Is Audra McDonald-Led LADY DAY a Play or a Musical? Tony Committee Decides Tomorrow

The Tony Awards Administration Committee meets for the final time tomorrow, April 25, to determine the fates of the 2013-14 season's productions. And if they decide LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL is a "play with music" rather than a musical, leading lady Audra McDonald, who stars as Billie Holiday, will have the chance to win a Tony for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play -- her only category without a Tony trophy.

McDonald has won five Tony Awards to date, including Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, Best Featured Actress in a Play for A RAISIN IN THE SUN and MASTER CLASS, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for RAGTIME and CAROUSEL.

If the Tony committee falls in line with the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League, McDonald is out of luck; both organizations deemed LADY DAY a musical revival. Plus, Lonette McKee, who appeared in 1987's original off-Broadway production, received a Drama Desk nomination in the musical category.

The Tony Award nominations will be announced next Tuesday, April 29th, with the ceremony set for June 8, 2014. Stay tuned for the verdict - we're rooting for you either way, Audra!

McDonald has also appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden, Marie Christine (Tony nomination), Henry IV, and 110 in the Shade (Tony nomination). A two-time Grammy Award-winner, she has released five solo albums on Nonesuch. On television, she was recently seen as "Mother Abbess" in NBC's The Sound of Music Live! and played "Dr. Naomi Bennett" on ABC's Private Practice for four seasons. She has received Emmy nominations for A Raisin in the Sun, Wit and her role as official host of PBS's Live From Lincoln Center. The Juilliard-trained soprano has also appeared on opera stages in Houston and LA and regularly performs with leading orchestras and in concerts with her own ensemble. Her film credits include She Got Problems, Best Thief in the World, It Runs in the Family, The Object of My Affection, Seven Servants and Rampart.

Photo Credit: Evgenia Eliseeva