The queen of Broadway isn’t just a world-class singer; she’s a class act to boot.

Hamer Hall, Melbourne
October 31, 2015

Audra McDonald is the reigning queen of Broadway. Winner of six Tony awards and the only person to have won a Tony in all four acting categories, McDonald’s talent and stature has shattered the so called ‘white ceiling’ which has seen her cast in roles reserved usually for white actresses (including Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, Grace Farrell in the 1999 movie version of Annie, Lucy in Sweeney Todd and even the Reverend Mother in a recent live television version of The Sound of Music). She is also an ambassador for new musical theatre projects promoting the work of such writers as Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown and Adam Gwon, noting that revivals -in which she also stars – are great, but that the art form will die unless new works flourish.

With such a world-class résumé her Australian debut was one of the years must see events. Joined by her trio of musical director and pianist Ansy Einhorn, Mark Vanderpoel (bass) and Gene Lewin (drums), McDonald walked out to an ovation befitting...