Three-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, Master Class, Carousel ) will officially open the Public Theatre's Joe's Pub season at 8:30 PM on Oct. 11 with her concert, Way Back to Paradise.

Songs from her recently released solo album of the same name will be featured throughout the evening, including pieces from Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World, Parade ), Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins, Saturn Returns ) and Michael John LaChiusa (Hello Again, The Wild Party ). Ted Sperling will be musical director for the event.

McDonald offers two more performances Oct. 19 and 26. Tickets for any of the three concerts are $25 and can be purchased at the Public Theatre box office or by calling Tele-Charge at (212) 239-6200.

Joe's Pub, named in honor of the Public's founder Joseph Papp, will serve as a cabaret-like environment where the Public can host programs similar to McDonald's as well as spoken word events, world music concerts and the return of New Jazz at the Public.

Also a restaurant, the Pub serves dinner and drinks from 5 PM. On show nights, the general admission seating at the Pub's tables , couches and the bar begins at 7:30 PM with performances commencing at 8:30 PM. Included in the up-coming Pub schedule of events are Carl Hancock Rux and Nona Hendryx performing the prose and poetry Rux Review (Oct. 16 17), Craig Harris and Ntozake Shange (recently represented at the Public as part of Love's Fire ) on Oct. 23-24, Inside the Creole Mafia a piece by Roger Guenveur Smith Nov. 13-14, Mike Robles' comedy/variety show, Comedy Rhumba (Nov. 20), theatrical rock band BETTY on Nov. 21 and The Lorca Festival , a centennial celebration on Frederico Garcia Lorca's work to be performed Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 4-5.