Audra McDonald Joins First Lady Michelle Obama at The Studio Museum in Harlem Today

Today, September 24th, the First Lady will attend the President's remarks to the UN General Assembly. In the afternoon, she will host a special event for the spouses of Chiefs of State and Heads of Government participating in the UN General Assembly at The Studio Museum in Harlem, a leading institution devoted to artists of African descent. Mrs. Obama will deliver brief remarks at the luncheon.

The Studio Museum in Harlem was founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, Harlem residents, civic leaders, and philanthropists. The Museum is an internationally recognized venue for modern and contemporary art and is a vital source of programs and services for the Harlem community. The Studio Museum's Permanent Collection represents more than 450 artists, spans 200 years of history, and comprises nearly 2,000 works of art, including: paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, and mixed-media installations.

Performing at the lunch will be members of the chamber music class at LaGuardia Arts High School, students and Company members from Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Audra McDonald.

About the performers:

LaGuardia Arts was the first school in the nation to provide a free, publicly funded program for students with unique talents in the arts. It was founded by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1936 in order to provide a facility where the most gifted and talented public school students of New York City could pursue their talents in music, art, drama, and dance, while also completing a full academic program of instruction.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is comprised of an international touring ballet company, school, and innovative arts education programs. The program reaches over 80,000 people each year with more than 65% of its students studying on scholarship or tuition assistance. Approaching its 45th year, Dance Theatre of Harlem remains dedicated to inspiring traditional and new audiences with a message of self-reliance, artistic relevance and individual responsibility.

Audra McDonald is an acclaimed singer and actress with a record-tying five Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards. Her theater credits include Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Gershwins'Porgy and Bess, among others.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride