#audra my beloved

[fernnshxj]

>> IDK Who Audra Is But Seems Epic We Love A Strongass Grandma And Her Granddaughter .

>> Hail Miori And Her Family . 💞✋️

WAHOO ur so right anon!!!!!!

audra is my friend @willowthearts oc and my oc miori’s descendent and also current kunoichi of norrisville! she’s also our “y/n” for her rewrite fic i help out with and u can read it here!

i wanna make more content w her……grggggrrrr curse me having a full time job when i can be at home drawing my rc9gn ocs

here’s a scribbly doodle in the meantime :3

[babygirlspurgeon]

my bed time is puck drop :((((((

[xserpx]

I voted for "does annoying voices for certain characters" because I have too much beef with the Discworld audiobooks. Though the real answer is that the Farseer trilogy is the worst for the way the American narrator puts on a bad British accent the whole way through. Unlistenable.

[broadwaydivastournament]

Broadway Backwards vs. Broadway's Leading Ladies

In a foolish and targeted move, PBS's Broadway's Leading Ladies concert will be held on Monday, March 10 at New York City's Town Hall. On that same day, BC/EFA will hold its annual Broadway Backwards concert at the Gershwin Theatre. They are doing this specifically to hurt me. This is a lesbian nightmare.

Some more context:

Broadway's Leading Ladies follows the Broadway's Leading Men concert from last year. These are likely homages to My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, an iconic concert in the late 90s hosted by beloved movie musical Diva Julie Andrews. The concert's lineup included legends such as Elaine Stritch, Bebe Neuwirth, Marin Mazzie, Judy Kuhn, Audra McDonald, and many more. The leading men concert of last year included Norm Lewis, Paulo Szot, and Andre de Shields.

Broadway Backwards is the annual celebration of queer stories and artists in the theatre, and given everything going on now, is sorely needed. In its 19th year, the show has previously been performed at the Disney-operated New Amsterdam Theatre for the last four in-person years. It is now at the Gershwin. Could mean nothing. Could mean everything. Jenn Colella has returned as host for the last several years to great acclaim and you've all probably seen the clips from over the years.

I preemptively bought my Broadway Backwards ticket already, as I do every year to support the cause. It's probably easy enough to sell at cost or at a slight loss for me. Not a big deal. Admittedly, I have been largely unmoved by the show's last two years. They seem to have forgotten that older women exist, and most of the performances have been...less than memorable, to say the least. Not counting the joyous performance of "It Couldn't Please Me More" by Len Cariou and Chip Zien last year.

Clips of Broadway Backwards eventually do go to the youtube channel, and the Leading Ladies concert will have a PBS premiere sometime later this year. And I'll probably do a repoll when the cast lists come out.

[girlfriendline]

"kaprizov is the only player in the league who has scored 20% of his team's goals and also assisted on 20% of them."

"you cannot ask anymore of a player than what kirill kaprizov is giving the wild."

audra and mark my beloveds you get it you GET it

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Gypsy

November 21, 2024 | Broadway | Majestic Theatre | Evening | Musical | Revival | 3H 20M

Breaking my silence on attending the Gypsy first preview at last. So, let's start with some caveats and disclaimers. This was a first preview. And because George C. Wolfe does not have invited dress rehearsals, our show was the first time it was fully presented in front of a live audience. Kinks and all. And from an objective standpoint, there are a lot of kinks still to be ironed out. The great news is that this director is known for actually utilizing the preview period for its intended purpose. Changes are coming, and I cannot wait to see what happens.

Let's get the big question out of the way first: can Audra do it? Yes, she can. I don't believe singing the score in a more mixed/head voice substantially damages the character in any way, but I do believe it takes a considerable amount of active acceptance to see (and hear) past the initial shock. It's jarring. Obviously, Audra McDonald is not going to come out with a big brassy Merman. But neither were Angela Lansbury or Bernadette Peters. Because the material is so strong, it allows for a considerable amount of vocal versatility. I don't think she was there yet, and it's a lot to ask of her first preview. Especially in the early scenes of act one, she was almost jittery and gave the character a manic energy. She'll settle. She's going to find Rose over the next few weeks. Performance-wise, she was right on the money in the duets and trios, especially "Together, Wherever We Go," which was one of the night's highlights. She and Danny Burstein play off each other so well. He's already got Herbie down, which is no surprise. He was born for that kind of role. The scene where he finally leaves? Damn.

