances of “Mamma Mia!” She starred as Donna Sheridan for three and a half years, and as Tanya for seven and a half years, making her the longest running lead in the play’s history. Other Broadway credits include “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Aspect of Love,” and “Chess.” She created the role of Lillian in the two-person musical and world premiere of “Los Otros” by Michale John LaChuisa at the Everyman Theatre. 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.

McLane has also 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.

As a worldwide concert and cabaret artist, McLane has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras, including the Bolshoi Orchestra in Moscow, the National Orchestra of Lyon, France, and National Symphony Orchestra of Canada, among many others. Additionally, she has performed for symphony orchestras throughout the United States, such as Detroit, Michigan, Cincinnati, Ohio and Naples, Florida. She also performed in “Chess in Concert” at Carnegie Hall.

Her cabaret shows include “Endangered Species,” “How Did I End Up Here” and “Applause, Applause” performed with Mark Nadler.

McLane’s television performances include appearances on NBC’s “The Blacklist,” Darla on “Another World,” “Guiding Light, “Madame Secretary” and “Elementary.

On the big screen, she acted in “Were the World Mine,” a film using Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as inspiration. She will play Val in “Hiding in Daylight,” set for release in 2019.

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 Schuman. Her charitable work includes raising funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Angels of Music and Broadway Barks. She also donates time to help several animal shelters.

McLane had been scheduled to perform at UF in January 2016 as the series’ guest artist, but an illness caused her to cancel.

For more on McLane, visit her website, her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter at @RealJudyMcLane and on Instagram at judy.mclane.

Reno, originally from Tiffin, Ohio, was 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 enjoyed 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,” “Thou 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.

University of Findlay music professor emeritus Micheal Anders, Ph.D., organizes each concert series.