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McDonald is known for defying racial typecasting in her various Tony Award-winning and -nominated roles. Her performances as Carrie Pipperidge in [[Nicholas Hytner]]'s 1996 revival of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' and Lizzie Curry in [[Lonny Price]]'s 2007 revival of ''[[110 in the Shade]]'' made her the first black woman to portray those (traditionally white) roles in a major Broadway production. Of her groundbreaking work in encouraging diversity in musical theatre casting, she said in an interview for the ''New York Times'', "I refuse to be stereotyped. If I think I am right for a role I will go for it in whatever way I can. I refuse to say no to myself. I can't control what a producer will do or say but I can at least put myself out there."<ref>{{Cite news|title = Audra McDonald|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/08/theater/theaterspecial/08mcdo.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2007-06-08|access-date = 2016-02-17|issn = 0362-4331}}</ref> In a 'Talk of the Nation' interview on NPR, Asian-American actor Thom Sesma said McDonald's performance in ''Carousel'' "transcended any kind of type at all," proving her to be "more actress than African-American."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Casting Beyond Color Lines|url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18706620|website = NPR.org|access-date = 2016-02-17}}</ref>
McDonald is known for defying racial typecasting in her various Tony Award-winning and -nominated roles. Her performances as Carrie Pipperidge in [[Nicholas Hytner]]'s 1996 revival of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' and Lizzie Curry in [[Lonny Price]]'s 2007 revival of ''[[110 in the Shade]]'' made her the first black woman to portray those (traditionally white) roles in a major Broadway production. Of her groundbreaking work in encouraging diversity in musical theatre casting, she said in an interview for the ''New York Times'', "I refuse to be stereotyped. If I think I am right for a role I will go for it in whatever way I can. I refuse to say no to myself. I can't control what a producer will do or say but I can at least put myself out there."<ref>{{Cite news|title = Audra McDonald|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/08/theater/theaterspecial/08mcdo.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2007-06-08|access-date = 2016-02-17|issn = 0362-4331}}</ref> In a 'Talk of the Nation' interview on NPR, Asian-American actor Thom Sesma said McDonald's performance in ''Carousel'' "transcended any kind of type at all," proving her to be "more actress than African-American."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Casting Beyond Color Lines|url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18706620|website = NPR.org|access-date = 2016-02-17}}</ref>


McDonald appeared in a revised version of ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'', at the American Repertory Theatre (in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]) from August through September 2011, and recreated the role on Broadway at the [[Richard Rodgers Theatre]], which opened on January 12, 2012 and closed on September 23, 2012.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13747/Porgy-and-Bess "Porgy and Bess on Playbill Vault"]. PlaybillVault.com</ref> For this role, McDonald won her fifth Tony Award and her first in a Leading Actress category.<ref>Jones, Kenneth and Hetrick, Adam. [http://playbill.com/news/article/165460-2012-Tony-Awards-Nominations-Announced-Once-Earns-11-Nominations 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; 'Once' Earns 11 Nominations"]. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012</ref> This [[American Repertory Theater]] production was "re-imagined by [[Suzan-Lori Parks]] and [[Diedre Murray]] as a musical for contemporary audiences."<ref>Gans, Andrew and Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152294-Norm-Lewis-Audra-McDonald-Porgy-and-Bess-Will-Play-Broadways-Richard-Rodgers-Theatre "Norm Lewis-Audra McDonald 'Porgy and Bess' Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre"] playbill.com, June 29, 2011</ref>
McDonald appeared in a revised version of ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'', at the American Repertory Theatre (in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]) from August through September 2011, and recreated the role on Broadway at the [[Richard Rodgers Theatre]], which opened on January 12, 2012 and closed on September 23, 2012.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13747/Porgy-and-Bess "Porgy and Bess on Playbill Vault"]. PlaybillVault.com</ref> For this role, McDonald won her fifth Tony Award and her first in a Leading Actress category.<ref>Jones, Kenneth and Hetrick, Adam. [http://playbill.com/news/article/165460-2012-Tony-Awards-Nominations-Announced-Once-Earns-11-Nominations 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; 'Once' Earns 11 Nominations"] {{wayback|url=http://playbill.com/news/article/165460-2012-Tony-Awards-Nominations-Announced-Once-Earns-11-Nominations |date=20120507221255 }}. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012</ref> This [[American Repertory Theater]] production was "re-imagined by [[Suzan-Lori Parks]] and [[Diedre Murray]] as a musical for contemporary audiences."<ref>Gans, Andrew and Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152294-Norm-Lewis-Audra-McDonald-Porgy-and-Bess-Will-Play-Broadways-Richard-Rodgers-Theatre "Norm Lewis-Audra McDonald 'Porgy and Bess' Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre"] playbill.com, June 29, 2011</ref>


