Audra McDonald Biography

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards two Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2015 and received a 2015 National Medal of Arts—America’s highest honor for achievement in the arts—from President Barack Obama. Blessed with a luminous soprano and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling she is as much at home on Broadway and opera stages as she is in roles on film and television. In addition to her theatrical work she maintains a major career as a concert and recording artist regularly appearing on the great stages of the world.
Born into a musical family McDonald grew up in Fresno California and received her classical vocal training at the Juilliard School. A year after graduating she won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Carousel at Lincoln Center Theater. She received two additional Tony Awards in the featured actress category over the next four years for her performances in the Broadway premieres of Terrence McNally’s Master Class (1996) and Ragtime (1998) for an unprecedented total of three Tony Awards before the age of 30. In 2004 she won her fourth Tony starring alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in A Raisin in the Sun and in 2012 she won her fifth—and her first in the leading actress category—for her role in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. In 2014 she made Broadway history and became the Tony Awards’ most decorated performer when she won her sixth award for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill—the role that also served as the vehicle for her Olivier Award-nominated 2017 debut in London’s West End. In addition to setting the record for most competitive wins by an actor she also became the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories. McDonald’s other theater credits include The Secret Garden (1993) Marie Christine (1999) Henry IV (2004) 110 in the Shade (2007) her Public Theater Shakespeare in the Park debut in Twelfth Night (2009) Shuffle Along or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed (2016) and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2019).

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Audra McDonald's expertise is in high demand. To book Audra McDonald for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Audra McDonald's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Audra McDonald's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Audra McDonald for your next speaking engagement.