Audra McDonald Talks 'Lady Day', 'Shuffle Along' & Diversity

6-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald explains how she prepared for playing Billie Holiday, and the important role her new musical "Shuffle Along" played in the history of African-Americans on Broadway.
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Stephen Colbert took over as host of The Late Show on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. Colbert is best known for his work as a television host, writer, actor, and producer, and best known for his charity work teaching English as a second language on Tunisian date farms. Prior to joining the CBS family -- and being officially adopted by network president Les Moonves -- Colbert helmed “The Colbert Report,” which aired nearly 1,500 episodes and required Stephen to wear nearly 1,500 different neckties. The program received two Peabody Awards, two Grammy Awards, and several unwelcome shoulder massages. It won two Emmys for Outstanding Variety Series in 2013 and 2014, both of which appear to have been lost in the move. Colbert is pronounced koʊlˈbɛər, according to Wikipedia. His understudy is William Cavanaugh, who will be hosting The Late Show approximately one third of the time. Good luck, Bill!"

[@dimavasilev5342]

Very impressive woman! And so glad they're doing something about Billie Holiday. The women of the blues and jazz era were incredible and had absolutely fascinating lives.

[@MrPopeye1211]

+Dima Vasilev i just liked ur comment yo. keep it up, great moves!

[@SimranKaur-qj7ng]

Billie holiday was one of the best singers to ever live on this planet. Love that they are doing this

[@JD..........]

Amazing woman and singer, charismatic and positive. She came to University of Michigan and performed with the orchestra.

[@jonssyy]

This lady is amazing!!

[@jake105]

I just watched Lady day on HBO. Audra was absolutely Brilliant No question about it. I can't imagine how anyone could do an act like that day after day on stage. It would take years off my life. I felt like the piano player. How can I interrupt, when should I interrupt? Do I dare take away the bottle? I was a wreck just watching. A very important piece of work.

[@tntbandit5]

+JAKESTAR105 Yes to all of that. All he could do was help a little and play...playing the music always made her happy. Haunting and beautiful piece of work!

[@normalcrazy3411]

I saw her performance of Lady Day two days ago in London, and I was completely blown away. I have to admit I only knew one song of Billie Holiday and nothing about her life before the play. But it didn't matter because Audra McDonald just becomes Lady Day - you cannot eat drink or breathe because it is so mesmerising watching that magic happen. I was truly mindblown how somebody can act that well, and at the stage door it was "just" the amazing Audra McDonald again that smiled while signing programs and taking pictures as if nothing had happened - truly inspiring and hard for me to grasp - still (if it doesn't get better in a week i will see someone i promise)

[@bluejaynyc9243]

It's great that Audra and Colbert celebrate the diversity of Broadway's current season, but they forgot to mention one show: the (just recently ended) Deaf West revival of "Spring Awakening," which featured a mix of hearing and Deaf actors performing in achingly beautiful American Sign Language -- as well as the first wheelchair-using actor in Broadway's history. This season has been fantastic for diversity not just of color but of people of different abilities as well!

[@PABWECG]

I would imagine that a New York audience is a fairly progressive one compared to the U.S. as a whole. Perhaps that's why Broadway is more diverse in its actors, directors, themes, etc. than movies.

[@lineoarlow5120]

Stephen asks such good questions.

[@mindoverbread1213]

yes! I love it

[@maisamraza1]

+Lineo Arlow hes smart as hell

[@tntbandit5]

+Lineo Arlow He loves him some Audra, they've always done great interviews even when he was on CC. They have such a mutual respect for each other!

[@galelynsullivan3802]

How Beautiful Audra Mcdonald!! Thank you for your gifts!

[@Heroasaurus]

Im a Stephen Colbert and Audra McDonald shipper

[@copanationdie]

Her interpretation of Billie Holiday's voice sent chills down my spine! I hope to see the play.

[@axemtitanium]

Fantastic interview, fantastic person. I can't wait for more shows/movies that tell the stories of the underrepresented. I think a lot of the world's problems would be ameliorated if we could all just understand where others are coming from a little more.

wonderful lady ! I had the chance to go to one of her musicals medley tour in Paris like 10 or 15 years ago, I had no idea who she was but she was amazing.