McDonald played [[Billie Holiday]] on Broadway in the play ''[[Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill]]'' in a limited engagement that ended on August 10, 2014.<ref name="artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/audra-mcdonald-to-return-to-broadway-as-billie-holiday/|title=Audra McDonald to Return to Broadway as Billie Holiday|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 9, 2014}}</ref> After previews that began on March 25, 2014, the play opened at the [[Circle in the Square Theatre]] on April 13, 2014.<ref name="artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com"/> Of the play, McDonald said in an interview:
McDonald played [[Billie Holiday]] on Broadway in the play ''[[Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill]]'' in a limited engagement that ended on August 10, 2014.<ref name="artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/audra-mcdonald-to-return-to-broadway-as-billie-holiday/|title=Audra McDonald to Return to Broadway as Billie Holiday|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 9, 2014}}</ref> After previews that began on March 25, 2014, the play opened at the [[Circle in the Square Theatre]] on April 13, 2014.<ref name="artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com"/> Of the play, McDonald said in an interview:

Revision as of 15:55, 21 July 2016

Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald, 2008
Born (1970-07-03) July 3, 1970 (age 54)
West Berlin, Germany
Alma materJuilliard School, BFA 1993
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1994–present
Spouses
  • Peter Donovan
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2000; div. 2009)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2012)​
Children1

Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American actress and singer. She has appeared on the stage in both musicals and dramas, such as Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess. She maintains an active concert and recording career, performing song cycles and operas as well as performing in concert throughout the U.S. She has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win all four acting categories.[note 1] She starred as Dr. Naomi Bennett on the ABC television drama Private Practice.

Early life and education

McDonald was born in West Berlin, Germany, the daughter of American parents, Anna Kathryn, a university administrator, and Stanley McDonald, Jr., a high school principal.[1] At the time of her birth, her father was stationed with the U.S. Army. McDonald was raised in Fresno, California, the elder of two daughters. 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,[4] graduating in 1993.[5]

Career

Theatre

McDonald was a three-time Tony Award winner by age 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 then four-time winning actress Angela Lansbury. She reprised her Raisin role for a 2008 television adaptation, earning her a second Emmy Award nomination. On June 10, 2012, McDonald scored her fifth Tony Award win for her portrayal of Bess in Broadway's The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, thus tying Angela Lansbury and Julie Harris.[6] Her 2014 performance as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill earned McDonald her sixth Tony award and made her the first person to win all four acting categories.

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 Actress in a Musical with Donna Murphy.[7] On April 29, 2007, while she was in previews for the show, her father was killed when an experimental aircraft he was flying crashed north of Sacramento, California.[8]

McDonald is known for defying racial typecasting in her various Tony Award-winning and -nominated roles. Her performances as Carrie Pipperidge in Nicholas Hytner's 1996 revival of Carousel and Lizzie Curry in Lonny Price's 2007 revival of 110 in the Shade made her the first black woman to portray those (traditionally white) roles in a major Broadway production. Of her groundbreaking work in encouraging diversity in musical theatre casting, she said in an interview for the New York Times, "I refuse to be stereotyped. If I think I am right for a role I will go for it in whatever way I can. I refuse to say no to myself. I can't control what a producer will do or say but I can at least put myself out there."[9] In a 'Talk of the Nation' interview on NPR, Asian-American actor Thom Sesma said McDonald's performance in Carousel "transcended any kind of type at all," proving her to be "more actress than African-American."[10]

McDonald appeared in a revised version of Porgy and Bess, at the American Repertory Theatre (in Cambridge, Massachusetts) from August through September 2011, and recreated the role on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, which opened on January 12, 2012 and closed on September 23, 2012.[11] For this role, McDonald won her fifth Tony Award and her first in a Leading Actress category.[12] This American Repertory Theater production was "re-imagined by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray as a musical for contemporary audiences."[13]

McDonald played Billie Holiday on Broadway in the play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill in a limited engagement that ended on August 10, 2014.[14] After previews that began on March 25, 2014, the play opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre on April 13, 2014.[14] Of the play, McDonald said in an interview:

It’s about a woman trying to get through a concert performance, which I know something about, and she’s doing it at a time when her liver was pickled and she was still doing heroin regularly...I might have been a little judgmental about Billie Holiday early on in my life, but what I’ve come to admire most about her – and what is fascinating in this show – is that there is never any self-pity. She’s almost laughing at how horrible her life has been. I don’t think she sees herself as a victim. And she feels an incredible connection to her music – she can’t sing a song if she doesn’t have some emotional connection to it, which I really understand.[14]

McDonald won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for this role, making her the first person to ever earn six Tony Award wins for acting (not counting honorary awards) and the first person to win a Tony Award in all four acting categories.[15] In her acceptance speech, "she thanked her parents for encouraging her to pursue her interests as a child."[16] She also thanked the "strong and brave and courageous" African-American women who came before her, saying in part, "I am standing on Lena Horne's shoulders. I am standing on Maya Angelou's shoulders. I am standing on Diahann Carroll and Ruby Dee, and most of all, Billie Holiday. You deserved so much more than you were given when you were on this planet. This is for you, Billie." [17] This performance was filmed at the Cafe Brasil in New Orleans and broadcast on HBO on March 12, 2016.[18] McDonald received a 2016 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in the broadcast.[19]

McDonald had planned to make her West End debut as Holiday in Lady Day in June through September 2016,[20] but after becoming pregnant she postponed these plans.[21]

She appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in Eugene O'Neill's play A Moon for the Misbegotten in August 2015, co-starring with her husband Will Swenson.[22]

In 2016, McDonald is starring on Broadway as the vaudeville performer Lottie Gee in a new musical titled Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed about the making of the 1921 musical Shuffle Along.[23] McDonald is scheduled to leave the show on July 24, 2016 to begin maternity leave. Shuffle Along will close on July 24, 2016.[24]

Recordings and concerts

Audra McDonald performing at the Wright Center in 2011

McDonald has maintained ties to her classical training and repertoire. She frequently performs in concert throughout the U.S.[25] and has performed with musical organizations such as the New York Philharmonic and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Carnegie Hall commissioned the song cycle The Seven Deadly Sins: A Song Cycle for McDonald, and she performed it at Carnegie's Zankel Hall on June 2, 2004.[26] She sang two solo one-act operas at the Houston Grand Opera in March 2006: Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine and the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Send (who are you? I love you).[27] On February 10, 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.[28] The recording of this production of Mahagonny won two Grammy Awards, for Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Album in February 2009.[29]

In September 2008, American composer Michael John LaChiusa was quoted in Opera News Online, as working on an adaptation of Bizet's Carmen with McDonald in mind.[30]

McDonald has recorded five 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 LaChiusa, Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown.

Her next album, How Glory Goes (2000), combined both old and new works, and included composers Harold Arlen, Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Kern.[4] Her third album, Happy Songs (2002), was big band music from the 1920s through the '40s.[31] Her fourth album, Build a Bridge (2006), features songs from jazz and pop.[32]

In May 2013, Audra McDonald released her first solo album in seven years, Go Back Home, with a title track from the Kander & Ebb musical The Scottsboro Boys. To coincide with the album's release, McDonald performed a concert at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City that aired on the PBS series Live from Lincoln Center titled Audra McDonald In Concert: Go Back Home.[33]

At the 2010 BCS National Championship Game on January 7, McDonald sang America the Beautiful for the sold-out stadium fans to celebrate the final game of the college football season.[34]

In May 2000, Audra McDonald appeared as "The Beggar Woman" in Lonny Price's concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, performed at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, with the New York Philharmonic with George Hearn and Patti LuPone. She reprised the role in some performances of the March 2014 Lincoln Center concert production, again directed by Price, this time opposite Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. She performed three concerts, titled "Audra McDonald Sings Broadway", in the Sydney Opera House in November 2015, which also included "The Facebook Song" by Kate Miller-Heidke.[35]

Television and film

McDonald has also made many television appearances, both musical and dramatic. In 2001, she received her first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for the HBO film Wit, starring Emma Thompson and directed by Mike Nichols.[36] She also has appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street (1999), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000), Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999), the short-lived Mister Sterling (2003), The Bedford Diaries (2006), and Kidnapped (2006–2007), and in the 1999 television remake of Annie as Daddy Warbucks' secretary & soon-to-be wife, Miss Farrell.[37] She sang with the New York Philharmonic in the annual New Year's Eve gala concert on December 31, 2006, featuring music from the movies; it was televised on Live from Lincoln Center by PBS.[38] In 2013, she appeared in the HBO documentary Six by Sondheim.[39]

McDonald appeared as Naomi Bennett in Private Practice, a spinoff of Grey's Anatomy. She replaced Merrin Dungey, who played the role in the series pilot.[40] McDonald left Private Practice at the end of season four, but returned for the series finale at the end of season six to bring closure to Naomi's storyline.[41][42]

In films, 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).[37]

McDonald played Mother Abbess in the 2013 NBC live television production of The Sound of Music Live!.[43][44]

Since 2012, McDonald has served as host for the PBS series Live From Lincoln Center, for which she shared an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program with the show's producers.

Personal life

McDonald married bassist Peter Donovan in September 2000.[4] They have one daughter, Zoe, named after McDonald's close friend and Master Class co-star Zoe Caldwell. McDonald and Donovan divorced in 2009.[45] She married Will Swenson on October 6, 2012.[46] As of May 2016, the two are expecting their first child together.[47]

McDonald attended Joan Rivers' funeral in New York on September 7, 2014, where she sang "Smile".

McDonald lives in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.[48]

Discography

Solo recordings[49]

  • Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart – duet on "Why Can't I?" (1996)
  • Leonard Bernstein's New York – duet with Mandy Patinkin on "A Little Bit in Love" and "Tonight" (1996)
  • George and Ira Gershwin: Standards and Gems – sings "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (1998)
  • George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration – sings Porgy and Bess selections (1998)
  • Myths and Hymns – sings "Pegasus" (1999)
  • My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies – sings "The Webber Love Trio" (1999)
  • Broadway In Love – sings "You Were Meant For Me" from The Object of My Affection (2000)
  • Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays – sings "White Christmas" (2001)
  • Bright Eyed Joy: The Songs Of Ricky Ian Gordon – sings "Daybreak in Alabama" (2001)
  • ZEITGEIST – sings "Think Twice" (2005)
  • The Wonder of Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (2004)[53]
  • Barbara Cook at the Met – sings "When Did I Fall In Love?" and "Blue Skies" (2006)
  • Jule Styne in Hollywood – sings "10,432 Sheep" (2006)[54]
  • Sondheim: The Birthday Concert – sings Too Many Mornings and The Glamorous Life (2010)
  • Stages – duet on "If I Loved You", 2014

Cast recordings

Video recordings

Audio books

  • Alice Walker, By The Light of My Father's Smile (1998)
  • Connie Briscoe, A Long Way From Home (1999)
  • Rita Dove, Second-Hand Man (2003)[60]

Feature films

Year Film Role
1996 Seven Servants
1998 The Object of My Affection Wedding Singer
1999 Cradle Will Rock Blitzstein – 'Joe Worker' Singer
2003 It Runs in the Family Sarah Langley
2004 The Best Thief in the World Ruth
2011 Rampart Sarah
2015 Ricki and the Flash Maureen
2016 Hello Again Sally
2017 Beauty and the Beast Garderobe

Television

Year Title[37] Role Notes
1999 Annie Miss Grace Farrell TV movie
Homicide: Life on the Street Teresa Giardello Episode: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses"
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Bessie in her 20s TV movie
2000 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Audrey Jackson 2 episodes
The Last Debate Barbara Manning TV movie
2001 Wit Susie Monahan Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
2003 Mister Sterling Jackie Brock 9 episodes
Partners and Crime Unknown TV movie
Tea Time with Roy & Sylvia Sylvia Short
2005 Passion: Live From Lincoln Center Clara TV special
2006 The Bedford Diaries Professor Carla Bonatelle 8 episodes
2006–07 Kidnapped Jackie Hayes 3 episodes
2007–2013 Private Practice Dr. Naomi Bennett 77 episodes
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2008–2010)
2009 Grey's Anatomy Episode: "Before and After"
2007 Great Performances Jenny Smith Episode: "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny"
2008 A Raisin in the Sun Ruth Younger TV movie
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
2009 She Got Problems Herself Short
2012/13 Sesame Street Chicken 3 episodes
2013 The Good Wife Liz Lawrence Episode: "Runnin' with the Devil"
The Sound of Music Live! Mother Abbess Live telecast
Audra McDonald: Go Back Home Self Concert Special
It Could Be Worse Sharon Episode: "Starring Veronica Bailey"
The Ordained Anthea TV Movie
2014 Submissions Only Tracy 1 episode
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Live from Lincoln Center Lucy, the Beggar Woman Filmed stage production
2016 Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday Filmed stage production

