Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy, in 2015 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and received a National Medal of Arts—America’s highest honor for achievement in the field—from President Barack Obama.
Date of Birth: July 03, 1970 (56)
Birth Place: Berlin, GERMANY
Latest News on Audra McDonald:
BIO
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy, in 2015 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and received a National Medal of Arts—America’s highest honor for achievement in the field—from President Barack Obama. In addition to her Tony-winning performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill—the role that also served as the vehicle for her Olivier Award-nominated 2017 debut in London’s West End—she has appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden; Marie Christine (Tony nomination); Henry IV; 110 in the Shade (Tony nomination); Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed; and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination).
A Juilliard-trained soprano, her opera credits include La voix humaine and Send at Houston Grand Opera, and Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at Los Angeles Opera, where the resulting recording earned her two Grammy Awards.
On television, she was seen by millions as the Mother Abbess in NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! and played Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC’s Private Practice. She won an Emmy Award for her role as host of PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center and has received nominations for Wit, A Raisin in the Sun and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Having first appeared as Liz Lawrence on CBS’s The Good Wife, she stars in The Good Fight on Paramount+ as well as in Spectrum’s pandemic-themed drama, The Bite.
On film, she has appeared in Seven Servants, The Object of My Affection, Cradle Will Rock, It Runs in the Family, The Best Thief in the World, She Got Problems, Rampart, Ricki and the Flash, Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, the movie-musical Hello Again, and MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.
Her upcoming film projects comprise Higher Ground’s Rustin and FilmNation’s Down Low. McDonald has issued five solo albums on the Nonesuch label as well as Sing Happy with the New York Philharmonic on Decca Gold. She also maintains a major career as a concert artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world and with leading international orchestras. A founding member of Black Theatre United, board member of Covenant House International, and prominent advocate for LGBTQAI+ rights, her favorite roles are those performed offstage, as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson, and mother.
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STAGE CREDITS
See how Audra McDonald connects to other Broadway stars and creatives.
Six Degrees of Broadway Beta
See how many degrees separate Audra McDonald from another Broadway star or creative.
Audra McDonald
Connection
Awards and Nominations
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Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Audra McDonald, Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill
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Audra McDonald, Lady Day at emerson's Bar & Grill
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Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
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Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
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Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
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Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess
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Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
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Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
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Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess
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Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
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Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shad
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
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Audra McDonald, A Raisin In The Sun
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Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
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Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
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Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
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Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald, Marie Christine
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Audra McDonald, Marie Christine
Audra McDonald, Ragtime
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Audra McDonald, Ragtime
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Audra McDonald, Master Class
Videos
Video: Impressionist Recreates Iconic RAGTIME Lyric With Broadway Stars
by Michael Major - 2026-05-18 14:45:07
Video: New Trailer Teases Extended Audra McDonald Concert Featuring 'Rose's Turn'
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-17 13:31:36
Video: Exclusive Clip of Renée Elise Goldsberry SATISIFED Doc Highlights Early Days of Ham4Ham
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-24 10:00:20
Video: HBO Previews Season 3 Finale of THE GILDED AGE in Tense New Sneak Peek
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-08-04 15:21:53
News
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Sep 4, 2026
Celebrated Canadian actors Sophia Walker and André Morin are, as they say, 'booked and busy.' Walker and Morin star in not only one Shaw Festival production this season, but two: Ohio State Murders and A New Work in Progress.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 1, 2026
The San Francisco Symphony will honor Michael Tilson Thomas with a memorial concert featuring longtime collaborators including Audra McDonald, Yuja Wang, and Jamie Bernstein at Davies Symphony Hall.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 1, 2026
The annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraiser will return to the Theater District with more than 60 vendor tables plus live and silent auctions.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 29, 2026
BroadwayWorld breaks down how college-age performers were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at The Festival as part of the Apprentice program.
by Rachel Stone - Aug 25, 2026
HBO's Emmy-nominated drama returns for an eight-episode fourth season, with Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Morgan Spector reprising their roles amid new family conflicts.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 25, 2026
The Emmy nominated HBO Original drama series, from creator Julian Fellowes (“Downton Abbey”), THE GILDED AGE will debut its eight-episode fourth season. Get a first look at the trailer now!
