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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