The Bowl's official website says that McDonald — due on Broadway in the fall in Lincoln Center's Henry IV — will take part in two evenings at the famed outdoor venue entitled Romantic Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet. Featuring the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra under the direction of John Mauceri, the evenings will also include the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The ballet company will offer the world premiere of a new ballet about Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers set to the music of Tchaikovsky. A Tony Award winner for her work in Master Class, Carousel and Ragtime, Audra McDonald was most recently on Broadway in the title role of Marie Christine. The singer-actress recently 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.

On Aug. 22 and 23, she will star with Patti LuPone in a concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Passion at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival.

Romantic Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet will be held at 8:30 PM on Aug. 15 and 16. Tickets, priced $3-$45, are available by calling (323) 850-2000. The Hollywood Bowl is located at 2301 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood, CA. For more information, go to www.hollywoodbowl.org.