Irene V. McDonald

12/24/2006

Irene V. McDonald, 79, a former Broadway singer and dancer and a longtime drama teacher at Berkshire School, died Sunday at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. Born Alice Reid in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 7, 1927, Ms. McDonald was adopted at the age of three months by Irene and Paul Wasserman, and became Irene Wasserman. She graduated from Hempstead (N.Y.) High School on Long Island and from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., in 1948. At 8, Mrs. McDonald began dancing in benefit shows and performed on morning radio programs, at one point tap-dancing to a studio microphone. While singing at churches as a soloist, she took dance and voice lessons, and at 15, began spending her summers dancing at the Roxy Theater in New York City. After college, Ms. McDonald returned to the Roxy under the stage name Irene Weston. As a singer and dancer, she appeared in the original company of "Guys and Dolls," on Broadway and on tour in "Where's Charley," "The Red Mill," and "Blossom Time." Show business personalities she worked with included Mickey Rooney, Ray Bolger, the Will Maston Trio and comedians Olson and Johnson. After several years in television and as a voice teacher at Lincoln Square Academy in New York City, Ms. McDonald moved to her summer home in South Egremont in 1974. After three years as reservations manager at the former Jug End Resort and as a bookkeeper at the former Jenifer House, she became director of drama and music at Berkshire School. From 1977 to her retirement in 2002, Ms. McDonald produced and directed almost 40 musicals in Berkshire School's Allen Theater. In 1996, her cast of "Phantom" put on an encore performance at an off-Broadway theater on West 39th Street. She also directed community theater for Barrington Performing Arts. After her retirement, she gave private voice lessons to area children and directed their appearances at local nursing homes and benefits. Ms. McDonald was married three times: to Oleg Dunaeff, a soloist with Ballet Russe and the Metropolitan Opera; Joe Sarno, a screenwriter; and the late Bill McDonald, a stage actor. She leaves her companion of 16 years, Arthur Armstrong of South Egremont, with whom she resided; a daughter, Eleanor Sarno Fossen of Austin, Texas; two stepdaughters, Stephanie Sarno Colantoni of New York City and Laguna Woods, Calif., and Pat Sarno Vicoli of Tamarac, Fla.; a son, Bill Sarno of Highland Mills, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Another son, Raymond Alexander Dunaeff, died in 1967. FUNERAL NOTICE -- "My Fair Lady"... "Brigadoon"... "Guys and Dolls"... "The Music Man"... "West Side Story"... "Sweeney Todd"... if it was done on Broadway, chances are it was done at Berkshire School, thanks to Irene McDonald, indefatigable former professional singer and dancer who died Sunday, December 24, 2006. In the process, she instilled a love of the theater in 25 years of students. She was crazy about her kids, and the feeling was mutual. She was quick to laugh and quick to hug, and she was well aware of everyone who attended her students' performances -- and woe be it to you if you were not among them. She copied the music, Xeroxed the programs, sewed the costumes, secured the rights, directed the carpenter and cajoled a certain Mr. Armstrong into running all manner of errands. She had major surgery to remove half a lung and missed only three days of classes, but not her hair appointment. After all, the show must go on, and hers always did. She had fiery red hair (with a temper to match) and preferred purple, although pinks and yellows would do. She applied her perfume liberally, always had her nails polished, and had a pair of shoes to match every outfit, each one with three-inch heels. She was vivacious and flamboyant, caustic and feisty, loving and loyal, and oh, what a great run she had. She will be fiercely missed and never forgotten by far too many people to list here. Irene's family will receive friends at her home at 71 Undermountain Road, South Egremont, on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Berkshire School on March 10 in celebration of her 80th birthday. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent in support of Berkshire School's theater program to the Irene McDonald Endowment for the Dramatic Arts through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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