![]() ![]() I may have felt like a gremlin beside the impossibly beautiful staff, and I had never been so aware of just how little I had in my bank account, but I was hooked. The underside of the bar was heated to ensure my legs didn’t get cold while I sipped on my collagen hot chocolate, the shower water was infused with vitamin C to protect the skin, and the ice in my drink contained essential oils that matched the taste profile of my beverage. We are going to give a sneak peek about next season, some of the shows we plan to do and also we want to have a moment where we can celebrate the next generation of theater makers.My visit to Saint Haven was the first time I have truly enjoyed a “premium” experience. Audiences also can expect us to share a little bit more about the future for Long Wharf. “I think it’s just going to be a really wonderful concert. “With someone like Audra McDonald, I think whatever she chooses to do it will be spellbinding, special and wonderful,” he said. I am so eager to return to New Haven and share this moment with the Long Wharf community at such an important stage in their history.”Īudiences can expect a sampling of songs from the Broadway shows she has performed in as well as favorite songs of hers. “Long Wharf’s leadership has done the tough work of thinking outside of the box and reimagining what’s possible for artists and audiences alike. “I have long admired Long Wharf Theatre and their bold conviction to build a new, inspired vision for regional theaters across the country,” McDonald said in the theater’s press release announcing the concert. “We have this new model…and are trying to amplify the voices of all people,” he said, adding that given McDonald’s activism, “There is alignment between what she is doing in her circles and the work that the Long Wharf Theatre is also trying to manifest.” Padrón said they highlighted the theater’s work and its community partnerships when they reached out to invite McDonald to perform at the benefit. Allison Michael Orenstein/ Contributed photo We’ve had Kelli O’Hara, Alan Cumming, Leslie Odom Jr., Laura Benanti and to now have Audra return a second time is really special for our audiences,” he said.Īudra McDonald will perform at Long Wharf Theatre's benefit concert on May 15. “I think it’s also worth noting that Long Wharf Theatre has kind of a wonderful track record of attracting really amazing talent for our gala. ![]() McDonald headlined the theater’s gala in 2015, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Padrón believes she is the only artist they have invited back for a repeat performance. Among the causes she champions are equal rights, LGBTQAI+ and at-risk youth. In 2015, former president Barack Obama awarded McDonald with a National Medal of Arts award and she has received nine nominations for NAACP Image Awards. Long Wharf Theatre artistic director Jacob G. ![]() I really look up to her she is an inspiration to so many of us that we can dream big and dream often.” “When we talk about artists that are also using their platform to amplify important issues, she believes in the power of theater and also believes in supporting artists of color, which again is a huge part of the work she’s doing for Black Theatre United. Equally of note, he said, is how McDonald uses her voice to bring attention to causes important to her. Padrón, the theater’s artistic director, described McDonald as “a trailblazing, transformational actor” not just for her body of work in American theater but also in film and television spaces. She has a busy schedule in May, but of key interest to Connecticut audiences will be her performance, Audra McDonald: A Concert for Long Wharf Theatre, on May 15 at the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University. McDonald also has sung in notable venues like Carnegie Hall and performed concerts around the country. Allison Michael Orenstein/Contributed photo Her film career includes roles in "Ricki and the Flash," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Respect."Īudra McDonald will perform at Long Wharf Theatre's benefit concert on May 15. Among her Tony-winning roles are the young opera student, Sharon, in “Master Class,” Sarah in “Ragtime,” Ruth Younger in “A Raisin in the Sun” and Bessin “Porgy and Bess” and her sixth win was as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.”īesides charming theatergoers with her operatic soprano and her acting chops, she has also appeared extensively on television, including “The Gilded Age” and “The Good Fight,” the latter earned her a Gracie award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation in March. Ten years later, she won five more Tonys and was the first person to snag an award in all four acting categories.
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