A Lincoln Center spokesperson told Playbill On-Line that McDonald's concerts — Jan. 6-8, 2005 — will boast works by Elvis Costello, Laura Nyro, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Prince. Featuring a ten-piece band, the evenings at the Rose Theater in the Frederick P. Rose Hall at the Time Warner Center will also include songs by such McDonald favorites as Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel. McDonald is also at work on a new album that will feature the works of these many composers.

The actress, who was last on Broadway in the critically acclaimed revival of A Raisin in the Sun, has several other projects in the works. She is currently workshopping a new production of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' 110 in the Shade, and she will make her Houston Opera debut in 2006 in Francis Poulenc's La Voix Humaine.

A four-time Tony Award winner for her work in A Raisin in the Sun Master Class, Carousel and Ragtime, Audra McDonald was also on Broadway last season in Henry IV. 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. She also co-starred in the recent NBC series "Mister Sterling.”

The Frederick P. Rose Hall is located within the Time Warner Center at Broadway at 60th Street. Tickets for American Songbook are available by calling (212) 721-6500. Visit www.lincolncenter.org for more information.