McDonald will be backed by a full orchestra for the 8 PM concert in Prudential Hall, which will feature a mix of tunes from Broadway and Hollywood. Audiences can expect to hear songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rogers and Hart, Lerner and Loewe, Harold Arlen, Kurt Weill, Jerry Herman and George Gershwin, among others.
The cabaret season at the Chase Room — located within NJPAC — will also boast several theatre favorites. Faith Prince, who is headed back to Broadway later this season in A Catered Affair, will offer An Evening with Faith Prince Jan. 26 at 7 and 9:30 PM. Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch will team up for Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael Feb. 9 and 7:30 PM; their show will feature such tunes as "Georgia on My Mind," "Stardust," "Skylark," "Heart and Soul," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "In the Still of the Night," "The Nearness of You" and "Two Sleepy People." Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton will perform his acclaimed cabaret evening, Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night, March 22 at 7 and 9:30 PM. And, former Miss Saigon and Cats star Liz Callaway will play the Chase Room May 3 at 7 and 9:30 PM.
A four-time Tony Award winner for her work in A Raisin in the Sun, Master Class, Carousel and Ragtime, Audra McDonald was also seen on Broadway in 110 in the Shade, Henry IV and Marie Christine. The singer-actress made her solo Carnegie Hall concert debut in an evening of songs scored for big bands, performing several tunes from her Nonesuch CD "Happy Songs." McDonald's other solo recordings, "Way Back to Paradise" and "How Glory Goes," are also on the Nonesuch label. The acclaimed actress co-starred in the NBC series "Mister Sterling” and was recently seen in the WB series "Bedford Diaries." McDonald also made her Houston Grand Opera with a double bill of Send (who are you? I love you) and La Voix Humaine. McDonald can currently be seen in the new ABC series "Private Practice."
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is located at One Center Street in Newark, NJ. For tickets call (888) 466-5722 or visit www.njpac.org.
