History of Audra McDonald in Timeline
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.
1991: Beauty and the Beast animated film
In 1991, Disney released the animated film Beauty and the Beast.
1998: Release of Way Back to Paradise
In 1998, Audra McDonald released her first solo album, Way Back to Paradise, on Nonesuch Records, featuring songs by new musical theatre composers.
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.
September 2000: Marriage to Peter Donovan
In September 2000, Audra McDonald married bassist Peter Donovan.
2000: Release of How Glory Goes
In 2000, Audra McDonald released her second album, How Glory Goes, which combined old and new works by composers such as Harold Arlen, Leonard Bernstein, and Jerome Kern.
2002: Release of Happy Songs
In 2002, Audra McDonald released her third album, Happy Songs, featuring big band music from the 1920s through the 1940s.
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.
2006: Release of Build a Bridge
In 2006, Audra McDonald released her fourth album, Build a Bridge, featuring songs from jazz and pop.
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.
September 2008: Potential Carmen Adaptation
In September 2008, American composer Michael John LaChiusa was quoted in Opera News Online as 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 Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, starring Audra McDonald, won two Grammy Awards for Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Album.
2009: Divorce from Peter Donovan
In 2009, Audra McDonald and Peter Donovan divorced.
2010: Sings America the Beautiful at BCS National Championship Game
At the 2010 BCS National Championship Game on January 7, Audra McDonald sang America the Beautiful for the stadium fans to celebrate the final game of the college football season.
October 6, 2012: Marriage to Will Swenson
Audra McDonald married Will Swenson on October 6, 2012.
2012: Golden Plate Award
In 2012, Audra McDonald received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Colin Powell.
May 2013: Release of Go Back Home
In May 2013, Audra McDonald released her first solo album in seven years, Go Back Home, featuring a title track from The Scottsboro Boys. She also performed a concert at Avery Fisher Hall that aired on PBS.
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.
September 7, 2014: Sings at Joan Rivers' Funeral
On September 7, 2014, Audra McDonald attended Joan Rivers' funeral in New York and sang "Smile".
2014: An Evening with Audra McDonald
An Evening with Audra McDonald (2014–15)
2014: Residency in Croton-on-Hudson
As of 2014, Audra McDonald resides with her family in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
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.
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.
October 19, 2016: Birth of Daughter Sally James McDonald-Swenson
On October 19, 2016, Audra McDonald gave birth to her daughter with Will Swenson, Sally James McDonald-Swenson.
2016: National Medal of Arts
In 2016, Audra McDonald was honored with the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.
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.
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.
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.
2018: Receives Beacon of Hope Award
In 2018, Audra McDonald received Covenant House's Beacon of Hope Award.
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.
December 2023: Guest Narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional
In late December 2023, McDonald was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.
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.
May 2024: Return to Broadway in Gypsy Announced
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.
2024: Grand Marshal of Tournament of Roses Parade
Audra McDonald served as the grand marshal of the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade.
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