Recalling my spring post, wondering what was next for Audra McDonald, after making history earlier this year at the Tony Awards, becoming the first black woman to claim 5 Tony Award wins (she picked up the Best Leading Actress In A Musical for Porgy & Bess).
I asked if the increased publicity and awareness could translate into more, plumper offers for her in both TV and film – assuming of course that she wants those oppotunities, but also noting that she routinely performs in concerts throughout the US primarily (she's also an opera/classical music singer, with two Grammy Awards and four albums), so she does have options.
And it looks like she's taking advantage of one opportunity that's been presented to her.
The five-time Tony winner has been named the new host of PBS' Live From Lincoln Center series, which means that she'll emcee Live From Lincoln Center PBS TV broadcasts, starting with The Richard Tucker Opera Gala on December 13, continuing through the spring of 2013.
"I grew up watching 'Live From Lincoln Center' and Beverly Sills, the great soprano who used to regularly host the series, was such an inspiration to me. Ever since I moved to New York to attend The Juilliard School, I’ve spent so much of my life at Lincoln Center that I consider it my home away from home. Needless to say, I was incredibly honored when 'Live From Lincoln Center' invited me to become the host for this season," Audra said in a press statement.
“Audra’s Lincoln Center roots run deep and wide… She’s performed on every major Lincoln Center stage, and her appearances on 'Live From Lincoln Center' are among the most enduring presentations in the series’ 37-year history. We’re thrilled that this consummate artist – whose passion for the performing arts is infectious – will be the new face of Live From Lincoln Center. We can’t imagine a more perfect match," added Elizabeth Scott, Chief Media and Digital Officer for Lincoln Center, and executive in charge of the series.
Live From Lincoln Center is an ongoing series of musical performances (concerts, ballets, operas, recitals) produced by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with Thirteen/WNET in New York City. It first premiered on January 30, 1976, and is aired by PBS stations nationwide.
It has presented historic performances by such artists as Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Itzhak Perlman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the New York City Ballet, the New York City Opera and of course, Audra McDonald herself, and several others.
It has won 13 Emmy awards and received 53 Emmy Award nominations, as well as two George Foster Peabody Awards. Two recordings made from concerts presented on the show have won Grammy awards.
Congrats to Audra on the new gig. We'll be wacthing!
And if you missed it,
Watch her emotional Porgy & Bess acceptance speech below:
