Audra McDonald in Sweeney Todd

[Ivan2]

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]

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

I believe she played the role of the beggar woman.

[tomemiller]

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

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

[SporkGoddess]

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

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

[Broadwayboy2631]

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

Yes and she's amazing in it!

[GYPSY1527]

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!

[CATSNYrevival]

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]

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

Aw damn. Oh well, thank you!

[GYPSY1527]

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!

[Scarywarhol]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[thibodeaux]

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!!

[ljay889]

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]

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.

[Urban]

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]

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

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

[gustof777]

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

[soapguy17]

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

Jazzy, my words excatly.

[theaterkid1015]

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.

[Scarywarhol]

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]

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

.

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

[defyingravity11]

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]

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.