The very first time I witnessed the wonder that is Audra McDonald on stage was in the 1995 production of ‘Master Class’. She has been dazzling audiences ever since, hence this long-overdue Dazzler of the Day honor. While the stage of ‘Master Class’ was cluttered with the chewed-up bits of Zoe Caldwell’s scene-devouring, every time McDonald appeared she stole whatever bit of scenery remained with her luminescent star-power and seemingly-super-human talent. I was mesmerized, and my fandom has been burning brightly ever since.
A couple of years later I was lucky enough to see her turn as Sarah in ‘Ragtime’ where she once again rose above an already-impressive ensemble to achieve new heights with that gloriously soaring voice. Since those indelible Tony-winning performances, she’s gone on to win multiple Tony Awards (so many in fact that she holds the record for Tonys given for performances), made memorable impressions on film, and taken up the admirable mantle of activism in helping out all of us who have been marginalized in some way. She continues to dazzle and astound, and she’s one of those people who just makes me feel that the world is a little better than it sometimes seems.