Audra's initial entrance will be one of the most transcendent moments in theatre history for me. She swept down that aisle and up those stairs just a single row in front of me, and I got teary-eyed. I didn't feel that same euphoria again.

A few moments came close. At some point in act one, just as Mrs. Cratchit answers the telephone and tells the big boss man that the act is having scenery troubles, we had to stop because we had some actual scenery trouble. It lasted less than six minutes (though some online accounts exaggerated by saying it was at least ten or fifteen. They're wrong.) Mylinda Hull played it off with comedic genius ("I'll call you back.") The strippers are show-stealing. That "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number is perfection from start to finish, and I am deeply in love with every single one of those ladies. Mylinda Hull, my beloved. Lesli Margherita back on Broadway? Lili Thomas Asian Mazeppa? They did this for me. They've got it.

I think the rest of the supporting cast will eventually get it too. The one who has it more than anyone is that little Baby June. Talk about stealing the whole damn show. Jordan Tyson is fine, and I'll be interested to see how she improves as an actress in a few weeks. Joy Woods is also fine. I've never been especially impressed with her in anything I've seen. She has a lovely voice, no denying that, but she's so young and inexperienced and it shows in her acting and control a lot. Here, she's very good as a young wallflower Louise, but her strip transformation from girl to woman is lacking. Yes, yes, first preview, so all those awkward transitions and costume changes are going to be ironed out. I really liked the allusions to Josephine Baker. But the final dressing room confrontation just wasn't landing. By this time, the show was running really long from a mix of lagging scene changes and tech, and Joy's delivery was still very girlish. It felt like a fifteen-year-old throwing a tantrum because her parents said she wasn't grown yet. I'd like to see a lot more work to make her move to sophisticated stardom more obvious. Deliver the lines without getting shrill, ground it more, match Audra's acting.

I'm also not sure about the decision to stage "Rose's Turn" on the passarelle. I was in the front orchestra, no obstruction, possibly the best seat I've ever had. But knowing how deep that mezzanine goes, I cannot imagine how the sightlines were back there. This is the tour-de-force moment. She needs to have the whole stage to work with to be seen by everyone.

As for the rest of it, there's a lot of backstage tightening that's going to happen. For the first night, I could hear and see a lot of commotion in the wings. There are several set pieces that come and go, and it's loud. But that'll be fixed. The actual design of the show isn't really...I just don't know. I don't think the choices are bad, necessarily. They serve the story. But it's not dazzling? The lighting is pretty lackluster. The costumes could be bolder, bigger, better. Oh, sure. I know. It's not that kind of show. But there are definitely points where it could be. Joy's burlesque costumes should be giving more. I think Tessie Tura's butterfly costume is excellent, and Electra's lights are cute (but could be bolder). Mazeppa's is the weakest of the three, and in what's usually the leading stripper role, Lili Thomas does get overshadowed by her comedic genius costars. Lesli and Melinda know comedy like the back of their hands. Lili's voice is strong, but her comedy isn't natural like theirs.

It's been almost a week, and I still just don't know. It's too early for me to have any concrete opinion on what I saw because of how much everything is going to change and improve in the coming weeks. It didn't transcend for me, but that was a huge ask. The show basically sold out and grossed $770k over the first three previews. That places a full-week projection in the $2M range. And that's really good. The big question now is can it sustain that through June? Can it keep filling that massive venue and can these early kinks smooth into place in time for the busiest time of year?

Verdict: Unrated

A Note on Ratings

[pinkfey]

OC TAG GAME ｡*･♡;

i was tagged by the lovely @noonfaerie to categorize some ocs + use this picrew; tysm ambie!! 💕💕

♡ FAVORITE OC.

ursula — baldur’s gate 3

my three favorite ocs always alternate between ursula, thea, and audra, but as of right now i’ve really been on an ursa kick!! probably my most universally beloved oc as well?? u guys already know everything abt her—a sailor, a tyrant, a lesson in pride, and the rest!!!!! her backstory makes my soul ache and i just love her sm celebrate pride this year by driving ur gf to her death just like ursula !! 🌈 🌈

♡ NEWEST OC.

lacie lane — infamous (if)

my gorgeous gorgeous girl!! my cocky ex gf!!!! my problematic lead singer!!!!!! u guys know the gist. what can be said abt lacie other than she’s toxic and beautiful and not as in control as she thinks. i’m really eager to see infamous develop so i can think of some juicy lacie/seven content bc as of right now i’ve been in a creative drought 😔

♡ OLDEST OC.

rowena cousland — dragon age: origins

so rowena is technically my second oldest oc (the honor of first belongs to silla 💕) but i’m listing her instead of silla because her story and personality has been consistent for the past ten years whereas silla has evolved!! rowena is proud, stubborn, and clever as the devil—and each of these traits have been both flaw and merit. her relationship with alistair is complex and tragic but mended with a bit of time.

