Audra McDonald: Living Her Dream

Audra did not have to travel too far from her Manhattan home to find a welcoming audience at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center. Marlton, NJ this past weekend as she performed a solo concert on August 11 and 12th. In fact, this gave the sultry tall lady a chance to visit her in-laws who live in the Bucks County Pa, area.

The evening belonged to Audra, looking chic in a tailored, long-tailed black pant suit as she promised the audience some classic songs as well as some new things. She opened with "Lola Sings," which gave the crowd immediate insight to her remarkable style from smokey low growls to a soaring soprano. The audience knew at this point this was a lady with a voice to acknowledge. She went right into her promised classics with "It Might as Well Be Spring" from State Fair to "Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here" from On A Clear Day. She introduces us to a song by Jason Robert Brown written for a show called Songs for a New World called "Stars and Moon."

Catching her breath, she retells the time when she and her husband Peter were asked to perform a song for a tribute to Bill Cosby a few years ago. She came up with what she thought at the time to be the perfect song called "Bill."  But after the first 30 seconds into the song realizes the lyrics are less than flattering for a man who was "just Bill" the love of her life!" "You'll see why," she tell us as she goes right into the song "Bill."

Born in Berlin, Germany on July 3, 1970, McDonald grew up in Fresno, CA. McDonald, the older of two daughters, began her life in theatre at a young age as a way to counteract a diagnosis of "hyperactive." McDonald performed in many productions as a youth and regionally as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, in addition to other regional roles. McDonald is a 1993 graduate of Julliard.

The next two songs were part of Audra's "new things," two whimsical songs called " Beat My Dog" and "I Double Dare You," a song written for Woody Allen's Radio Days. " Another pair of songs reflect a woman's longing and anticipation: "I Must Have that Man," a song with Dorothy Fields lyrics, and "Will He Like Me" from She Loves Me, once sung by Barbara Cook. Keeping with a love and marriage theme, Audra next sings a Frank Loesser song "Can't Stop Talking" at a feverish patter, and then slows down the pace with  I Wanna Get Married" then finishes up with a nightmarish "Hosing The Furniture" by Jonathan Larsen, composer of  RENT.

McDonald was cast as Carrie Pipperidge in the Nicholas Hytner production of Carousel in 1994, the first time an African-American woman has performed the role. McDonald received her first Tony for this portrayal. She followed up this success as Sharon in Master Class in 1995. This role won McDonald her second Tony award, as well as a mentor in Zoe Caldwell, who portrayed Marie Callas in the play. Her third Tony award came for her performance in 1998 as Sarah, the love interest of Brian Stokes Mitchell's Colehouse Walker Jr. McDonald became a three time Tony winner by the age of 28, placing her alongside Shirley Booth, Gwen Verdon and Zero Mostel in accomplishing this feat within five years. In 1999, McDonald performed as Marie Christine L'Adrese in Michael John LaChiusa's Marie Christine, a retelling of Medea set in New Orleans. She received a Tony nomination for this role.

The following year, McDonald switched roles in the Carousel in Concert production, portraying Julie Jordan alongside Hugh Jackman as Billy Bigalow. 2003 saw McDonald's return to full-scale productions on Broadway as she portrayed Lady Percy in the Lincoln Center production of Henry IV. She received her fourth Tony award for her performance as Ruth Younger in the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

Audra talks fondly about her 5 year old daughter Zoe being "a little Disney-fied" queen who steals mom's only pair of $500 pink shoes as she moves into two lullaby style songs called "Cradle," written by Ricky Ian Gordon to be sung to a parent from a grown child and  "I Won't Mind," a heartwarming song from a doting, loving aunt to a special child. Switching gears and displaying some naughty anger, she lets loose with a song about a bad break up called " It's The Christian Thing To Do" by Michael John LaChiusa. Back to a classic that Audra feared singing "because others have sang it so well for so long, "she treat us to a glorious "I Could Have Danced All Night" and invited the crowd to join her, up to her "diva" moment finale!

In addition to her impressive stage work, McDonald has acted in film and on television. McDonald had guest appearances on "Homicide: Life on the Streets," and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," as Audrey Jackson. She portrayed Jackie Brock on the short-lived, but critically praised NBC series "Mister Sterling" in 2002. McDonald also did the pilot of the CBS series "Cosby," as Bill Cosby's daughter. Her TV-movies include "Having Our Say—The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years," as Bessie in her twenties; "The Last Debate," as a journalist; the ABC production of the musical "Annie," as Grace; and "Wit," the adaptation of Margaret Edson's play, for which McDonald received an Emmy nomination. She also was in the short film, "Tea Time with Roy and Sylvia," directed and written by her sister, Alison McDonald.

Audra talks about some uncertain times in her life as a young person seeking to deal with her identity and returns to a familiar song called " It's Not Easy Being Green," a song made famous by Kermit the Frog. Announcing that she will now sing some Sondheim, the crowd approvingly welcomes "Not A Day Goes By" from Merrily We Role along and "What Can You Lose" from the Dick Tracy movie, also sung by Madonna. She rounds out the evening with a song by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick: "When Did I Fall," and captures the crowd with an encore of the beloved  "Edelweiss" accompanied by a solo guitar. Ms. McDonald is accompanied by a seasoned four piece ensemble.

McDonald has released three solo albums, "Way Back to Paradise," "How Glory Goes," and "Happy Songs". along with a much anticipated new solo album to be released in September 2006. In these albums, McDonald frequently performs the works of the new generation of Broadway theatre composers--particularly Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guttel, and Jason Robert Brown. She has performed concerts worldwide in the most prestigious of venues and with the most impressive of orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Joe's Pub, Atlanta Symphony, Harvard University, and the Lincoln Center. She has also performed in numerous PBS specials: "Leonard Bernstein's New York", "A Capitol Fourth", "Audra McDonald in Concert," and "On Stage at Kennedy Center," as well as "Great Performances" three times: "Some Enchanted Evening—Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II", "Carnegie Hall Opening Night 1998", and "My Favorite Broadway—The Leading Ladies".

In her personal life, McDonald, a Cancer, married bassist Peter Donovan, also a Julliard graduate, in 2000. They have a daughter, Zoe Madeline, named after Zoe Caldwell and Madeline Kahn.

"Audra McDonald In Concert" - played  at the Lenape Regional Perfromnig Arts Center, Marlton, NJ on August 11 & 12. For upcoming information and tickets to future events, visit: www.sjtheater.com or call 856.983.3366.

Photos
1) Audra McDonald
2) Audra McDonald, photographed by Barron Claiborne