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A Letter to Audra McDonald

 Dear Audra McDonald,


It's your birthday week. Happy Birthday. Thank you for all you have given the world.

Early in your career, you were identified as the next Barbra Streisand. (You met Barbra in person, and she was rude to you. Your friend Zoe Caldwell told you not to be a quivering puddle of jelly. "Remember your dignity--around Barbra." This advice really molded you, and you still talk about it in public.)

Unlike Barbra, you did not quickly turn your back on Broadway. You used your gift to bring attention to new composers (who were mostly unworthy of you). Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Michael John LaChiusa--each owes you major thanks. You brought "Marie Christine" to Broadway; also, you did "110 in the Shade" and "Ragtime," and quirky, small versions of "Dreamgirls" and "Passion." These were important shows for me.

In recent years, TV has made certain demands, and you have spent valuable months on low-value projects. Some people liked "The Good Fight," but is it on par with "Ragtime"? And no one needs to see another hour of "The Gilded Age." I recognize that TV is alluring, but your spouse, Will Swenson, is set up in that glitzy Neil Diamond musical. Can't Neil Diamond take care of expenses, for a while? What if you used the next decade to take some more risks?

You have indicated, in print, that your dream role is the title role in "Sweeney Todd." Not Mrs. Lovett, but the role of the barber. Who in the world wouldn't choose you over Josh Groban? You have more Tony Awards than God. Can't "Sweeney" happen? How about "A Little Night Music"? "Follies"? "Sunday in the Park with George"? I'm not talking about the Ravinia Festival. I'd like to see you in these shows, on Broadway.

In any case, it's a thought. Victoria Clark is 63, and she says, after a few decades, the human voice just cannot do certain things that it wishes to do. Maybe she is a bit melodramatic--but her words are haunting my days. 

I'm closing with a clip from one of your concerts--a clip that has become like a nightly prayer, for me. Best wishes. The rainbow's gonna tour--but, please, just tour various Broadway theaters. Make New York your true, true home.

With admiration,
Dan

P.S. "Gypsy" ---!!

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