♡ MEANEST OC.

kinasi irress — star wars

honestly ursula and jael were both strong competitors for most cruel oc, but kina takes the cake because, unlike the other two who cultivated strong affinities/bonds in their youth, kinasi has never known kindness. for over thirty years she lived in an environment of fear, hatred, and isolation. all she knew was the vie for power and all she knew was punishment if she failed the social climb. in a world of every-man-for-himself and please-your-master-or-fall-from-grace, community-centric skills such as teamwork, generosity, and emotional support were nonexistent, and so she never developed them. to be “mean,” which is putting it lightly, was just their nature. dog eat dog. need against need.

♡ SOFTEST OC.

ellery lux — pillars of eternity

the sweetest weirdo who ever lived!! ellery is a druid who, after being separated from her parents, raised herself in the forest with no one but the creatures and sun-dappled greenery for company. everything she learned, she learned from the woods—tenderness a kind of virtue no human could have taught her. she’s decisive and gentle and accepting and doesn’t care for social conventions in the slightest AND!!! i love her so much 🌿🦌🤍

♡ MOST ALOOF/STANDOFFISH OC.

salylia dreneri — the elder scrolls: morrowind

she doesn’t mean to be this way, but she’s a stranger in a strange land and her former partner just framed her and there’s some freak talking to her in her head and she can’t help but put herself at a distance from everyone !! though she was always the cool, quiet one—tennebrae did most of the talking.

♡ DUMBEST (AFFECTIONATE) OC.

bright — dungeons & dragons

her true name eaki, bright was given to a halfling village deep in the bramblewood when she was just an infant. an odd combination, tiefling and halflings, but they understood social scorn and ostracization and accepted her completely. when her adoptive sibling fell mysteriously ill, bright, at the behest of the village herbalist, sought out an ancient forest entity, and struck a deal—the life of her sibling (and many boons) in exchange for a favor when the time comes. all this being said, she is not the wisest warlock around. bright is bright for her charm and silliness, not her brains.

♡ SMARTEST OC.

jael khatri — pathfinder: wrath of the righteous

this was another tough one between jael and cath, but jael won because she’s, in the most reductive of terms, a sexy evil experimentalist!! everyone already knows everything abt jael and how her cruelty is clinical and her wit is sharp as a knife from when i first played pwotr last year but i’ll never stop being obsessed with her!!!

♡ OC YOU’D BE BEST FRIENDS WITH IRL.

corintha trevelyan — dragon age: inquisition

this isn’t because i think i’d get along with her best (i think that would be emika or honey??) but because i love a DELUSIONAL girlie. i’d kill to pick her brain fhdjfnfnfbd

tagging!! @malefiicarum @rosebarsoap @lvllns @devilbrakers @bunfey @saintjudegf @ladysanjo @statichvm @aartyom @celticwoman @shadowglens @druidgroves @mrs-theirin @necroticpetals @minaharkers @dantesparda @umbertors @nuclearstorms @liurnia @jillvalcntines @risingsh0t @brujah @solasan and you!!!!!!

[sorry-i-forgot]

presenting my beloved tavs (at least the ones i'm the most focused on there are many)

Ardyth, wood elf Beast Companion Ranger

Absynthe, Zariel tiefling Oath of Vengeance Paladin

Audra, Mephistopheles tiefling Storm Sorcery Sorcerer

[lezzybeaverman]

Songs of Solidarity

I've been working on collecting music to make a playlist to encourage myself and my friends through the insanity of the current political landscape. I'm trying to pull from a wide range- old 60s songs my hippy parents raised me on, alternative rock I listened to as a rebellious teen, new stuff I'm just getting into, showtunes, even some of my beloved comedy musicians. There's so many repeated themes and motifs, which I guess makes sense- the quest for a better world is so very intrinsic to us, and progress comes in waves, so we have to keep reminding ourselves of what we're fighting for.

