Audra McDonald
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| Audra McDonald | |
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| Born | Audra Ann McDonald July 3, 1970 Berlin, Germany |
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| Occupation | actress, singer |
| Spouse(s) | Peter Donovan (2000–2009) |
Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American four-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer. She currently stars in the ABC television drama Private Practice as Dr. Naomi Bennett.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Born in Berlin, Germany and raised in Fresno, California, the elder of two daughters, she began to study acting at a young age to counteract her diagnosis as "hyperactive". McDonald graduated from the Roosevelt School of the Arts program within Theodore Roosevelt High School in Fresno.[2] She got her start in acting with Dan Pessano and Good Company Players, beginning in their Junior Company. "I knew I wanted to be involved in theater when: I had my first chance to perform with the Good Company Players Junior Company.", "The people who have had the most impact on my life: Good Company director Dan Pessano and my mother." [3]She studied classical voice as an undergraduate under Ellen Faull at the Juilliard School, graduating in 1993.
McDonald became a three-time Tony Award winner by the age of 28 — for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, and Ragtime — placing her alongside Shirley Booth, Gwen Verdon and Zero Mostel by accomplishing this feat within five years. She was nominated for another Tony Award for her performance in Marie Christine before she won her fourth in 2004 for her role in A Raisin in the Sun, placing her in the company of other four-time winning actresses Gwen Verdon and Mary Martin. She reprised her Raisin role for a 2008 television adaptation, earning her a second Emmy Award nomination.
Throughout her career, McDonald has maintained ties to her classical training and repertoire. In 2005 The Seven Deadly Sins: A Song Cycle was commissioned for and performed by her at Carnegie's Zankel Hall. She sang two solo one-act operas at the Houston Grand Opera in 2006: Francis Poulenc's La Voix Humaine and the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Send (who are you? I love you). In 2007, McDonald starred with Patti LuPone in the Los Angeles Opera production of Kurt Weill's opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny directed by John Doyle.
McDonald has also made several television appearances, both musical and dramatic. In 2001, she received her first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for the HBO film Wit starring Emma Thompson and directed by Mike Nichols. She also has appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, the short-lived Mister Sterling, The Bedford Diaries, and Kidnapped, and in the 1999 television remake of Annie as Daddy Warbucks' secretary Miss Farrell. She sang in 2007 with the New York Philharmonic in a concert of music from the movies televised on Live from Lincoln Center by PBS.
On the big screen, McDonald has appeared in Best Thief in the World (2004), It Runs in the Family (2003), Cradle Will Rock (1999), The object of My Affection (1998), and Seven Servants by Daryush Shokof which was her film acting debut in (1996).
McDonald has recorded four solo albums for Nonesuch Records. Her first, the 1998 Way Back to Paradise, featured songs written by a new generation of musical theatre composers who had achieved varying degrees of prominence in the 1990s, particularly Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown. Her subsequent albums, How Glory Goes and Happy Songs, have featured more traditional theater and cabaret songs along with some songs by these new composers. Her fourth album, Build a Bridge, features songs from the jazz/pop canon, from composers as diverse as Laura Nyro, Elvis Costello, Nellie McKay, Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer and Randy Newman. She frequently appears in concert and has performed with a number of the most prestigious orchestras world-wide.
McDonald married bassist Peter Donovan in 2000. They have one daughter, Zoe Madeline, who was born on February 14th 2001 and who was named after McDonald's Master Class co-star and good friend Zoe Caldwell. Her middle name is another tribute, to Madeline Kahn. McDonald and Donovan divorced in 2009 [4]Is currently dating her former 110 in the Shade costar Will Swenson.[5]
McDonald appeared as Lizzie in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2007 revival of 110 in the Shade, directed by Lonny Price at Studio 54, for which she shared the Drama Desk Award for Best Acress in a Musical with Donna Murphy. In May, while she was in previews for the show, her father was killed when an experimental aircraft he was flying crashed north of Sacramento.
McDonald appears as Naomi Bennett, ex-wife of Sam, portrayed by Taye Diggs, in Private Practice, a spinoff of Grey's Anatomy. She replaced Merrin Dungey, who played the role in the series pilot.
