Audra to sing the blues on Broadway...?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 4:56pm

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/174628/exclusive-five-time-tony-winner-audra-mcdonald-to-sing-the-blues-on-broadway-as-billie-holliday-in-lady-day/

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 4:56pm

Surprised, considering DeeDee's flopped. I'm assuming they'll return to the original version? BUT AUDRA.

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:12pm

My goodness. This is a surprise. The Leading Actress Tony category is stacked this year.

ETA: Audra's been tweeting things like, "And just like that, life changes." I'm assuming this is what that's about? Updated On: 2/20/14 at 05:12 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:19pm

I thought that tweet was awfully cryptic. Interestingly, she just canceled her performance for Saturday night in Worcester, Massachusetts. The email I just received said the cancellation was due to illness and due to her upcoming Broadway schedule, she would not be able to reschedule. I'm going to assume that this possible Broadway opportunity and the cancellation 48 hours from now are not connected. Hope she is feeling better, but bummed out because we will not get to see her. She puts on a terrific concert.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:27pm

Wow - what a curveball at the end of the season! Very exciting stuff for Ms. McDonald.

I know very little about the show, can someone give some insight about the material? Is it considered a play with music or a musical?

Updated On: 2/20/14 at 05:27 PM

[loliveve]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:32pm

^ Typically, I think it is considered a play with music.
Updated On: 2/25/14 at 05:32 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:36pm

I'm kind of dubious about this.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:51pm

Wait...what the hell?!

[carlodowd]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:00pm

Please Please don’t be in the musical category, the Leading Actress in a musical is already too full! I could Imagine the Tony committee changing its type from play to musical!

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:09pm

...and if they do change it to a musical, can you hear somewhere in NYC the chorus of Jessie, Marin, Kelli, Idina, Sutton and Michelle all saying "S**T!"

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:20pm

Juilliard trained operatic soprano Audra McDonald playing Billie Holiday? Seriously? Was Jessye Norman not available?

[carlodowd]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:23pm

"...and if they do change it to a musical, can you hear somewhere in NYC the chorus of Jessie, Marin, Kelli, Idina, Sutton and Michelle all saying "S**T!”

^^ Haha so true! I already found it quite difficult to even guess who could possible get it with the old batch now with Audra my idea just goes up in flames!!

[StickIt]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:51pm

Pretty sure none of those ladies is worried since my understanding is that it would be considered a play

But Audra in the mix if it were a musical would certainly be interesting.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 7:32pm

Would Audra give Cherry Jones a run for her money for Best Actress Tony 2014? Jones would my tip top to win that title this year - her 3rd leading actress trophy and so deserving

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 7:53pm

It's certainly surprising casting, but - while I have my doubts about whether Audra can convince as Billie; the same doubts I have about just about anyone being convincing as Billie (hell even Diana Ross, as transcendent and remarkable as she was wasn't, truth be told, all that convincing as Billie) - there is no question that Audra certainly can sing blues in addition to opera, pop, jazz, Broadway, folk and gospel. And sing them all well.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:18pm

Fair point about Diana Ross whose silky smooth tones were hardly Billie'esque. Still, I feel like we're living in an age in which audiences are a little more attuned to, for lack of a better term, authenticity. I imagine that Fantasia could actually sound rather magnificent in this role, but perhaps she wouldn't be interested in direct imitation, as opposed to paying stylistic homage to Billie and other jazz greats, as she did in After Midnight. I also have no idea if she would have the acting chops to pull of such a demanding role. And that is one area that I have absolutely no doubt that Audra, even with the lack of vocal suitableness, would absolutely shine.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 9:13pm

"I could Imagine the Tony committee changing its type from play to musical!"

If the Tony Committee didn't make the decision to move End of the Rainbow from the play to musical category I couldn't imagine them making that decision about this play either. Now, that's not to say the producers may not decide to request the change, but I doubt that it would be a move the committee would undertake of their own volition.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 12:29am

I feel like that's a terrible title, but it could lend itself to a really cool immersive production. Maybe they'll set up the theater like a restaurant?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:39pm

It's official. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/audra-mcdonald-to-return-to-broadway-as-billie-holiday/?ref=theater

Opens at Circle in the Square on April 13 for a 10-week run. Previews begin March 25. Updated On: 2/25/14 at 01:39 PM

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:50pm

Do we know if it will be considered a revival?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:56pm

Why would the Tony Committee or the show want the category changed to musical from play? Best actress in a musical is, as has been pointed out by many on bww, a potential boomtown this year.

For that matter, both lead actress categories are likely to be extremely competitive this year, but let's not forget Audra has been nominated and won in 3 out of 4 categories for actresses; the one actress category she has not been nominated in is best actress in a play. Her being nominated in that category - which could well happen - would, I think, make her the first woman ever to be nominated in all four categories (I could be wrong, and if so, I trust someone will correct me; isn't Boyd Gaines the only actor who's been nominated in all four male actor categories?).

Hell, she might even win (I'm not suggesting that's necessarily likely - it's premature to even guess about that - but it's still possible).

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:59pm

henrikegerman, Raul Esparza has also been nominated in all 4 acting categories at the Tonys, but I think he and Boyd Gaines are the only two.

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 2:00pm

Angela Lansbury and Jan Maxwell-per the Tony site-have been nominated in all four categories.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 2:19pm

"Raul Esparza has also been nominated in all 4 acting categories at the Tonys,"

And sadly, still no Tony

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 2:35pm

That artwork is gorgeous though. Wow.


Updated On: 2/25/14 at 02:35 PM