Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Powerhouse Broadway couple Audra McDonald and Will Swenson just welcomed their new baby girl into the world, and the Broadway community can't wait to see what kind of star she'll grow into. But in the midst of this joy, the producers of SHUFFLE ALONG, which McDonald departed early due to her surprise pregnancy at the age of 45, has sued its insurer Lloyd's of London for refusing to cover the losses caused by the Tony winner's exit.

SHUFFLE ALONG will play its final Broadway performance today, July 24, 2016, the day six-time Tony-winning star Audra McDonald was already set to depart the production for a multi-month maternity leave. SHUFFLE ALONG began performances on March 15, 2016 and officially opened on April 28 at the Music Box Theatre. It will have played 38 previews and 100 regular performances by the time it ends. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through the show's Broadway journey!

Lin-Manuel Miranda tweets high praise for the show and for Audra McDonald's understudy Darlesia Cearcy.

Tony Award Nominee Adrienne Warren (Shuffle Along) joins the cast of DUETS with thewriteteachers.com: LGBTQ+ Edition, at Birdland Jazz on August 8th. DUETS with thewriteteachers.com: LGBTQ+ Edition is proudly presented by the Broadway at Birdland concert series. This one-night-only event will benefit the One Orlando Fund. 

The pregnant Broadway stars says she will definitely be showing the animated program to her little one.

Happy Birthday Audra McDonald!! Today is six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald's birthday and to celebrate her special day BroadwayWorld has decided to round up some of our favorite Audra McDonald videos!

The legendary dancer/director/choreographer and the great Broadway clown greet the Tony-winning star backstage.

The New York Times is reporting that Shuffle Along will close on July 24th, currently the date of Audra McDonald's departure citing a low advance for after she leaves the show. 

Earlier today, Actors' Equity Association presented Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed with the tenth annual ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. Presented by Equity's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) the ACCA Award is the only industry accolade of its kind to honor the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical.

Actors' Equity Association (Equity) today announced that Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed will receive the tenth annual ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus.  Presented by Equity's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) the ACCA Award is the only industry accolade of its kind to honor the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical. 

The cast of SHUFFLE ALONG performed a rousing number from the Tony nominated musical. Watch the clip below!

The cast of Broadway's SHUFFLE ALONG got a visit from Tinkerbelle the Dog recently - check out photos below!

On May 4, the 2016 Tony nominees flocked to the Paramount Hotel, where they met with the press for the first time since getting the big news. BroadwayWorld will continue bringing you coverage from the epic day over the next week, but for now, check out photos of Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical nominee for Shuffle Along, Brandon Victor Dixon, as captured by Walter McBride!

When it comes to acting, Brian Stokes Mitchell has done it all from television, to film and Broadway.

On last night's premiere episode of the new NBC variety series MAYA AND MARTY, Savion Glover and the cast of SHUFFLE ALONG performed 'The Pennsylvania Graveyard Shuffle,' from the new Broadway musical.

One of Broadway's funniest performers offers a backstage tour in a new Charitybuzz auction.

Her singing has helped her win a Grammy, but her Broadway debut will require her to learn tap dancing.

A re-imagined version of the 1921 musical SHUFFLE ALONG, one of the earliest stage hits starring, written and directed by African-Americans, opened on April 28 on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. The musical nabbed a total of 10 Tony nominations this year, including nods for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actor and Actress, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Direction, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with the nominees -- hear what they had to say about the show, plus watch new performance highlights, in the video below!

It's all good news today at the Music Box Theare... and we aren't just talking about Audra McDonald's pregnancy. It was also announced that during Ms. McDonald's hiatus from the production, Savion Glover, SHUFFLE ALONG's Tony Award-nominated choreographer, and widely considered to be the world's greatest living tap dancer, will step into the show, as envisioned by the Director and Book writer, George C. Wolfe.

The country blues singer will be making her Broadway debut as Lottie Gee.