Audra McDonald News

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 15, 2014 - Sunday, June 15, 2014.

Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce that Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre. Over the years Mr. Harnick's work has been represented on the Goodspeed stage with Fiorello! (1985), She Loves Me (1978), The Apple Tree (1999), and this summer's 50th Anniversary production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Goodspeed Opera House. The award will be presented by longtime friend and star of stage and screen, two time Tony Award-winner Tony Roberts (Broadway's Promises, Promises; They're Playing Our Song; Victor/Victoria; Cabaret).

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include the winners room and red carpet of the 68th annual Tony Awards, Patti LaBelle joining 'After Midnight,' 'Rocky's' 100th performance, and more!

The Broadway community mourns the loss of celebrated stage and screen actress Ruby Dee, who passed away on Wednesday at age 91. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tomorrow night, Friday, June 13th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute.

Do blondes really have more fun? Audiences will soon find out at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Legally Blonde The Musical, June 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This mega movie hit will be brought to life by a cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans. Watch as Elle Woods takes over the stage with her vivacious personality and a score sure to please.

Legendary actresses of stage and screen, Ruby Dee died Wednesday night, June 11th at the age of 91

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, 2014 Tony winner Audra McDonald joined Richard just days before the big night to chat about all things Lady Day, reviews her amazing career and so much more . Check out the full interview below!

Summer is just around the corner, and we are looking ahead in anticipation to the start of Carnegie Hall's 2014-2015 season! Listed below are classical music highlights at Carnegie Hall, including details on UBUNTU: Music and Arts of South Africa, a three-week festival from October 10 to November 5, featuring an exciting array of events to be presented at Carnegie Hall and partner venues throughout New York City, inviting audiences to explore the incredibly dynamic and diverse culture of South Africa.

HBO's acclaimed documentary all about musical theatre master Stephen Sondheim, titled SIX BY SONDHEIM, is now available to download digitally in HD.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Lanie Robertson's musical play which stars Audra McDonald who won a record breaking sixth Tony Award for her portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday, will extend its strictly limited engagement through August 31st, 2014.

Do blondes really have more fun? Audiences will soon find out at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Legally Blonde The Musical, June 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This mega movie hit will be brought to life by a cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans. Watch as Elle Woods takes over the stage with her vivacious personality and a score sure to please.

Terrence McNally's Tony award winning play, Master Class, is certainly an enjoyable night of theatre. This dramatic biographical story of opera diva Maria Callas tells a tale of the retired performer as she conducts a master class cultivating new operatic talent. Jeffrey Sanzel splendidly directs this delightful incarnation running through June 28th at Theatre Three of Port Jefferson, Long Island, culminating their stellar 44th season.

Yesterday, June 9, TIME's Belinda Luscombe wrote an open letter to Audra McDonald titled: 'Sorry, Audra McDonald--My Kid Needs His ADHD Meds'. Now, McDonald has responded, explaining her Tony Awards acceptance speech from Sunday night, in which she thanked her parents for not putting her on medication.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater opens at Shakespeare in the Park, BroadwayWorld hosts THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM at Joe's Pub, and more!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: HEDWIG hits the shelves, while IF/THEN holds a CD signing, THE BULLPEN and POWER PLAYS begin off-Broadway, featuring some amped up playwriting talent, and ATOMIC meets the press!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Radcliffe and Webber make TV appearances, Vanessa Williams oversees Alvin Ailey's Lincoln Center season kick-off, Signature's PIECE OF MY HEART meets the press and Jim Parsons stops by our SAG series!

Bucks County Playhouse has announced their Founders Day Diamond Jubilee, a festive community gathering on Monday evening, June 30, 2014 at 7 pm to commemorate the first 75 years of the Playhouse. The evening will begin with the debut of a new film: Straw Hat Cinderella: Bucks County Playhouse at 75. Narrated by stage and screen star Marsha Mason, the film features historic photographs, paintings and drawings and commentary by curator David Leopold, Playhouse producer Alexander Fraser, Michener Director and CEO Lisa Hanover, and painter Robert Beck. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Mason, Leopold and more!

BroadwayWorld was in the winners' room to catch all of the behind the scenes glamor, and our own Walter McBride brings you photos of this year's freshly-minted Tony winners. Check out photos of the women below!

Audra McDonald made history this week, receiving her 6th Tony Award for Best Performance by and Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her role as Billie Holiday in LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL - in celebration, you can check out photos of McDonald in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride below!