Theater News

Audra McDonald's West End Debut in Lady Day Postponed Due to Pregnancy

McDonald was set to bring the Billie Holiday play with music to London.

| Broadway | London |

May 10, 2016

Audra McDonald plays Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, directed by Lonny Price, at the Circle in the Square Theatre. — Audra McDonald won her sixth Tony Award for her performance as Billie Holiday in *Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill*, directed by Lonny Price, at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
(© Evgenia Eliseeva)

The upcoming West End production of Lanie Robertson's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, has been postponed due to the unexpected pregnancy of its leading lady.

"Who knew that tap dancing during perimenopause could lead to pregnancy?" McDonald, who currently stars on Broadway in Shuffle Along, said in a statement. "Will [Swenson] and I are completely surprised — and elated — to be expecting a new addition to our family. I am so very grateful to everyone in New York and London for allowing me to rearrange my schedule to accommodate this little miracle. Of course, I’m disappointed I have to postpone my West End debut in Lady Day, but I look forward to rescheduling as soon as possible."

The work was scheduled to run from June 25-September 3 at London's Wyndham's Theatre, with McDonald taking a previously announced hiatus from Broadway's Shuffle Along. An update on McDonald's Shuffle Along schedule has not yet been revealed.

For tickets to see McDonald in Shuffle Along, click here.