Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, who starred in Broadway’s Shuffle Along last season, will tell backstage stories and sing her musical theatre hits in a pair of May 22 concerts at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre.
Originally scheduled for 6:30 PM only, the show has added a second performance at 9 PM.
Also featuring Broadway actor Will Swenson (McDonald’s Tony-nominated husband) and Playbill columnist Seth Rudetsky, the performance will take place at the Downstairs Theatre space as part of Steppenwolf’s LookOut series. The format will consist of Rudetsky interviewing the couple and asking questions about their show business lives that will bring out their backstage anecdotes, interspersed with songs from McDonald’s stage career.
Tickets, priced $79–150, are now at 312-335-1650 and at Steppenwolf.org.
McDonald, who plays Madame de Garderobe in the live-action remake of the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast premiering March 17, is in the midst of a concert tour that will also take her to stops around the U.S. including Jacksonville, Florida, on March 12; Chicago Symphony Center on March 25; New York‘s Lincoln Center on April 26; and Cincinnati February 25, 2018. She is scheduled to recreate her Tony-winning performance in Lady Day at the Emerson Bar & Grill in London starting June 17. She also won Tony Awards for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Swenson earned his Tony nomination for his performance as Berger in the 2009 revival of Hair.
Rudetsky, co-author and co-star of Broadway’s Disaster!, has been guest performer on seven of Playbill’s Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Playbill’s inaugural river cruise along the Rhône River in May 2017 is sold out, but cabins are available for the Rhine River cruise in August 2017, featuring Rudetsky, Andréa Burns, Faith Prince, Terrence Mann, Charlotte d’Amboise, and more exciting talent to be announced. Visit PlaybillTravel.com for booking and information.
