The Official Website of Singer and Actress Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald’s performance in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is now available to stream on Audible in partnership with the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Directed by Robert O’Hara, Audra stars as Blanche DuBois in this innovative exploration of the classic tale about the emotionally charged relationship between two iconic sisters. Stream now on Audible.
Audra McDonald will appear on Julian Fellowes’ new HBO period drama ‘The Gilded Age’ as a guest star. Audra joins an impressive cast, including her The Good Fight co-star Christine Baranski, in this epic drama that follows the millionaire titans of New York City in the 1880s. Audra portrays Dorothy Scott, the wife of a powerful man and the backbone of her family. After much time apart, her daughter finally pays a visit to their family home in Brooklyn, and Dorothy clings to the hope that the Scott family will heal and begin to form a new and stronger bond. However, she soon makes a discovery that throws her own beliefs into question. The Gilded Age will premiere on HBO in 2021. Read more here.
On October 21, Deadline announced the creation of The Second Wave, a six-episode pandemic-themed drama from The Good Fight and Evil creators Robert & Michelle King.Starring Audra McDonald, Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), and Steven Pasquale (The Comey Rule), the series follows neighbors, Rachel (McDonald) and Lily (Schilling), as they navigate life in quarantine during a deadly second wave outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in New York City. Co-produced by CBS and Spectrum Originals, The Second Wave is expected to debut on Spectrum on Demand later this year. Read more about the show on Deadline.
On October 23, Audra McDonald guest stars on Disney Junior’s Emmy and BAFTA Award-nominated animated series Vampirina. Stacked with a roster of stars from screen and stage, Vampirina follows the story of a vampire family adjusting to life after a move from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. In an episode titled “Vee and the Family Stone,” Audra portrays a world-famous fashion designer named Medusa. Taken by the family’s suburban flare, Medusa realizes in the end that the best fashion trend is simply being yourself. Described by Disney as, “a blend of spooky fun, heartfelt storytelling and Broadway-caliber music,” audiences can enjoy season 3 of Vampirina on DisneyNow.
On September 11, Audra McDonald appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss a variety of topics including her upcoming role in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and Black Theatre United’s work to battle systemic racism in both the theater industry and the nation. Speaking with CBS’s Gayle King and Anthony Mason, Audra covered the importance of being counted in the census and Black and brown representation across the theater industry. Audra also discussed her upcoming role as Barbara Franklin in the upcoming movie Respect, and even sang a few lines from one of her favorite Aretha Franklin songs, “Until You Come Back to Me.”
Watch the full interview below!
On July 9, Audra McDonald joins Sherrilyn Ifill, President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, in conversation for Black Theatre United‘s event “Activating Black Artists & Allies for Racial Justice.” BTU invites members and allies to participate in this Virtual Town Hall, which aims to harness the power of the collective voice in an effort to enact change. This live-streamed event begins at 6:30 pm ET, is free to attend. Click here to register.
