Audra McDonald Biography (1970-)

Full name, Audra Ann McDonald; born July 3, 1970, in Berlin, Germany; daughter of Stanley, Jr. (an American high school principal), and Anna Kathryn (an American university administrator) McDonald; married Peter Donovan (a musician), September 10, 2000; children: Zoe Madeline. Addresses: Agent: GershAgency, 232 North Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Nationality
German
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, singer
Birth Details
July 3, 1970
Berlin, Germany

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • Aldonza, Man of La Mancha (musical), New York City, 1989
  • (As Audra Ann McDonald) Carrie Pipperidge, Carousel (musical), Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York City, 1994
  • Something Wonderful, 1995
  • Sharon, Master Class, John Golden Theatre, New York City, 1995-1997
  • Sarah, Ragtime (musical), Toronto, Ontario, then Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, beginning 1998
  • Marie Christine L'Adrese (title role), Marie Christine (musical),Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center, 1999
  • Broadway's Leading Ladies (concert performance), Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1999
  • Beggar woman, Sweeney Todd, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, 2000
  • Divas at the Donmar (concert performance), Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, 2000
  • Dreamgirls, Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 2001
  • Also appeared in Aida; Anything Goes; A Chorus Line;as Eva, Evita; Grease; The King and I, Fresno, CA; Myths and Hymns; Only Heaven; The Real Inspector Hound; The Vagina Monologues, Westside Theatre Downstairs, New York City; and The Wiz. Appeared in cabaret performances, including a production at Joe's Pub, New York City, 1998.
  • Major Tours
  • (As Audra Ann McDonald) Ayah, The Secret Garden (musical), U.S. cities, 1992-1993
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • Some Enchanted Evening, A Tribute to Oscar Hammerstein (also knownas Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II and Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II), PBS, 1995
  • Leonard Bernstein's New York, PBS, 1997
  • A Walk Down 42nd Street with David Hartman, PBS, 1998
  • "Carnegie Hall Opening Night," Great Performances, PBS, 1998
  • Christmas in Washington, NBC, 1998
  • Creating "Ragtime," PBS, 1998
  • The 52nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1998
  • Evening at Pops, PBS, 1999
  • My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, PBS, 1999
  • Broadway '99: Launching the Tony Awards, PBS, 1999
  • Audra McDonald, PBS, 1999
  • Divas at the Donmar, PBS, 2000
  • A Capitol Fourth 2000, PBS, 2000
  • Audra McDonald in Concert, PBS, 2000
  • Nurse Susan "Susie" Monahan, Wit, HBO, 2001
  • The Kennedy Center Honors, CBS, 2001
  • Movies
  • Bessie Delany in her twenties, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (also known as Having Our Say), CBS, 1999
  • Miss Grace Farrell, Annie, ABC, 1999
  • Barbara Manning, The Last Debate, Showtime, 2000
  • Series
  • Jackie Brock, Mister Sterling, NBC, 2003
  • Episodic
  • Teresa Giardello, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses," Homicide: Life on the Street, NBC, 1999
  • Audrey Jackson, "Contact," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,NBC and USA Network, 2000
  • Audrey Jackson, "Slaves," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC and USA Network, 2000
  • Awards Presentations
  • Presenter, The 53rd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1999
  • Presenter, The 55th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 2001
  • Film Appearances
  • Opera singer, Seven Servants, 1996
  • Wedding singer, The Object of My Affection, Twentieth Century-Fox,1998
  • Herself, Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (also known as Broadway: The Golden Age), Second Act Productions, 2002
  • Film Work
  • Song performer, "Joe Worker," Cradle Will Rock, Buena Vista, 1999
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Carousel (1994 Broadway cast recording), Angel, 1994
  • Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart, Nonesuch Records, 1996
  • Ragtime (original cast recording), RCA, 1996
  • Leonard Bernstein's New York, 1996
  • Songs from Ragtime: The Musical, 1996
  • Way Back to Paradise (solo album), Nonesuch Records, 1998
  • George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration, 1998
  • Annie (soundtrack recording), Sony Classics, 1999
  • How Glory Goes (solo album), Nonesuch, 2000
  • Marie Christine (original soundtrack recording), RCA, 2000
  • Broadway in Love, RCA, 2000
  • Other albums include Cradle Will Rock (original soundtrack recording), BMG; Porgy and Bess, BMG; and Wonderful Town, EMI.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 20, Gale, 1998
    • Contemporary Musicians, Volume 36, Gale, 2002
    Periodicals
    • American Theatre, July-August, 1998, p. 26
    • American Visions, June, 2000, p. 14
    • Opera News, November, 1999, p. 54
    • TV Guide, January 11, 2003, pp. 36-37
    • Variety, November 2, 1998, p.65

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