[@francoisbessing]

Love Love Love her. And she is standing up for the African-American cause. YES!

[@VanNguyen-re7zf]

This lady is gorgeous inside and outside - I'm looking up her plays now because I want to hear her sing.

[@tntbandit5]

+Van Nguyen You're gonna be a the computer for days...but enjoy, cuz she is AMAZING!

[@appleiiee]

I loved their version of Baby It's Cold Outside. They sang so beautifully together on the Colbert Report (11 yrs ago).

[@charisamartin2152]

What a lovely soul! 😍😍😍💖💖💖

[@pimpball7343]

Just back from the first preview of Shuffle Along! The show is hilarious and profound and she was sooooo good!

[@swedsteve93]

I want to hear her sing "Crazy he calls me".

[@guillermorivera50]

I can't believe she went to the high school I'm going to right now. Its insane!

[@3kingzs1]

Great interview!

[@apanchia]

Brilliant talent and awesome presence!

[@MsCygnusX1]

I love seeing Audra McDonald with SC- they're a great duo onstage (seen on the Colbert Report.) I don't know if they sang this time, but I hope they did.

[@tntbandit5]

+MsCygnusX1 They didn't! Maybe she'll come back to promote the show again before the Tony's!

[@shekolacarrington4522]

I. Love. Her. So. Much Oh. My. God....

[@dustytheloneranger]

I know Billie Holiday because we played God Bless the Child in high school jazz band

[@q851230]

1:01 Stone Phillips do the same one on first Episode of Colbert Report

[@shannoncook4152]

Those warm ups they were doing area the main ones we do in my Drama class...heh The one thing we are missing in my class is Stephen...

[@technowey]

Steven Colbert used the word "notoriety," and he meant it to be complimentary, but it means, ": the condition of being famous or well-known especially for something bad : the state of being notorious." She looked suprised for a second, and then realized he meant well.

[@BlakieTT]

I tried to sing the rat-tat-tat-tat-too thing that Stephen sang... didn't work out so well.

[@1920mmaa]

Listen just life!!!

[@kght222]

yeah, even during the 90s 63rd was known for "off color" theater, not specified to skin color and generally nothing to do with it by the time the 90s rolled around.

[@vitowash3687]

She's greeeeeeat!

[@thangvuong9196]

My IDOL!!

[@karinayum8858]

And then she quotes hamilton

[@sreokc]

Goddess

[@jauipop]

dammit i need to see her on stage

[@dukenukem8381]

have they kissed?)

[@margaritam.9118]

She isn't old enough :Ь

[@dudebro765]

+DUKE NUKEM :/ was hoping for the same start

[@tntbandit5]

+DUKE NUKEM She couldn't, she was mid-show, she can't accept Stephens germs and risk getting sick. But they both wanted too!!!!!!!!!!

[@coolbreeze3769]

I love me some Audra but I wish she would let a brother get with that! Her ex-husband is a snowman and her current husband is a snowman! What's up with that Audra?!?

[@napo2k11]

sexy.

[@famuel2604]

when Stephen wears a black coat I always think he's reverted to right wing Stephen

[@janetta98]

Colbert needs to know when to stop talking & let his guest speak. Ask the question then 'sshh!' Don't belabor the point.

[@magus9130]

I'll say what I just know she wanted to: Hollywood is late. It's another reason why theaters are failing. The movies aren't that interesting.

[@dugdoll3295]

I feel she will have a Baby

[@oscarfabre3334]

well fone. % delightful disagreeable what do you think, guys/..

[@tinafayehoward4102]

I thought you did Billie Holiday real good of course Diana Ross was excellent and look like Billie Holiday as Billie Holiday granddaughter someone need to do a real story on her they will find out he had two son that she never raised how can you call her amazing I thought she was full of herself and care for only herself one of her son was my father who die of hiv also a heroin addict seem like it when all though our family she was nothing to be proud of you re better than that I love you in private practice and raisin in the sun etc.