While many of us were first introduced to Audra McDonald when she played Dr. Naomi Bennett on Shonda Rhimes’ Private Practice, McDonald has been on the Broadway scene for years. This past Sunday, she made history by winning the Lead Actress in a Play category, her sixth Tony Award for portraying jazz singer Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson’s musical play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.
Not only did she win her sixth Tony, but McDonald also became the first person to win in all four acting categories. She also won Tony awards for the following: Best Featured Actress in a Play (A Raisin in the Sun and Master Class), Best Lead Actress in a Musical (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. I gave away tickets to this play on the blog a couple years ago!) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Ragtime and Carousel).
Having trained at Juilliard School, Audra McDonald has worked for over 15 years in theatre and television. She received Emmy nominations for her roles on the HBO film version of the Pulitzer-Prize winning play, Wit, and made-for television movie adaption of A Raisin in the Sun (that was a good adaption by the way). Oh yea, she also has two Grammys under her belt. BOSS!
Along with years on television and the stage, McDonald has also received the following awards for her work in the arts: four Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, four NAACP Image Awards nominations, an Ovation Award, a Theatre World Award, and the Drama League’s 2000 Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre and 2012 Distinguished Performance Award.
Whew! Talk about accomplishments! Congratulations to Audra McDonald not only on her 6th Tony Award, but for being a trailblazer in theatre!
Anyone else feel like they need to take a trip to NYC to see her on Broadway??
Source: http://audramcdonald.net/