Theatre

Year Show[61] Role Notes
1992 The Secret Garden Ayah (replacement) St. James Theatre
1992 – January 3, 1993
1994 Carousel Carrie Pipperidge Vivian Beaumont Theater
February 18, 1994 – January 15, 1995
1995 Master Class Sharon Graham Philadelphia Theatre Company
March 1995
Something Wonderful Performer Gershwin Theatre
July 12, 1995
Master Class Sharon Graham John Golden Theatre
October 26, 1995 – June 29, 1997
1997 Ragtime Sarah Ford Center for the Performing Arts
December 26, 1997 – October 29, 1999
January 10–16, 2000
1999 Marie Christine Marie Christine L'Adrese Vivian Beaumont Theater
October 30, 1999 – January 9, 2000
2000 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Lucy, The Beggar Woman Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
May 4–6, 2000
2001 Dreamgirls Deena Jones New York Actor's Fund Benefit Concert
2003 Passion Clara Ravinia Festival
August 22–23, 2003
Henry IV Lady Percy Vivian Beaumont Theater
October 28, 2003 – January 18, 2004
2004 A Raisin in the Sun Ruth Younger Royale Theatre
March 30 – July 11, 2004
The Seven Deadly Sins: A Song Cycle Performer Carnegie Hall
June 2, 2004
2005 Passion Clara Lincoln Center
March 30 – April 1, 2005
Wonderful Town Eileen Berlin Philharmonic
2006 La voix humaine/Send (who are you? I love you) Singer Houston Grand Opera, March
2007 Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Jenny Los Angeles Opera
February 2007
110 in the Shade Lizzie Curry Studio 54
April 13 – July 29, 2007
2009 Twelfth Night Olivia Delacorte Theater
June 25, 2009 – July 12, 2009
2011 Porgy and Bess Bess American Repertory Theater
August/September, 2011
Richard Rodgers Theatre
December 17, 2011 – September 23, 2012
2014 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Lucy, The Beggar Woman Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
March 5–8, 2014
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday Circle in the Square Theatre
March 25, 2014 – October 5, 2014
2015 A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Williamstown Theatre Festival
August 2015
2016 Shuffle Along, or, the Making of The Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Lottie Gee Music Box Theatre
March 14 – July 24, 2016
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday Wyndham's Theatre
originally scheduled for June 15 – September 3, 2016, postponed as of May 10, 2016[62][63]

Concerts

Audra McDonald in Concert Tour

23 concerts total; the gap between May and October 2013 is due to McDonald's work with television and her album coming out, causing the three and a half month gap. The tour ended due to McDonald's show, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill opening on Broadway, but she picked up again with a new tour once the show closed.

An Evening with Audra McDonald Tour

37 concerts; this tour marked her Australian debut. The lack of August shows was due to her run in A Moon for the Misbegotten.

Other concerts

Awards and nominations

Stage

Year Award[64][65] Category Nominated work Result
1994 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Carousel Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Theatre World Award Honoree
1996 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play Master Class Won
Ovation Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Won
1998 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Ragtime Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
2000 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Marie Christine Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
2004 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play A Raisin in the Sun Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Won
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actress in a Play Won
2005 Emmis Communications/Hot-97 "KISS-FM" Phenomenal Woman Award Phenomenal Woman[66] Won
2007 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical 110 in the Shade Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Actress in a Musical Nominated
2008 Grammy Award Best Classical Album Los Angeles Opera production of Kurt Weill's opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Won
Best Opera Recording Won
2012 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Porgy and Bess Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Actress in a Musical Nominated
Favorite Onstage Pair (w/ Norm Lewis) Nominated
2013 Grammy Award Best Musical Theatre Album Nominated
Sarah Siddons Society Award Distinguished Achievement in the Theatre Won
2014 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Actress in a Play Won
Favorite Diva Performance Nominated
2016 Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated

TV

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2001 Emmy Award Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Wit Nominated
OFTA Award Best Supporting Actress in a TV film Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Variety – Series or Special Audra McDonald in Concert Nominated
2008 Best Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
OFTA Award Best Supporting Actress in a TV film Won
Emmy Award Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Private Practice Nominated
2009 Nominated
2010 Nominated
2013 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress in a Movie The Sound of Music Live! Nominated
Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Program Carousel (Live from Lincoln Center) Nominated
2015 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Live from Lincoln Center) Won

Notes

  1. ^ Best Actress in a Play, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Play, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical. "Tony Awards Facts & Trivia". Retrieved 9 June 2014.

References

  1. ^ "Audra McDonald Biography (1970–)".
  2. ^ "Audra – Living Her Dream". The Fresno Bee. January 15, 1989. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  3. ^ "Audra McDonald's a tough act to follow in "Evita"". The Fresno Bee. December 5, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  4. ^ a b c Green, Blake. "Never Short of Breath", sfgate.com (originally in the San Francisco Chronicle), July 16, 2000
  5. ^ "Alumni News: November 2011". Juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Audra McDonald (BM '93, voice)
  6. ^ Gans, Andrew. Chenoweth, Dench, Linney, McDonald, Rashad Nominated for Emmy Awards", playbill.com, July 17, 2008
  7. ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Utopia' and 'Spring Awakening' Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards", playbill.com, May 21, 2007
  8. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Stanley McDonald Jr., Father of Tony-Winner Audra McDonald, Dies in Air Crash", playbill.com, April 30, 2007
  9. ^ "Audra McDonald". The New York Times. 2007-06-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  10. ^ "Casting Beyond Color Lines". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  11. ^ "Porgy and Bess on Playbill Vault". PlaybillVault.com
  12. ^ Jones, Kenneth and Hetrick, Adam. 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; 'Once' Earns 11 Nominations" Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew and Hetrick, Adam. "Norm Lewis-Audra McDonald 'Porgy and Bess' Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre" playbill.com, June 29, 2011
  14. ^ a b c "Audra McDonald to Return to Broadway as Billie Holiday". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Audra Mcdonald Nets a Record Sixth Win" npr.org, June 9, 2014
  16. ^ Purcell, Carey. " 'Gent's Guide', 'All The Way', 'Hedwig And the Angry Inch', 'Raisin in the Sun' Win Top Prizes at 68th Annual Tony Awards" playbill.com, June 8, 2014
  17. ^ "Audra McDonald Wins 6th Tony Award Makes Broadway History" essence.com, June 8, 2014
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew. "'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill' Debuts on HBO Tonight" Playbill, March 12, 2016
  19. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Audra McDonald, Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston Among 2016 Emmy Nominees" Playbill, July 14, 2016
  20. ^ Porteous, Jacob (January 15, 2016). "Record Six-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald To Make West End Debut In Lady Day At Emerson's Bar And Grill". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  21. ^ Warner, Kara. "Baby on the Way for Will Swenson and Audra McDonald", People Magazine, May 10, 2016
  22. ^ "Audra McDonald and Will Swenson Star in Moon for the Misbegotten at Williamstown, Starting Tonight", Playbill, August 5, 2015
  23. ^ "Six-Time Tony Winner Audra McDonald Will Lead Shuffle Along Musical on Broadway", broadway.com, retrieved June 7, 2015
  24. ^ Hetrick, Adam and Viagas, Robert. " 'Shuffle Along' Sets July Broadway Closing", Playbill, June 23, 2016
  25. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Audra McDonald to Offer Concerts Throughout U.S.", playbill.com, April 8, 2008
  26. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Audra McDonald Premieres The Seven Deadly Sins June 2 at Zankel Hall", playbill.com, June 2, 2004
  27. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Audra McDonald to Debut New LaChiusa Piece at Houston Grand Opera", playbill.com, July 26, 2005
  28. ^ Simonson, Robert and Gans, Andrew. "Doyle to Direct LuPone and McDonald in Mahagonny", playbill.com, January 16, 2006
  29. ^ Gans, Andrew. "In the Heights Cast Recording Wins Grammy; Hudson and LuPone-McDonald Mahagonny Also Win", playbill.com, February 8, 2009
  30. ^ Portantiere, Michael (September 2008). "Over the Borderline". Opera News Online. Vol. 73, no. 3. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  31. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Audra McDonald Sings Composers of Today and Future at Joe's Pub", playbill.com, May 22, 2002
  32. ^ Suskin, Steven. "On The Record: A Complete Cabaret With Judi Dench, and Audra McDonald's "Build a Bridge", playbill.com, November 12, 2006
  33. ^ Hetrick, Adam (April 9, 2013). "Audra McDonald's New Album, "Go Back Home" Sets May Release; PBS Concert Will Follow". Playbill.
  34. ^ Moon, Josh. "Alabama wins 13th national championship" montgomeryadvertiser.com, January 8, 2010
  35. ^ "Audra McDonald review: reviving the fading art of singing" by John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 November 2015
  36. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Emmy Noms Go to 'Wit,' 'South Pacific,' 'Laughter on the 23rd Floor' and More", July 12, 2001
  37. ^ a b c Audra McDonald at IMDb
  38. ^ Gans, Andrew. "PBS to Broadcast Audra McDonald's New Year's Eve Concert", playbill.com, November 29, 2006
  39. ^ ""Six By Sondheim" Doc, With Performances by Audra McDonald, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Debuts on HBO Dec. 9". Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  40. ^ Buckley, Michael (24 September 2007). "Stage to Screens: Audra McDonald, Kenneth Branagh, Craig Wright, Jill Clayburgh". Playbill. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  41. ^ "Audra McDonald to Exit Private Practice". TV Guide. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  42. ^ Gans, Andrew (9 February 2011). "Audra McDonald Departing ABC's Private Practice". Playbill. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  43. ^ Audra McDonald, Laura Benanti and Christian Borle Join Cast of NBC's Sound of Music Playbill, Retrieved September 16, 2013
  44. ^ 'Sound of Music Live!' with Carrie Underwood: NBC announces more cast, releases poster Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved September 16, 2013
  45. ^ "McDonald Sets Record Straight". BroadwayWorld News Desk. June 3, 2009.
  46. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Audra McDonald and Will Swenson Get Married" playbill.com, October 7, 2012
  47. ^ "Shuffle Along's Audra McDonald is Pregnant! Six-Time Tony Winner Postpones West End Debut in Lady Day". Broadway.com.
  48. ^ Gisin, Matthew. "Three Westchester Natives Up For Tony Awards" Westchester Magazine, Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  49. ^ McDonald record listing nonesuch.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  50. ^ Way Back to Paradise listing barnesandnoble.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  51. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Audra McDonald's 'How Glory Goes' Released in Stores Feb. 22" playbill.com, February 10, 2000
  52. ^ McDonald listing masterworksbroadway.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  53. ^ "Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square: Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves" mormontabernaclechoir.org, retrieved January 8, 2010
  54. ^ Jule Styne in Hollywood listing footlight.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  55. ^ "I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky", listing nonesuch.com, accessed August 15, 2009
  56. ^ Suskin, Steven. "On the Record: Dazzling Dreamgirls and 1943 Show Tunes", playbill.com, March 10, 2002
  57. ^ Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. "Complete Allegro Recording, with McDonald, Gunn and Wilson, to Arrive In Stores Feb. 3", playbill.com, December 8, 2008
  58. ^ Porgy and Bess, playbill.com, 2012
  59. ^ Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill Original Broadway Cast Recording, retrieved July 17, 2014.
  60. ^ Getting There from Here: Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the Short Story isbndb.com, accessed August 15, 2009
  61. ^ McDonald Broadway credits ibdb.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  62. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Audra McDonald and Will Swenson Are Expecting a Baby" Playbill, May 10, 2016
  63. ^ Marshall, Charlotte. "Audra McDonald’s 'Lady Day' Postponed" officiallondontheatre.co.uk, May 11, 2016
  64. ^ Awards and nominations, theatre playbill.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  65. ^ Awards and nominations, TV imdb.com, retrieved January 8, 2010
  66. ^ 98.7 KISS-FM (7 April 2005). "Emmis communications/98.7 KISS-FM celebrated Women's History Month by introducing its first annual salute to Phenomenal Women". Press Release. Emmis Communications.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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