Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Audra McDonald and Sondheim
#1Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 3:31pm
Apologies again if this sounds like a stupid question. In the what feels like now iconic 2010 Birthday concert we had Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Elaine Stritch, Donna Murphy, Marin Mazzie and Audra McDonald all in red dresses giving amazing performances - it's very clear to me what relationship all (except Audra) have with Sondheim, starring in original productions or revivals or incorporating Sondheim in their concert work. Can anyone recommend their favourite Audra Sondheim performances to me? (even if never 'officially' recorded). I'm less familiar with her work with Sondheim. Both roles or specific songs performed outside shows. Looking to find new art!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 4/12/21 at 03:31 PM
Islander_fan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#2Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 3:46pmShe was featured in the HBO documentary Six by Sondheim where she did a wonderful rendition of Send in the Clowns. You can find it on YouTube.
#3Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 3:49pm
To my knowledge, Audra McDonald has played the following Sondheim roles:
Cora - Anyone Can Whistle
Dot - Sunday in Park
Clara - Passion
Beggar Woman - Sweeney Todd
All of which were either concert productions, or at the Ravinia festival in Chicago. I didn't get to see any of them live, but I've seen/heard all of them, either officially or "unofficially." It's hard to say which is her best, since this is Audra McDonald we're talking about. But Dot is the best role out of those, so I imagine it would've been her best performance.
When you put it that way, I suppose it's a bit odd that Audra would've been included in that group of women. But again, this is Audra. Can anyone really complain? Even if her work with Sondheim is limited, she's certainly in that same tier of high-caliber artists who mesh well with Sondheim's work.
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#4Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 4:04pm
I'm sure it's just a matter of time until we see her as The Witch in ITW. Especially since "Children Will Listen" is a staple of her concert repertoire.
#5Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 5:26pmI know that myself and many many more are PRAYING she’ll be The Witch in the City Center revival happening potentially later this year.
wiggum2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/21/03
#6Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 6:57pm
I was one of those people who never understood Audra until I saw her in person as Fay at Ravinia. I thought she was excellent but I will agree, it shocks me that she has never done a major Sondheim show on Broadway
thanks jv92!
#7Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 7:35pm
The character of the nurse that Audra played is Fay. Cora (Hoover Hooper) is the Mayoress. Small... well, really big... correction.
#8Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 8:07pm
Now that makes more sense.
Of all the references to McDonald's performances, her Send in the Clowns sounds like pure bliss. Must look it up...
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#9Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 8:20pm
I have also heard her sing "Moments in the Woods" in concert, before which she gave an anecdote where she stated that Sondheim himself personally recommended to her that she sing that song.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#10Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/12/21 at 10:34pm
She also recorded a beautiful rendition of "Somewhere" on her How Glory Goes album that segued seamlessly into "How Glory Goes."
#11Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/13/21 at 3:35amShe’d also probably make a really good Sally (with Laura Benanti as Phyllis).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#12Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/13/21 at 8:37am
Was just thinking the other day how she's now the same age as the original leads in FOLLIES.
Wild.
(Also wild how much our concept of age has changed.)
#13Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/13/21 at 9:46amAudra’s “Too Many Mornings” with Nathan Gunn has become my favorite version of the song.
#14Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/13/21 at 9:50am
In Sunday in the Park with George Audra used her Billie Holiday voice to sing "Children and Art". It's quite amusing to listen to it now after she did Lady Day.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#15Audra McDonald and Sondheim
Posted: 4/13/21 at 10:38am
The 4 Sondheim roles she played were all directed by Lonny Price, who also directed the 2010 concert. So that about explains it. That, and she's a legend whose performance was a highlight of that concert.
