Audra McDonald

Saturday, March 16th – 7:30 PM

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actress. With a record-tying five Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a long list of other accolades to her name, she is among today’s most highly regarded performers. Blessed with a luminous soprano and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling, she is equally at home on Broadway and opera stages as in roles on film and television. In addition to her theatrical work, she maintains a major career as a concert and recording artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world and with leading international orchestras.

After four seasons playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC’s hit television series Private Practice, McDonald returned to Broadway in 2012, winning her fifth Tony and her first in the leading actress category for her role in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. The honor places her in the illustrious company of Broadway legends Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury as the only people in Tony history to win five performance awards.

Born into a musical family, McDonald grew up in Fresno, California and received her classical vocal training at the Juilliard School. An ardent proponent of marriage equality, McDonald sits on the advisory board of the advocacy organization Broadway Impact and has been featured in campaigns for Freedom to Marry and NOH8. Of all her many roles, her favorite is that of mother to her daughter, Zoe Madeline.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y9_vZJK7LIc

Photo Credit: Michael Wilson