In September 2008, American musical theatre composer Michael John LaChiusa was quoted in Opera News Online, as working on an adaptation of Bizet's opera Carmen with McDonald in mind.[6]
McDonald won two Grammy Awards, along with Patti Lupone, for Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Album on February 8, 2009 for the recording of the Los Angeles Opera production of Kurt Weill's opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, according to the Grammy.com Web site.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo Recordings
- Way Back to Paradise (1998)
- How Glory Goes (2000)
- Happy Songs (2002)
- Build a Bridge (2006)
[edit] Featured Recordings
- Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart (duet on "Why Can't I?") (1996)
- Leonard Bernstein's New York ("A Little Bit in Love" and "Tonight" duet with Mandy Patinkin) (1996)
- George and Ira Gershwin: Standards and Gems ("How Long Has This Been Going On?") (1998)
- George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration (Porgy and Bess selections) (1998)
- Cradle Will Rock ("Joe Worker") (1999)
- Myths and Hymns ("Pegasus") (1999)
- My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies ("The Webber Love Trio") (1999)
- Broadway In Love ("You Were Meant For Me" from The Object of My Affection) (2000)
- Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays ("White Christmas") (2001)
- Bright Eyed Joy: The Songs Of Ricky Ian Gordon ("Daybreak in Alabama", etc.) (2001)
- ZEITGEIST ("Think Twice") (2005)
- Barbara Cook at the Met ("When Did I Fall In Love?" and "Blue Skies") (2006)
- Jule Styne in Hollywood ("10,432 Sheep") (2006)
- Guest Artist, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's The Wonder of Christmas ("Sweet Little Jesus Boy", "Children Go Where I Send Thee") (2006)
[edit] Cast Recordings
- Carousel (1994 Broadway Revival Cast Recording) (1994)
- Ragtime (Original Cast Recording) (1998)
- I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (Studio Cast Recording) (1998)
- Wonderful Town (Studio Recording) (1999)
- Marie Christine (Original Cast Recording) (1999)
- Annie (1999)
- Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic (2000)
- Dreamgirls in Concert (Concert Cast Recording) (2001)
- 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast Recording) (2007)
[edit] Bootleg Recordings
- Only Heaven (Ricky Ian Gordon) 1997
- Live at the Donmar, London (2000)
- Creators at Carnegie: The Seven Deadly Sins: A Song Cycle (hour one) (2004)
- Creators at Carnegie: Live At Carnegie Hall (hour two) (2004)
- Send (who are you? i love you) (2006)
- The Human Voice (2006)
- Audra McDonald Sings the American Songbook Live from Lincoln Center (2006)
- Audra McDonald Sings the Movies Live from Lincoln Center (2006)
- Discoveries at Disney Concert Hall (2007)
- Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (2007)
[edit] Audio Books
- Alice Walker's By The Light of My Father's Smile (1998)
- Connie Briscoe's A Long Way From Home (1999)
- Rita Dove's Second-Hand Man (2003)
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Feature films
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Seven Servants | ||
| 1998 | The Object of My Affection | Wedding Singer |
[edit] Television
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Annie | Grace Farrell | |
| 2000 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Audrey Jackson | Episodes: "Contact", "Slaves" |
| 2001 | Wit | Susie Monahan | |
| 2007-present | Private Practice | Dr Naomi Bennett | |
| 2008 | A Raisin In The Sun | Ruth Younger | |
| 2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr Naomi Bennett | Episode: Before and After |
[edit] Theatre
[edit] Broadway
- Carousel (1994)
- Master Class (1996)
- Ragtime (1998)
- Marie Christine (1999)
- A Raisin in the Sun (2004)
- 110 in the Shade (2007)
[edit] Off Broadway
From June 25, 2009 through July 12, 2009, McDonald starred as Olivia in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at The Public Theatre Shakespeare In The Park. Also starring was Anne Hathaway as Viola.
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Awards
- 1994: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Carousel
- 1994: Theatre World Award – Carousel
- 1994: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Carousel
- 1994: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Carousel
- 1995: Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – Master Class
- 1996: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – Master Class
- 1998: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Ragtime
- 2004: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – A Raisin in the Sun
- 2004: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – A Raisin in the Sun
- 2004: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – A Raisin in the Sun
- 2007: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical – 110 in the Shade
- Nominations
- 1999: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical – Marie Christine
- 2001: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety - Series or Special – Audra McDonald in Concert
- 2001: Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or a Movie for Wit (HBO)
- 2004: Drama League Award – A Raisin in the Sun
- 2007: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical – 110 in the Shade
- 2008: Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Private Practice
- 2008: Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or a Movie for A Raisin in the Sun
- 2009: Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Private Practice
[edit] References
- ^ "'Practice' is perfect for McDonald". The Hollywood Reporter. 2007. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ib2e03aed98ee11408481b5f676fc4bf3. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ "Audra - Living Her Dream". The Fresno Bee. 15 January 1989. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=FB&p_theme=fb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE83372BB1CEA1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ "Audra McDonald's a tough act to follow in "Evita"". The Fresno Bee. 5 December 2007. http://www.fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2007/12/audra_mcdonalds_a_tough_act_to.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-09.
- ^ "McDonald Sets Record Straight". BroadwayWorld News Desk. June 3, 2009. http://broadwayworld.com/article/McDonald_Sets_Record_Straight_Regarding_Erroneous_NY_Daily_News_Item_20090603.
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Audra+McDonald
- ^ Portantiere, Michael (September 2008, vol 73, no. 3). "Over the Borderline". Opera News Online. http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/issue/article.aspx?id=4980&issueID=325. Retrieved on 2008-09-02.
[edit] External links
- Audra McDonald at the Internet Broadway Database
- Audra McDonald at the Internet off-Broadway Database
- Audra McDonald at the Internet Movie Database
- Audra McDonald's site at Nonesuch Records
- Audra McDonald - Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org
- InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse: Audra McDonald (TV Interview)
- Audra McDonald's February 5, 2007 interview on the Tavis Smiley Show (TV Interview)
- Audra McDonald in Show Music Magazine
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