A Star Visits OKC Thanks to CityRep—Audra McDonald at OCCC
Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre (CityRep) is one of the major assets in Oklahoma City. Of course, Oklahoma is well known in the sporting arena with the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys and now the Thunders, but the contributions in performing arts are also being noticed. Of course, Oklahoma City has long been known for producing exceptional talent in ballet as well as music and theatre. Thanks largely to CityRep, major stars are recognizing Oklahoma City as an important place. Important because here talent is appreciated and performers are given the credit they are due.
On being informed of her performance in Oklahoma City, Jennifer Jones excitedly asked: ‘Audra McDonald!?! Coming here? Where? When? How do I get tickets? I have to see her ’!!! And now we are going to see her. Audra McDonald is a prime talent; an award winning actress and singer with more Tony awards in more categories than any other performer in the illustrious history of Broadway. Her talent transcends any categories and the labels people attach to describe individual performance areas. She is quite undoubtedly very beautiful inside as well as outside. In listening to some of her interviews it is easy to recognize her deep and genuine respect for her colleagues in every aspect of their duties. The team is filled with important people from the director to the box office clerk, from the choreographer to the lonely fellow sweeping the stage floor after everyone else has gone home. This concept clearly translates into appreciation for her audience. The energy flows both ways.
Jon-Philip Olson states on Facebook: ‘Oklahoma City and Oklahoma are finally on the map as players in the national spotlight. City Rep’s commitment to letting people knows that we are the Musical Theatre Capital of the World and not the Oil Capital of the World has brought us Mandy [Patinkin], Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone. Now with the addition of Audra McDonald, the only people left ARE home grown talent like Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O’Hara (who else in America Musical Theatre History has sung on Broadway AND the MET?) or international musical theatre stars like Elaine Paige (well OK, maybe Idina Menzel) With OCU’s, UCO’s, and OU’s Musical Theatre Programs, plus the addition at NOC Tonkawa and Rose State, we need more Broadway Stars like Audra to come and dispel the myth that we live like Curly and Laurie and really do produce quality artists for the legitimate theatre worldwide and for film ’…
Her biography lists her as the winner of more Tony awards in more categories than any other performer in the history of the Tony Awards. Actually, she is the only performer in American Theatre history who has earned Tonys in every acting category, Best Leading Actress in a Musical, Best Leading Actress in a Play, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actor in a Play. She has also earned two Emmy Awards and a Grammy, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of the Arts. It would not be surprising if she should earn a Golden Globe or Oscar for her work in the just-released Disney film ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
McDonald balances her incredibly beautiful lyric soprano voice with an excellent and natural embrace of characterization in dramatic roles and using perfect timing in her comedic roles. A willingness to share her talent with her audience and bring them into her performances with connectivity that is human to human, expressing not only herself, but her audience, with sensitivity and accuracy.
Some other reactions heard (and overheard) around Oklahoma City are: ‘Audra McDonald is such an awesome talent, I have wanted to see her in performance for a long time, but I haven’t been able to get to New York when she is performing. I’m in’!!!……..Roberta M. Cafee
‘The contributions Oklahoma has been making to performing arts for so many years are really paying off now. I am looking forward to the performance ’…John J. Gardener
‘Really? What is the performance? Audra in concert is wonderful. You know she has the most wonderful voice. We’ve in for an exciting evening ’…Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Waggoner
‘Wow! Be there ’…Unidentified Eavesdropper
And, again, from Facebook: ‘Have seen Ms. McDonald in two B’day shows. Amazing talent. Excited for OKC ’…Molly Cason Johnson.
To put it in a nutshell: ‘I think her visit here indicates that OKC is seen as a community that supports the arts, where theatre and opera and music are seen as viable and valuable additions to our lives’…according to Anna M. J. Holloway.
To answer the question Jennifer Jones poses: Sunday evening April 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM is the when. OCCC’s lovely and comfortable Visual and Performing Arts Center is located prominently on the Oklahoma City Community College Campus at 7777 South May Avenue in Oklahoma City. So that’s the where. No matter where in the beautiful OCCC Visual and Performing Arts auditorium you are, McDonald will be singing to you and for you! Also, to get those tickets (and they are going fast!), call the CityRep box office at 405-848-3761 or the OCCC box office at 405-682-7579. For further information, visit www.cityrep.com or www.occc.edu. Tickets may also be purchased online.
She listens and reacts as beautifully and expressively as she sings and acts. Her stature is astronomical; she is the star giving all the other stars rhythmic sparkle as they twinkle.
————————–Elizabeth Hurd