Happy Birthday, Audra! We Look Back at the Six-Time Tony Winner's Most Thrilling Roles | Playbill

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News Happy Birthday, Audra! We Look Back at the Six-Time Tony Winner's Most Thrilling Roles Six-time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald, who will return to Broadway in 2016 in Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, celebrates her birthday July 3. Playbill.com takes a look back at her career. Happy birthday, Audra!

By Joseph Marzullo

July 03, 2015

Celebrating 6-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald

Carousel_Broadway_Production_Photo_1993_Eddie-Korbich_Audra McDonald_HR — Celebrating 6-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald

51 PHOTOS

Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in <i>Carousel</i>, 1994 — Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in Carousel, 1994

Carousel_Broadway_Production_Photos_1994_Eddie_Korbich_Audra_McDonald_HR — Eddie Korbich and Audra McDonald in Carousel, 1994

Joan Marcus

Audra McDonald and cast in <i>Carousel</i>, 1994 — Audra McDonald and cast in Carousel, 1994

Audra McDonald and Fisher Stevens in <i>Carousel</i>, 1994 — Audra McDonald and Fisher Stevens in Carousel, 1994

Joan Marcus

Audra McDonald, 1994 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, <i>Carousel</i> — Audra McDonald, 1994 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Carousel

Next Slide

Master Class_1995_Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald — Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Master Class, 1995

Jay Thompson

Audra McDonald, 1996 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, <i>Master Class</i> — Audra McDonald, 1996 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Master Class

Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in <i>Ragtime</i>, 1998 — Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime, 1998

Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in <i>Ragtime</i>, 1998 — Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime, 1998

Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in <i>Ragtime</i>, 1998 — Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime, 1998

Audra McDonald, 1998 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, <i>Ragtime</i> — Audra McDonald, 1998 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Ragtime

Mary Testa and Audra McDonald in <i>Marie Christine</i>, 1999 — Mary Testa and Audra McDonald in Marie Christine, 1999

Audra McDonald in <i>Marie Christine</i>, 1999 — Audra McDonald in Marie Christine, 1999

Audra McDonald and Anthony Crivello in <i>Marie Christine</i>, 1999 — Audra McDonald and Anthony Crivello in Marie Christine, 1999

Vivian Reed and Audra McDonald in <i>Marie Christine</i>, 1999 — Vivian Reed and Audra McDonald in Marie Christine, 1999

Audra McDonald in <i>Marie Christine</i>, 1999 — Audra McDonald in Marie Christine, 1999

Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in <i>Henry IV</i>, 2003 — Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in Henry IV, 2003

Paul Kolnik

Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan in <i>A Raisin in the Sun</i>, 2004 — Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan in A Raisin in the Sun, 2004

Audra McDonald and Sean Combs in <i>A Raisin in the Sun</i>, 2004 — Audra McDonald and Sean Combs in A Raisin in the Sun, 2004

Audra McDonald in <i>A Raisin in the Sun</i>, 2004 — Audra McDonald in A Raisin in the Sun, 2004

Sean Combs and Audra McDonald in <i>A Raisin in the Sun</i>, 2004 — Sean Combs and Audra McDonald in A Raisin in the Sun, 2004

Audra McDonald, 2004 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, <i>A Raisin in the Sun</i> — Audra McDonald, 2004 Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play, A Raisin in the Sun

Audra McDonald and John Cullum in <i>110 in the Shade</i>, 2007 — Audra McDonald and John Cullum in 110 in the Shade, 2007

Steve Kazee and Audra McDonald in <i>110 in the Shade</i>, 2007 — Steve Kazee and Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade, 2007

Audra McDonald and cast in <i>110 in the Shade</i>, 2007 — Audra McDonald and cast in 110 in the Shade, 2007

Audra McDonald and Christopher Innvar in <i>110 in the Shade</i>, 2007 — Audra McDonald and Christopher Innvar in 110 in the Shade, 2007

Audra McDonald in <i>110 in the Shade</i>, 2007 — Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade, 2007

Audra McDonald and David Pittu in the Shakespeare in the Park production <i>Twelfth Night</i>, 2009 — Audra McDonald and David Pittu in the Shakespeare in the Park production Twelfth Night, 2009

Porgy_and_Bess_Broadway_Production_Photos_2012_Audra_McDonald_Norm_Lewis_HR — Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 2012

Michael J. Lutch

Audra McDonald in <i>The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess</i>, 2012 HR — Audra McDonald in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Michael J. Lutch

Porgy_And_Bess_Broadway_Production_Photos_2012_Audra_McDonald_Norm_Lewis_HR — Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 2012

Michael J. Lutch

Audra McDonald and NaTasha Yvette Williams in <i>The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess</i>, 2012 — Audra McDonald and NaTasha Yvette Williams in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 2012

Audra McDonald and Phillip Boykin in <i>The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess</i>, 2012 — Audra McDonald and Phillip Boykin in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 2012

Audra McDonald, 2012 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Musical, <i>The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess</i> — Audra McDonald, 2012 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Musical, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Jessica Molaskey, Elena Shaddow, Audra McDonald and Christiane Noll in the 2013 NBC TV special <i>The Sound of Music Live!</i> — Jessica Molaskey, Elena Shaddow, Audra McDonald and Christiane Noll in the 2013 NBC TV special The Sound of Music Live!

Audra McDonald and Bryn Terfel in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation <i>Sweeney Todd</i> — Audra McDonald and Bryn Terfel in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation Sweeney Todd

Audra McDonald in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation <i>Sweeney Todd</i> — Audra McDonald in the 2014 New York Philharmonic concert presentation Sweeney Todd

Audra McDonald in <i>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill</i>, 2014 — Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, 2014

Audra McDonald in <i>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill</i>, 2014 — Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, 2014

Audra McDonald in <i>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill</i>, 2014 — Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, 2014

Audra McDonald, 2014 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Play, <i>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill</i> — Audra McDonald, 2014 Tony Win for Best Actress in a Play, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

Shuffle Along HR13.jpg — Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald

Julieta Cervantes

Shuffle Along HR10.jpg — Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald

Julieta Cervantes

Shuffle Along HR08.jpg — Brandon Victor Dixon and Audra McDonald

Hello_Again_Film_Audra McDonald_Martha Plimpton_HR — Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton in Hello Again

Hello_Again_Film_Production_Photo_2017_Audra McDonald_HR — Audra McDonald

Hello Again LLC

Hello_Again_Film_Production_Photo_2017_Audra McDonald_Martha Plimpton_HR — Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton

Hello Again LLC

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune_Broadway_Production Photos_2019_Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald_HR — Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald

Deen van Meer

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune_Broadway_Production Photos_2019_Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon_HR — Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon

Deen van Meer

Tony Awards_Red Carpet_2021_Will Swenson and Audra McDonald_HR — Will Swenson and Audra McDonald

Tony Awards_Production Photos_2021_Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell_HR — Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell

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McDonald won her 6th career Tony Award in 2014 for her leading performance in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. She previously won Tonys for Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and A Raisin in the Sun.

Her solo albums include "Go Back Home" (2013), "Way Back to Paradise" (1998), "How Glory Goes" (2000), "Happy Songs" (2002) and "Build a Bridge" (2006).

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