by - Aug 25, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 25, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 21, 2026
If you missed the exclusive preview of the seven new and original works at The Festival, BroadwayWorld has you covered with a full breakdown and recap of what these musicals are and where they’re headed.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 22, 2026
Thirty years since 'Rent' premiered on Broadway, Adam Pascal still worries about flubbing the lyrics to 'One Song Glory.' At The Festival, he also recalled going 'completely blank' and forgetting some of the song while on live TV.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 18, 2026
Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown will kick off its new season with a concert by Jessica Vosk, followed by touring productions of WAITRESS, THE MUSIC MAN, MYSTIC PIZZA and concerts by Bernadette Peters.
by Team BWW - Aug 24, 2026
Ever wondered how few Broadway credits separate Audra McDonald from Idina Menzel, or whether two stars who never shared a bill are still only one person apart? Now you can find out. BroadwayWorld has launched Six Degrees of Broadway, its latest new free daily game that asks you to guess how many degrees of separation stand between two Broadway people, then try to build the credit chain yourself. A beta explorer is also live on people pages, so you can start from any performer’s or creative’s profile and connect them to someone else.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 18, 2026
During the 'Rent' 30th anniversary reunion at The Festival, 13 of the 15 original Broadway cast members looked back on the show's early days, including how fans would line up in droves to score discounted rush tickets.
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 17, 2026
The Festival triumphantly concluded their inaugural weekend at Kingston’s Hutton Brickyards Riverfront Hotel + Venue. Produced by Joshua Saltman and David B. Schwartz, the first-of-its kind celebration of Broadway’s greatest hits and brightest stars welcomed 2,875 attendees from 48 of the 50 states and featured 165 on stage performers across more than 30 programs over three days, including 30 musicians, 14 ensemble members, and 13 apprentices. At the end of the weekend, it was revealed that The Festival will return in 2027.
by - Aug 18, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 18, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 17, 2026
During a performance at The Festival, Norbert Leo Butz serenaded fans with a performance of 'Fight the Dragons' from the 2013 Broadway musical 'Big Fish' — but wanted to get something off his chest beforehand.
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 17, 2026
Over the weekend, The Festival, a three-day outdoor event taking place at Hutton Brickyards Riverfront Hotel + Venue in Kingston, New York, luanched as a first-of-its-kind celebration of Broadway’s greatest hits and brightest stars. Watch a video recap here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 13, 2026
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts revealed single tickets go on sale for all 2026-2027 Beyond Broadway, plus additional shows in August. The season features Tituss Burgess, Norbert Leo Butz, and Audra McDonald.
by Ben Waterhouse - Aug 10, 2026
Creating a successful show on Broadway has a myriad of factors that all need to go right. There’s a strength of material that’s necessary, as well as strength of performances. Awards voters and critics need to respond well to it. But to quote the Commercial Theatre Institute “the only thing that will keep your show going for a long run is word of mouth”. But what does that mean?
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 5, 2026
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has revealed its upcoming Fall/Spring season, including a reunion concert of the 2016 Broadway production of Shuffle Along, plus more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 4, 2026
The Library of Congress will present a season marking America's semiquincentennial and centennials for Miles Davis and John Coltrane, featuring Audra McDonald, Dianne Reeves and seven new commissions at the Coolidge Auditorium.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Audra McDonald has appeared on Broadway in 18 shows.
Audra McDonald has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Audra McDonald's first West End show was Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill which opened in 2017
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Gypsy, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Gypsy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Gypsy, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Ohio State Murders, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Ohio State Murders, Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Ohio State Murders, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Best Actress (Olivier Awards) for Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill, Best Leading Actress in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Lady Day at emerson's Bar & Grill, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Best Leading Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Porgy and Bess, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Porgy and Bess , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (tie) (Drama Desk Awards) for 110 in the Shad, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for 110 in the Shade, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for 110 in the Shade, Best Featured Actress in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for A Raisin In The Sun, Outstanding Featured Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun , Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, Distinguished Achivement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Marie Christine, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Marie Christine, Best Featured Actress - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Ragtime , Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Ragtime and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Master Class.
Audra McDonald has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her Broadway career. For her role in Gypsy, she won the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards. Her performance in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill earned her multiple accolades, including Best Leading Actress in a Play from the BroadwayWorld Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Play from the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play from the Tony Awards. McDonald's work in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess was recognized with several awards as well. She received Best Leading Actress in a Musical from the BroadwayWorld Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards, Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards. Additional honors include Outstanding Actress in a Musical (tie) from the Drama Desk Awards for 110 in the Shade, and recognition for her featured roles in A Raisin in the Sun, which brought her Best Featured Actress in a Play from the BroadwayWorld Awards, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play from the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play from the Tony Awards. She also received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League Awards, along with Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for Ragtime and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play from the Tony Awards for Master Class.
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