I am always weird (shy/nervous/feel like it's pointless) about posting, but I think this might be a thing that other people would like to see. So here's a little taste of what I've been listening to (with youtube links and a little information [or possibly way too much information if you don't like parentheticals {which obviously I do}] about each)- today's songs are Revolution by The Beatles, Liberation by Muse, and Rise Up by Audra Day.

Revolution is obviously one of the Big Ones. I doubt I need to explain the importance or popularity of The Beatles globally, but on a personal level they were one of my favorite bands growing up, and still are to this day. I was a John girl, but am now more of a George fan, although if it's who would I want to hang out with the most, I gotta go with my stoner bro Ringo- sorry Paul, no offense. You're still my mom's favorite (she thinks you're cute). All three of my parents were actually huge Beatles fans, so I was destined to listen to them all the time as a kid, and luckily I loved their music. Like many people, I prefer the harder, rockier single version of the song Revolution over the version on the white album with the doo-wops. When it was released, they came in for some criticism for what some felt was a wishy-washy take on revolution, but I think the internal conflict between a desire for a better world and a hope to avoid violence is part of what makes it a lasting classic (along with the reassurance that it'll be alright).

Muse has a lot of political/protest songs that I enjoy, but this particular number has an optimism to it that I think pairs well with Revolution. Inspired largely by the Black Lives Matter movement, it reflects the writer (lead singer Matt Bellamy)'s hope for systemic change to American politics to make them more truly democratic- something that now feels more important than ever. It also has a heavily Queen-influenced feel that I love, with dramatic piano flourishes and soaring vocals that make it really fun for me to sing along with, so it's a personal favorite.

Speaking of soaring vocals, you'd be hard pressed to find a more stirring vocal performance than this one by Andra Day. I first heard it on Doctor Who in the episode Rosa, about Rosa Parks (s11, e3) which despite some small flaws is still, I believe, one of the best episodes of the show (also I love Jodie Whittaker and I loved her run of the show even if it wasn't perfect thankyouverymuch) and if I hadn't already been crying (I was, Vinette Robinson's Rosa was incredible), I definitely would have started sobbing then. Andra Day wrote it as "a sort of prayer" in a moment of personal suffering, saying she'd usually have cut some of the more cliché lines, "[b]ut sometimes a good cliché is exactly what you need in a moment of hopelessness." I think maybe that personal crying out is what made it ring so true to so many, and be adopted as a rallying cry for the BLM movement. Like a lot of her music (and her whole aesthetic really, I LOVE her vintage and vintage-inspired fashion) it has an old-school gospel feel that will always move me (yes I did cry listening to it for this post).

[voltives]

Tagged by @prozac-shaped-urn Thank you for the tag!

Favorite color: Black and Red. Specifically hex codes #000000 and #610C04.

Last song I listened to: "A Glamorous Life" sung by Audra McDonald for the Ladies in Red concert!

Currently reading: The abridged version of "La Nouvelle Héloïse" Translated by Judith McDowell. It's a dense piece of French literature but I consider it the predecessor to Passion by at least a century.

Watching: I'm currently rewatching Passion (1994) with my beloved mutual @pacificovertures on a Discord watch party for what is probably the hundredth time.

Craving: A pineapple flavour Jarritos after it was forgotten from my lunch order. I tried a new Mexican place today and it was not good.

Coffee or tea: Vietnamese iced coffee. Next question.

Favourite AU: My dreams where I get to kiss Fosca.

I'm tagging @pacificovertures (again), as well as @ontheroad-again, and anyone else who wants to do this ask game :')

[fernnshxj]

redrew this pic form a doodle page art fight attack on @/willowthearts last year

me trauma dumping on my great x400 granddaughter

og ref under da cut

[killbotic]

#𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂: ... a private and highly selective original character designed and executed by audra / kiwi, featuring ... [ 𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 ] beloved television icon! an artificial intelligence unit designed to schedule programing and fill empty time slots with her various talk shows, cooking demonstrations, and other activities. decommissioned after a strange series of urban legends surfaced regarding the hostess speaking directly to certain viewers, watching them through their television sets. Ruby was placed in storage, and re-purposed many, many years later for the [𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍]'s war effort. the taste of blood seems to have reignited some ... old habits. do not follow this blog if you are: a minor, a personal blog, or a proshipper. you will be blocked. be aware that this blog horror oriented, and may contain themes that are graphic in nature.

𝐀 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 ... analog horror, violent entertainment, speaking to the masses, television as a form of control, abandoned icons, corruption, humanity.

𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 ... nyt1ba, sentinalle, & stilettaux.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐒: info & lore & memes & blogroll.

rules & regulations.

i. activity: expect sporadic to low activity across all my blogs including this one. i work full time from home and i often post a lot of ooc content in between my job duties. if this bothers you, i wouldn’t recommend following. additionally, please do not pester me for replies — i can’t always work up the motivation to write. i will respect and abide by everyone’s speed and responsibilities in return! the easiest way to interact with me is by plotting or sending in memes.

ii. selectivity: i am very selective with who i write with and tend to favor my friends or those writing partners i have plotted with in the past. i am very open to plotting with new mutuals and you’re always free to drop into my im’s or request my discord handle if you’re interested! if i haven’t followed you back, do not unfollow and refollow to get my attention or i will block you. additionally, please do not ask me why i did not follow you back. if you are on again / off again mutuals with me and have softblocked me more than once, I won't follow you back. it gives me anxiety.

iii. etiquette: needless to say, if you write or post anything homophobic, transphobic, racist, or harmful in general you will be blocked on sight. same goes for anyone who writes or supports incest or pedophilia / shipping with characters that are minors (or aging them up for the sake of writing sexually explicit content). i will also block anyone who is under 18 years old or who does not have a rules / about page. as stated above: if i have blocked you, please don’t come to me to ask why — i am cultivating my own space, please respect that.

iv. shipping: as always, no force-shipping, and I would prefer if our muses have chemistry prior to shipping. i’m very open about plotting ships and not very picky, but as always i reserve the right to turn down a ship if i don’t see it working out or I dislike the idea of it. you have the right to do so as well. this may also be a good time to mention i will not write any sexually explicit content on this blog (or any of my others) so please do not send me nsfw memes or images. i will not budge on this. there may be suggestive content on this blog. while I won't write sexually explicit content, I will still write suggestive material. this will be under a readmore and tagged with tw suggestive.

v. nsfw content: there will be mentions of blood, gore, drugs, violence, and other dark themes present on this blog. as stated above, i will not write any sexually explicit content on this blog, but there may be suggestive content present (under tw suggestive). everything will be tagged accordingly, but i can sometimes miss things. the last thing i want to do is trigger someone so if i’ve forgotten to tag something, please let me know. all triggers will be tagged under the: tw trigger format. please do not follow this blog if you're not okay with gore as it is frequently present and capable of happening in any thread.

vi. do not interact: please do not interact with me if you write with binary (unboundtravels) or goomi (pinxminked / shecharm). I am not comfortable seeing them on my dashboard any longer and am looking to cultivate my own safe space. I will go into details in private if need be, but feel free to softblock or hardblock me if you intend to write with them in the future. thank you.

vii. credit: all graphics were edited by me using photopea. please do not lift any ideas from this blog. if you have any questions just ask!

[madisoncounty]

5, 6, 10, 11, 17, 20! ✨

yayyyy thank you!!! <3 so many fun questions to answer!

5. favourite musical you want to see live you are talking to the girl who has not shut up about the bridges of madison county for the last month sooooo (other than that, it does hurt that i've never seen she loves me or sitpwg live, and i realllly want to see the current next to normal production)

6. favourite musical you’ve seen live i did already answer this but i will add if/then, my (our) beloved, which i saw... 4 times on tour and once regionally because i am very normal

10. favourite actor/actress in a musical picking just one is HARD. i'll say kelli o'hara because i love her forever & i'm going through something with bridges right now to the point where she is currently my #1 artist on spotify, but there are so many others. i will say that i loveee a soprano in general (audra mcdonald, laura benanti, pippa soo, denee benton ilysm)

11. favourite musical on broadway right now merrily!!!!! (other than that, it's probably still wicked)

17. favourite musical that you’re ashamed to like joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat, maybe? i can't stand alw in general but that show is super nostalgic for me. on a more serious note, i have so many problems with the king and i, but i have to admit that the score slaps.

20. favourite musical for sentimental reasons definitely the sound of music. it's just so nostalgic for me. i watched it ALL the time as a kid <3

musical asks

[broadwaydivastournament]

Speaking of Hello, Again (2017), per my previous post, you all deserve to see the full context. While the clips of Audra might be too explicit for Youtube because they're cowards, I have found it for you (in exactly the sort of site you'd expect). You're welcome. I risked a virus downloading this.

Hello, Again (1994), written by Michael John LaChuisa, originated as an off-Broadway musical focusing on ten characters and their illicit love affairs throughout the decades of the 20th century. The show received eight Drama Desk nominations, including one for our beloved Diva Donna Murphy (The Whore). Donna left the show early to star in Passion (she got a Tony so like...good decision there). Carolee Carmello also featured in the cast as The Young Wife.

The film adaptation gender-swapped The Whore and The Senator, thereby including several same-sex pairings, including that of Audra McDonald as The Actress and Martha Plimpton as The Senator.

Carolee Carmello and Donna Murphy (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Carolee Carmello and Michael F. Park (Photo by: Joan Marcus)

Donna Murphy and David A. White (Photo by Joan Marcus)

You can find the above photo in gigantic proportions on your way downstairs to the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center. I stare at it a lot.

[moonzie-does-tag-games]

Audra my beloved

Yes yes I did put a Ninjago OC in a PJO t-shirt COME FOR ME

[droughtofapathy]

The Gilded Age of Broadway Divas: Duets, Trios, and Other Crossovers

While I wait for my matinee show to start, here's our final compilation just six hours before our season finale. If you've been following along with this series, you'll notice how much overlap there is in the theatre. Everyone has been with, or sung with, or played the same role as everyone else. Here is just a taste of the sublime combined talents of our favorite Broadway Divas. And yes, this is my petition to have a musical episode.

#1: "Lily's Eyes," (The Secret Garden) Miscast 2022 - Audra McDonald and Kelli O'Hara

I watched this, and my soul transcended space and time. Performed at MCC's 2022 Miscast gala honoring Christine Baranski (of course), Audra and Kelli have a brief tiff about which soprano is worthy of Soprano Island before joining together to sing the most resplendent duet you will ever experience in your life.

The Secret Garden opened on Broadway in 1991 starring Rebecca Luker as Lily. Kelli and Audra are singing the parts of Lily's husband and brother-in-law respectively. And like Lily, Rebecca Luker has since passed away. Knowing that they are singing not only to honor Christine, but also to Rebecca, their dear friend and fellow soprano, is yet another layer of heartbreak. I love this song.

#2: "Move On," (Sunday in the Park with George) Princetown concert 2022 - Audra McDonald & Michael Cerveris

Former co-stars reunited in Princetown last year to sing this impromptu duet from the Pulitzer-winning Sunday in the Park with George. Sunday is filled with sublime music, and "Move On" is one of the best. In it, Dot appears to George, the grandson of Georges Seurat, and encourages him to move on with his artistry and stop worrying about perfection. The show itself is beautiful and complex, and a proshot is available for your convenience.

Audra and Michael had previously done a three-day, semi-staged production of this show in 2004, also featuring Patti LuPone as Yvonne/Blair Daniels (the role Christine Baranski created in the original pre-Broadway workshop). Interestingly, this trio would move on to take part in the Lincoln Center Broadcast of Passion in 2005 with Audra as Clara (the Marin Mazzie role), and Patti as Fosca (the Donna Murphy role).

Michael Cerveris would play Giorgio multiple times in his career, including the 10th Anniversary concert with Marin and Donna.

#3 Tonight: Quintet (West Side Story) - Lucky to Be Me: The Music of Leonard Bernstein (2010) - Kelli O'Hara, Donna Murphy, Michael Cerveris

Speaking of Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy, and joined by Kelli O'Hara, this audio comes from a 2010 concert celebrating the music of Leonard Bernstein. The youtube video incorrectly attributes this to a 2012 concert, but it is not.

"Tonight (Quintet)" is, of course, from West Side Story, where Bernstein wrote the music, and Sondheim wrote the lyrics. Because this was a concert, certain singing parts are taken by those who would not sing such parts in a full production...anymore. (Lest we forget Natalie Wood in the movie.)

Donna sings Anita, and Kelli sings Maria, the two young Puerto Rican women in the show. And I think we'll leave that there. Michael Cerveris sings the part of Riff, and they are joined by Cheyenne Jackson as Tony.

