History of Audra McDonald in Timeline

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.

September 2000: Marriage to Peter Donovan

In September 2000, Audra McDonald married bassist Peter Donovan.

2000: Release of "How Glory Goes" Album

In 2000, Audra McDonald released her album "How Glory Goes," featuring a combination of old and new works from composers such as Harold Arlen, Leonard Bernstein, and Jerome Kern.

2002: Release of "Happy Songs" Album

In 2002, Audra McDonald released her album "Happy Songs," which featured big band music from the 1920s through the 1940s.

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).

2006: Release of "Build a Bridge" Album

In 2006, Audra McDonald released her album "Build a Bridge," featuring songs from jazz and pop.

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.

February 2009: Grammy Awards for Mahagonny Recording

In February 2009, the recording of the Los Angeles Opera production of Kurt Weill's opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, which starred Audra McDonald, won two Grammy Awards: Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Album.

October 6, 2012: Marriage to Will Swenson

On October 6, 2012, Audra McDonald married Will Swenson.

May 2013: Release of Go Back Home album

In May 2013, Audra McDonald released her first solo album in seven years, Go Back Home, which included the title track from The Scottsboro Boys. She also performed a concert at Avery Fisher Hall that aired on PBS.

September 7, 2014: Sings at Joan Rivers' Funeral

On September 7, 2014, Audra McDonald attended Joan Rivers' funeral in New York and sang "Smile."

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.

September 22, 2016: Awarded National Medal of Arts

On September 22, 2016, Audra McDonald was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama for 2015, recognizing her contributions to Broadway.

October 19, 2016: Birth of Daughter Sally

On October 19, 2016, Audra McDonald gave birth to her and Will Swenson's daughter, Sally James McDonald-Swenson.

2016: Receives National Medal of Arts

In 2016, Audra McDonald was honored with the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.

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.

2017: Inducted into American Theater Hall of Fame

In 2017, Audra McDonald was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

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.

December 2023: Guest Narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional

In late December 2023, Audra McDonald served as a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.

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.