Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Audra McDonald

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Audra McDonald made an impact.

Audra McDonald is a highly acclaimed American singer and actress, celebrated primarily for her extensive Broadway career. She holds the record for the most Tony Awards won by a performer, with six wins, and is the only individual to have won in all four acting categories. As of the 78th Tony Awards, she has received a record-breaking eleven nominations, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in American theater and entertainment.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 2000: Sweeney Todd Performance at Avery Fisher Hall

In May 2000, Audra McDonald appeared as "The Beggar Woman" in Lonny Price's concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, performed at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, with the New York Philharmonic with George Hearn and Patti LuPone.

June 2, 2004: Performs The Seven Deadly Sins

On June 2, 2004, Audra McDonald performed the song cycle The Seven Deadly Sins: A Song Cycle, commissioned by Carnegie Hall, at Carnegie's Zankel Hall.

March 2006: Houston Grand Opera Performances

In March 2006, Audra McDonald sang two solo one-act operas at the Houston Grand Opera: Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine and the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Send (who are you? I love you).

February 10, 2007: Stars in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

On February 10, 2007, Audra McDonald starred with Patti LuPone in the Los Angeles Opera production of Kurt Weill's opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny directed by John Doyle.

March 2014: Reprises Role in Sweeney Todd Concert

In March 2014, Audra McDonald reprised the role of "The Beggar Woman" in some performances of the Lincoln Center concert production of Sweeney Todd, directed by Lonny Price, opposite Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson.

2014: Joins Covenant House Board

In 2014, Audra McDonald joined the Covenant House board of Directors, an organization that oversees programs for homeless youth.

August 2015: A Moon for the Misbegotten at Williamstown Theatre Festival

In August 2015, Audra McDonald appeared in Eugene O'Neill's play A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts, co-starring with her husband Will Swenson.

November 2015: Audra McDonald Sings Broadway Concerts in Sydney

In November 2015, Audra McDonald performed three concerts, titled "Audra McDonald Sings Broadway", in the Sydney Opera House, which also included "The Facebook Song" by Kate Miller-Heidke.

July 24, 2016: Shuffle Along Closes

On July 24, 2016, Shuffle Along closed, marking the beginning of McDonald's maternity hiatus.

June 2017: Lady Day Performance

In June 2017, Audra McDonald performed in Lady Day at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End.

August 1, 2017: Joins The Good Fight Cast

On August 1, 2017, Audra McDonald was announced as joining the main cast for the second season of The Good Fight, reprising her role as Liz Lawrence from The Good Wife season 4.

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September 9, 2017: Lady Day Performance Ends

Audra McDonald's performance in Lady Day at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End concluded on September 9, 2017.

2018: Recording of Singing You Home

In 2018, Audra McDonald joined other Broadway stars including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Laura Benanti, and Kristin Chenoweth to record Singing You Home, a bilingual children's album designed to benefit organizations that aid families separated at the border.

2019: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

In 2019, McDonald starred as Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune at the Broadhurst Theatre, earning her ninth Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.

June 2020: Launch of Black Theatre United

In June 2020, Audra McDonald and a coalition of professionals from across the theatre industry launched Black Theatre United, an organization focused on combating systemic racism in the theatre community and beyond.

October 2020: Joins Virtual Voter Education Event

In October 2020, Audra McDonald joined many other Broadway stars in a virtual voter education and letter-writing party sponsored by VoteRiders to raise awareness about voter ID requirements.

2021: Roles in The Bite and Respect, Hosting Tony Awards

In 2021, Audra McDonald portrayed Rachel Boutella in the television series The Bite and hosted the 74th Tony Awards ceremony. She also appeared as Barbara Siggers Franklin in Aretha Franklin's biographical musical drama film Respect, earning a nomination at the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

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2022: Starring in The Gilded Age and Ohio State Murders

In 2022, Audra McDonald starred as Dorothy Scott in HBO's television series The Gilded Age. She also appeared in the Broadway production of Ohio State Murders, earning her tenth Tony Award nomination.

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2023: Roles in Rustin, Down Low, and Origin

In 2023, Audra McDonald portrayed civil rights activist Ella Baker in the Netflix biographical drama Rustin. That same year, she acted in the comedy Down Low and the Ava DuVernay directed drama Origin.

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