Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd

[Ivan2]

Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#1

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:19pm

I'm sorry if this has been posted before but I searched and came up with nothing, so I am to assume it hasn't been asked. When looking on amazon.com, I saw that Audra McDonald is credited as being in the Sweeney Todd Concert with Patti and George Hearn. Anyone know if she was just an ensemble member or something more?

[tomemiller]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#2

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

I believe she played the role of the beggar woman.

[tomemiller]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#2

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:22 PM

[SporkGoddess]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#3

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:22pm

Wasn't she the Beggar Woman in the recording of it?

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

[Broadwayboy2631]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#4

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:29pm

Yes and she's amazing in it!

[GYPSY1527]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#5

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:30pm

She played the Beggar Woman for the New York Philharmonic performance...how I wished that performance had been videotaped!

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#6

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:30pm

She plays the Beggar Woman on the NY Concert CD. She was replaced in SF, on the DVD, by Victoria Clark.

[Ivan2]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#7

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:31pm

Aw damn. Oh well, thank you!

[GYPSY1527]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#8

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:33pm

Don't get me wrong, I adored Victoria Clark in the role but the Beggar Woman is my favorite character and seeing Audra's interpretation would have been mind blowing!

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

[Scarywarhol]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#9

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:47pm

I've got to get my hands on that recording. I didn't know she was in it.
Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:47 PM

[ljay889]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#10

Posted: 1/3/08 at 6:57pm

Victoria Clark was a much better fit for the role. Audra still managed to sound too "pretty" in the role.
Updated On: 1/3/08 at 06:57 PM

[Horton]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#11

Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:04pm

I read in an interview that Audra was supposed to do the San Fran concert as well, but something came up last minute so Vicki was hired as a spur of the moment replacement, and learned the role on an airplane to SF; doing her first performance that night.

[sondheimgeek]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#12

Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:04pm

I agree, Audra sounded too "pretty" in the role. Well, I guess that disproves the Audra is like Meryl thread.

"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

[thibodeaux]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#13

Posted: 1/3/08 at 7:56pm

I think the concert she was in is out of print...?

I feel like I read that somewhere, but I could be wrong.

If someone knows where to get it, let us know!!

whatever and ever amen - ben folds five

[ljay889]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#14

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:00pm

http://nyphil.org/buy/estore/itemDetail.cfm?itemnum=13&itemcategorynum=cds&itemdetail=yes

You can buy it there for only $20. They reduced the price quite a bit.

[Theatreboy49]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#16

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:17pm

I love her performance on the recording and though she sounds too pretty shes still amazing in it. Though thats pretty awsome Vicki Clarke learned the role on a flight.

<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado

[Urban]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#17

Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:12pm

Victoria or Audra, but are aboslutely fantastic and we are lucky by whatever reason it occured we have them both recorded!

[Jazzysuite82]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#18

Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:51pm

Ahhh Broadway, one of the few places where being trained is a downfall...

[gustof777]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#19

Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:52pm

bulls**t
she sounded scary as hell and does an incredible job
victoria clark sounds just as "pretty" and trained but they both still act the hell out of it

RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~

[soapguy17]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#20

Posted: 1/3/08 at 9:53pm

Jazzy, my words excatly.

I have NEVER met Cheyenne Jackson. I have never hung out with him in his dressing room, he did not tweet me, he never bought me a beverage, and he mostly certainly didn't tickle me. . .that is all.

[theaterkid1015]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#21

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:09pm

If the only critique Audra is recieving consistently is that she sounds too pretty, she'll be just fine. No need to throw a fit, people.

Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.

[Scarywarhol]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#22

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:11pm

Thanks a lot for the link, ljay! I'm definitely going to buy it. So far, I've only seen it from independent sellers for pretty high prices.

[sondheimgeek]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#23

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:15pm

.

"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 1/3/08 at 10:15 PM

[defyingravity11]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#24

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:28pm

Sure, she sounds pretty during the "Alms, Alms ..." part, but her character voice during the lude sections is amazing.

[jewishboy]

re: Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd#25

Posted: 1/3/08 at 11:35pm

I don't think she sounds more pretty than anyone else who I've seen/heard play the role (save for the woman in the Doyle revival) at all. She's brilliant, the best thing about the recording.