2020 Gala
“A one-of-a-kind musical super-talent”
—The New York Times
“The intimacy of Audra as if she’s singing just for you”
—New York Stage Review
“Audra McDonald sparkles”
—New York magazine
Experience the magnificent voice and luminous stage presence of Audra McDonald—winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards and the first performer to win all four acting categories—as she makes her debut at City Center in this intimate digital Gala presentation filmed live on our stage.
Longtime collaborator and music director Andy Einhorn accompanies the Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning McDonald on piano for an evening of songs that showcase her extraordinary vocal range in popular standards from the Great American Songbook and classics from the golden age of Broadway—hosted by Michael Urie.
McDonald is a passionate advocate for equal rights, LGBTQ causes, and underprivileged youth; and a founding member of Black Theatre United, whose mission is to inspire reform and combat systemic racism within the theater community and throughout the nation.
Your generous support of all streamed performances of the 2020 Gala | An Evening with Audra McDonald will ensure City Center is able to continue its founding mission to provide access to the best in the performing arts to the widest possible audience and to support artists with new opportunities to create and perform.
All programming subject to change.
Safety for our artists, staff, and crew is our first priority. All rehearsals and performances are executed in strict adherence to rigorous health and safety protocols under guidance from medical consultants and in accordance with all government and union guidelines.
The 2020 Gala | An Evening with Audra McDonald is produced by New York City Center and Nel Shelby Productions.
Top photo: Audra McDonald; photo by Allison Michael Orenstein
Luigi Caiola and Sean McGill
Stuart H. Coleman and Meryl Rosofsky
Stacey and Eric Mindich
Elaine and Alan Weiler
Lisa and Richard Witten
Barbara and David Zalaznick
Diamond Benefactors
American Express
Stacy Bash-Polley
Patrick C. Crosetto
Perry and Marty Granoff
Elizabeth and Dean Kehler
Mark and Anla Cheng Kingdon
Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere
Julie and Paul Leff
Jeanette W. Loeb
Nancy and Duncan MacMillan
Tracey Knight Narang and Anil Narang
Carl Quintanilla and Judy Chung
Akila Raman-Vaseghi and Ali Vaseghi
Paula and Ira Resnick
Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg
Judy and Fred Wilpon
Zegar Family Foundation
Benefactors
Linda Stafford Burrows
Ted and JoAnna Chapin
Mindy Cohen
Deborah Goodman Davis and Gerald R. Davis
Jennie L. and Richard DeScherer
Amy and Harris Diamond
Bobbie and Lew Frankfort
Laura and Lewis Kruger
Angela and William Haines
Aaron Lieber and Bruce Horten
M&T Bank
Ellen F. Marcus
Susan Mindell and Katherine Wolf
Ted and Mary Jo Shen
Stephanie and Fred Shuman
Additional Support For Digital Theater Programs
Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation
Herman Goldman Foundation
Marta Heflin Foundation
The Kaplen Brothers Fund
The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation
The Frederick Loewe Foundation
New York State Council on the Arts
The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc
The SHS Foundation
The Shubert Foundation
The Ted Snowdon Foundation
Encores! Inside the Revival
Go behind the scenes with this new digital five-part mini documentary series that takes you inside the next chapter of the beloved Tony-honored Encores! where the unique creative process of musical theater productions in development is led by Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet and newly announced Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos. Enjoy live performances and hear one-on-one conversations with directors and artists like Dulé Hill, Mykal Kilgore, Ledisi, Kenny Leon, Ashley Park, and Billy Porter who are invested in bringing these productions to you as soon as it is safe to do so. Learn More.