On July 3, 2020, the Queen of Broadway celebrates its 50th anniversary. A look back at the incredible career of Audra McDonald, who holds the record number of 6 Tony Awards.
Audra McDonald was born in Berlin but raised in Fresno, California. She studied classical singing at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York under the tutelage of Ellen Faul. She finished her studies in 1993 and the following year she was already nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Carousel at Lincoln Center.
His career has only just begun ...
She connects roles on the New York stages. In the space of 5 years, she has already won 3 Tony Awards for her performances in Carousel, Master Class et Ragtime.
In 1999 she plays the role of Miss Farrell in the remake for the small screen of Annie.
Then in 2001, she appeared on screen in the Mike Nichols film. White as well as in several television series like Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, The Bedford Diaries et Kidnapped.
Audra McDonald continues to shine on stage and on screen.
In 1999, she interpreted the main role of Marie Christine. Role that composer John Michael LaChiusa wrote especially for her. She also participates in several concert versions of musicals like Dreamgirls, Sweeney Todd et PASSION.
An actress who breaks all records
It was in 2004 that Audra McDonald won her 4th Tony Award for her performance in the play A Raisin in the Sun.
Then in 2007, Audra McDonald appeared in 110 in The Shade, and won several awards for his performance.
In 2012, she won her 5th Tony for Porgy & Bess. Finally, in 2013, she won her 6th Tony for her interpretation of Billie Holliday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.
She is therefore the actress who has been awarded the most times at the Tony Awards. In addition, she is the only actress to have been awarded in the 4 categories of play, that is to say, Best Actress in a Play, in a Musical as well as Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play. in Theater and in a Musical.
To understand why Audra McDonald has won all of her awards, just watch her sing "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess:
A voice like no other
After her classical singing studies at Juilliard, Audra went on to perform musicals on Broadway. But she does not forget her training and will sing in several operas like The Voix Humaine from Poulenc, Send (who are you? I love you) by LaChiusa, operas by Kurt Weill and George Gershwin.
She has recorded several albums and performs a lot in concert, always mixing the two musical styles.
She also appears on 13 recordings, and has also recorded 6 solo albums.
In 2015, when Barack Obama presented him with the National Medal of Arts, which rewards American artists. At the ceremony, he presented her with this distinction for "having illuminated Broadway as one of the greatest stars." An unforgettable performer, who won 6 Tony Awards. In musicals, concerts, operas, and albums, her rich and expressive voice takes viewers to new dimensions. "
A perfect example of his soprano voice used in a musical. An extract of Master Class: she won a Tony Award for her performance:
A is for Audra
Audra McDonald is respected as one of the icons of Broadway. John Robert Allman has published a children's book titled A is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z. For each letter of the alphabet, it features an actress who made Broadway history. The American singer therefore begins the book:
Audra McDonald represents a new lease of life in the world of musicals. Everyone agrees that she is the mother we would like to have. And she knows this role of mother on stage as well as in her personal life. In 2000, she married bassist Peter Donavan. Their daughter, Zoe, was born in 2002. After their divorce in 2009, she married musician Will Swenson and their daughter, Sally was born in 2016.
On stage she performs the Mother Superior in The Sound of Music, The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Sarah in RagtimeEtc. ...
Audra McDonald has fought against casting stereotypes throughout her career. She is the first woman of color to perform the roles of Carrie in Carousel and Lizzie in 110 in the Shade. Since its inception, it has encouraged diversity in castings in theatrical productions.
In short, Audra McDonald is incomparable and we are impatient to see her again on Broadway. The show Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, for which she won her 6th Tony Award is available on Broadway HD! On your screens!