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It’s This Lady’s Day! Audra McDonald Celebrates Her Birthday July 3
Look back at the six-time Tony winner's Broadway career thus far.
Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald celebrates her birthday July 3.
McDonald made her Broadway debut as a replacement for the role of Ayah in The Secret Garden. In the three decades since, she has enjoyed a history-making career, starring in an array of productions—from lush musicals like Carousel to searing dramas like A Raisin in the Sun . Known for her soaring soprano, McDonald has won a record-breaking six Tony Awards for her performances in Carousel, Master Class , Ragtime , The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess , A Raisin in the Sun , and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill . She was last seen on Broadway in a revival of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune with Michael Shannon.
In addition to her six Tonys, McDonald has won two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and several other accolades. Some of her movie and TV roles include Madame Garderobe in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music Live!, and Sally in Hello, Again. In 2017 she was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.
Look back at highlights from McDonald's career below.
Carousel , 1994
Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in Carousel , 1994
Joan Marcus
Master Class , 1995
Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Master Class , 1995
Jay Thompson
Ragtime, 1998
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald in Ragtime, 1998
Catherine Ashmore
Marie Christine , 1999
Audra McDonald in Marie Christine , 1999
Henry IV , 2003
Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in Henry IV , 2003
Paul Kolnik
A Raisin in the Sun, 2004
Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan in A Raisin in the Sun , 2004
110 in the Shade , 2007
Audra McDonald and cast in 110 in the Shade , 2007
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 2012
Audra McDonald in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael J. Lutch
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill , 2014
Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill , 2014
Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed , 2016
Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald
Julieta Cervantes
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune, 2019
Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald
See more of Audra McDonald's career highlights below:
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Celebrating 6-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald
Celebrating 6-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald
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Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in Carousel , 1994
Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in Carousel , 1994
Joan Marcus
Audra McDonald and cast in Carousel , 1994
Audra McDonald and Fisher Stevens in Carousel , 1994
Joan Marcus
Audra McDonald, 1994 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Carousel
Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Master Class , 1995
Jay Thompson
Audra McDonald, 1996 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Master Class
Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime , 1998
Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime , 1998
Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime , 1998
Audra McDonald, 1998 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Ragtime
Mary Testa and Audra McDonald in Marie Christine , 1999
Audra McDonald in Marie Christine , 1999
Audra McDonald and Anthony Crivello in Marie Christine , 1999
Vivian Reed and Audra McDonald in Marie Christine , 1999
Audra McDonald in Marie Christine , 1999
Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in Henry IV , 2003
Paul Kolnik
Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan in A Raisin in the Sun , 2004
Audra McDonald and Sean Combs in A Raisin in the Sun , 2004
Audra McDonald in A Raisin in the Sun , 2004
Sean Combs and Audra McDonald in A Raisin in the Sun , 2004
Audra McDonald, 2004 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, A Raisin in the Sun
Audra McDonald and John Cullum in 110 in the Shade , 2007
Steve Kazee and Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade , 2007
Audra McDonald and cast in 110 in the Shade , 2007
Audra McDonald and Christopher Innvar in 110 in the Shade , 2007
Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade , 2007
Audra McDonald and David Pittu in the Shakespeare in the Park production Twelfth Night , 2009
Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess , 2012
Michael J. Lutch
Audra McDonald in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael J. Lutch
Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess , 2012
Michael J. Lutch
Audra McDonald and NaTasha Yvette Williams in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess , 2012
Audra McDonald and Phillip Boykin in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess , 2012
Audra McDonald, 2012 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Musical, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Jessica Molaskey, Elena Shaddow, Audra McDonald and Christiane Noll in the 2013 NBC TV special The Sound of Music Live!
Audra McDonald and Bryn Terfel in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation Sweeney Todd
Audra McDonald in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation Sweeney Todd
Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill , 2014
Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill , 2014
Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill , 2014
Audra McDonald, 2014 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Play, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald
Julieta Cervantes
Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald
Julieta Cervantes
Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton in Hello Again
Audra McDonald
Hello Again LLC
Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton
Hello Again LLC
Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald
Deen van Meer
Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon
Deen van Meer
Will Swenson and Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell