Mezzo-Soprano
Audra McDonald is an American mezzo-soprano and actress of transcendent artistry who has become the most decorated performer in Tony Award history, commanding stages across opera, musical theatre, and dramatic repertoire with equal mastery.
Defining moments and milestones
Audra McDonald emerged from Juilliard in the late 1980s to become one of Broadway's most celebrated performers, earning her first Tony Award for *Passion* (1994) and subsequently accumulating a record six Tony Awards across acting and singing categories. Her career has been characterized by fearless genre-crossing—from operatic roles at the Metropolitan Opera to starring roles in musical theatre revivals and dramatic straight plays—establishing her as perhaps the most versatile performer of her era. Today, McDonald stands as an iconic figure in American performing arts, celebrated for her vocal artistry, dramatic intelligence, and her pioneering expansion of opportunities for Black performers across all theatrical disciplines.
Six Tony Awards (record for any performer), including Best Actress in a Musical for *Passion* (1994), *Carousel* (1995), *Master Class* (1996), *Ragtime* (1998), *A Raisin in the Sun* (2004), and *Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill* (2014)
Roosevelt High School (Albuquerque, New Mexico); Juilliard School
Recordings featuring Audra Mc in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.