Also featured in this concert is the amazing, incredible, beloved soprano Victoria Clark, who has starred opposite all three of our Gilded Age actors at one point or another. As the Margaret to Kelli's Clara (Light in the Piazza), the Sally to Donna's Phyllis (Encores! Follies), and in Titanic with Michael Cerveris. Theatre, it's all connected.

#4: LoveMusik (2007)

A little more on LoveMusik. While I've already detailed a little on my Donna Murphy post, here's some more about Michael Cerveris, two-time Tony winner. As Kurt Weill, Michael was nominated for a Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Award, but did not win any. While the show itself was given mixed reviews, the performances of Donna and Michael were almost universally praised.

The 2007 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical included three Gilded Age nominees. Debra Monk (Curtains), Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade) and Donna Murphy (LoveMusik). All three lost to Christine Ebersole of the Grey Gardens variety. Fair. I suppose. However, Audra and Donna tied for the Drama Desk. And there WAS a wonderful clip of their award ceremony online for years, except now that I need it for this, it's been taken down. Of course.

#5: "At the Ballet," (A Chorus Line) - Audra McDonald & Kelli O'Hara

Joined by Megan Hilty, Kelli O'Hara and Audra McDonald performed "At the Ballet" from A Chorus Line at a Lincoln Center Marvin Hamlisch tribute in 2013. Audra showcases a robust lower range I simply adore. Unfortunately the lower key change leaves Kelli's soprano in an awkward place, but I love her anyway.

A Chorus Line is one of the musical theatre greats, and while "At the Ballet" is often overshadowed by "What I Did for Love," it's my personal favorite. The original stage show ran for 6,137 performances, and was nominated for twelve Tonys, winning nine. After Follies, this is the show I most want to see fully staged. A 50th Anniversary revival was rumored back in 2016 for 2025, but I'll believe it when I see it.

#6: The Ladies Who Lunch (Company) - Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Celebration - Christine Baranski & Audra McDonald (ft. Meryl Streep)

Legends. Icons. Divas. What more can I say about "The Ladies Who Lunch," performed by Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, and Meryl Streep, mother to Louisa Jacobson? As the story goes, they had done so many takes that by this time, they were well and truly on their way to being drunk. And yet, Audra McDonald still sounds more exquisite than anyone on earth.

I watched this when it premiered "live" on YouTube during the early days of the pandemic. Several Broadway stars who would go on to The Gilded Age are featured, including Kelli O'Hara, Laura Benanti, Nathan Lane, and Michael Cerveris.

It has been almost four years, and I have still not recovered from this song's placement in the concert. Picture it: you have just been emotionally wrung out by Donna Murphy's revelatory "Send in the Clowns," sung whilst seated in front of an Al Hirshfeld print of Passion, with her cleavage out in true Mrs. Astor fashion. And then suddenly there's jaunty Company music, and an illustration of the great Elaine Stritch with her martini glass high. And then there is Christine Baranski in a bathrobe and a truly massive glass of red wine. And you think it cannot get any better. And then the second verse hits and there's Meryl Streep with a cocktail mixer. AND THEN Audra Fucking McDonald. They put those two songs back-to-back and expected me to recover one day? As if.

Bonus: "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" (2018) - Nathan Lane & Christine Baranski

While not a musical performance, I would be remiss if I didn't direct your attention to this masterpiece. Did you ever think you'd hear Aunt Agnes gunning to see Ward McAllister's dick? No? Well, here it is. Terrence McNally wrote "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" specifically for his 1991 original cast which included Christine as Chloe and Nathan Lane as her brother Sam. And they are going through marital troubles with their respective spouses. Nathan and Christine reunited in 2018 to perform this scene for McNally's 80th Birthday.

But the Gilded Age connection doesn't stop there:

In 2019, The New York Times Magazine ran a special "America 2024" issue, as a tribute to Terrence McNally. The whole thing is a fantastic read, and I'd recommend it. In it features photoshoots depicting scenes from several of McNally's plays, including "Lips Together, Teeth Apart." And look who's here: Donna Murphy as Chloe (the Christine Baranski role), Broadway's Leading Man Brian Stokes Mitchell, Michael Shannon as Sam (the Nathan Lane role), and Katie Finneran.

And on one of four covers for this issue, Celia Keenan-Bolger.

With that, the conclusion to my little Diva miniseries. I hope you've found this as entertaining as I have. And if you'd like me to go into more detail about anything you've seen throughout this series, let me know, because I have so much more gossip and drama that I had to restrain myself from adding.

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