Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd

Ivan2 Profile Photo
Ivan2
#1Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:19pm

I'm sorry if this has been posted before but I searched and came up with nothing, so I am to assume it hasn't been asked. When looking on amazon.com, I saw that Audra McDonald is credited as being in the Sweeney Todd Concert with Patti and George Hearn. Anyone know if she was just an ensemble member or something more?

tomemiller
#2re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

I believe she played the role of the beggar woman.

tomemiller
#2re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:22 PM

SporkGoddess
#3re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

Wasn't she the Beggar Woman in the recording of it?


Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

Broadwayboy2631 Profile Photo
Broadwayboy2631
#4re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:29pm

Yes and she's amazing in it!

GYPSY1527 Profile Photo
GYPSY1527
#5re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:30pm

She played the Beggar Woman for the New York Philharmonic performance...how I wished that performance had been videotaped!


Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#6re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:30pm

She plays the Beggar Woman on the NY Concert CD. She was replaced in SF, on the DVD, by Victoria Clark.

Ivan2 Profile Photo
Ivan2
#7re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:31pm

Aw damn. Oh well, thank you!

GYPSY1527 Profile Photo
GYPSY1527
#8re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:33pm

Don't get me wrong, I adored Victoria Clark in the role but the Beggar Woman is my favorite character and seeing Audra's interpretation would have been mind blowing!


Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

Scarywarhol Profile Photo
Scarywarhol
#9re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:47pm

I've got to get my hands on that recording. I didn't know she was in it.
Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:47 PM

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#10re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:57pm

Victoria Clark was a much better fit for the role. Audra still managed to sound too "pretty" in the role.
Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:57 PM

Horton Profile Photo
Horton
#11re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:04pm

I read in an interview that Audra was supposed to do the San Fran concert as well, but something came up last minute so Vicki was hired as a spur of the moment replacement, and learned the role on an airplane to SF; doing her first performance that night.

sondheimgeek Profile Photo
sondheimgeek
#12re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:04pm

I agree, Audra sounded too "pretty" in the role. Well, I guess that disproves the Audra is like Meryl thread.


"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

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thibodeaux
#13re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:56pm

I think the concert she was in is out of print...?

I feel like I read that somewhere, but I could be wrong.

If someone knows where to get it, let us know!!


whatever and ever amen - ben folds five

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#14re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:00pm

http://nyphil.org/buy/estore/itemDetail.cfm?itemnum=13&itemcategorynum=cds&itemdetail=yes

You can buy it there for only $20. They reduced the price quite a bit.

Theatreboy49 Profile Photo
Theatreboy49
#16re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:17pm

I love her performance on the recording and though she sounds too pretty shes still amazing in it. Though thats pretty awsome Vicki Clarke learned the role on a flight.


<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado

Urban
#17re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:12pm

Victoria or Audra, but are aboslutely fantastic and we are lucky by whatever reason it occured we have them both recorded!

Jazzysuite82
#18re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:51pm

Ahhh Broadway, one of the few places where being trained is a downfall...

gustof777 Profile Photo
gustof777
#19re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:52pm

bulls**t
she sounded scary as hell and does an incredible job
victoria clark sounds just as "pretty" and trained but they both still act the hell out of it


RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~

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soapguy17
#20re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:53pm

Jazzy, my words excatly.


I have NEVER met Cheyenne Jackson. I have never hung out with him in his dressing room, he did not tweet me, he never bought me a beverage, and he mostly certainly didn't tickle me. . .that is all.

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theaterkid1015
#21re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:09pm

If the only critique Audra is recieving consistently is that she sounds too pretty, she'll be just fine. No need to throw a fit, people.


Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.

Scarywarhol Profile Photo
Scarywarhol
#22re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:11pm

Thanks a lot for the link, ljay! I'm definitely going to buy it. So far, I've only seen it from independent sellers for pretty high prices.

sondheimgeek Profile Photo
sondheimgeek
#23re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:15pm

.


"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"
Updated On: 1/3/08 at 10:15 PM

defyingravity11 Profile Photo
defyingravity11
#24re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:28pm

Sure, she sounds pretty during the "Alms, Alms ..." part, but her character voice during the lude sections is amazing.


"In theater, the process of it is the experience. Everyone goes through the process, and everyone has the experience together. It doesn't last - only in people's memories and in their hearts. That's the beauty and sadness of it. But that's life - beauty and the sadness. And that is why theater is life." - Sherie Rene Scott

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jewishboy
#25re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd
Posted: 1/3/08 at 11:35pm

I don't think she sounds more pretty than anyone else who I've seen/heard play the role (save for the woman in the Doyle revival) at all. She's brilliant, the best thing about the recording.