Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Audra McDonald

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 4, 2025

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

Audra McDonald is a highly acclaimed American singer and actress, primarily celebrated for her Broadway performances. She holds the record for the most Tony Award performance wins, with six, and is the only individual to have won in all four acting categories. Furthermore, she has received a record-breaking eleven Tony Award nominations, solidifying her status as a Broadway icon.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 2000: Appears in Sweeney Todd Concert Version

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 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York with the New York Philharmonic.

June 2, 2004: Performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall

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

March 2006: Performs at Houston Grand Opera

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 Los Angeles Opera Production

On February 10, 2007, Audra McDonald co-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.

September 2008: Possible Carmen Adaptation

In September 2008, it was reported that American composer Michael John LaChiusa was working on an adaptation of Bizet's Carmen with Audra McDonald in mind.

August 2015: Appearance at Williamstown Theatre Festival

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

November 2015: Audra McDonald Sings Broadway

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

July 24, 2016: Shuffle Along Closes and Maternity Hiatus Begins

On July 24, 2016, Audra McDonald's Broadway show, Shuffle Along, closed. Following the closing of Shuffle Along, McDonald began her maternity hiatus.

June 2017: West End Debut in Lady Day

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

August 1, 2017: Joins the Cast of The Good Fight

On August 1, 2017, it was announced that Audra McDonald would join the main cast of the second season of The Good Fight, reprising her role as Liz Lawrence from The Good Wife.

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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.

June 2020: Launches Black Theatre United

In June 2020, Audra McDonald and other theatre professionals launched Black Theatre United, an organization to inspire reform and combat systemic racism in the theatre community.

October 2020: Participates in Voter Education Event

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

May 2024: Returns to Broadway in Gypsy Revival

In May 2024, it was announced that Audra McDonald would return to Broadway as Mama Rose in a revival of Gypsy, with previews beginning November 21. This performance would lead to her 11th Tony Award nomination.