‘I’m Rooting for the Theatre’: Audra McDonald Sends Well-Wishes to Broadway Ahead of the 2025 Tonys. The six-time Tony winner is up for another prize for her performance as Rose in Gypsy.
Audra McDonald, By Heather Gershonowitz
One of the most-debated Tony Award categories at this year’s ceremony is Lead Actress in a Musical. Prior to the ceremony, Tony nominee Audra McDonald took to Instagram to send well-wishes to her fellow nominees and theatre people: “It’s all good and congratulations to everybody. You wanna know who I’m rooting for? I’m rooting for the theatre. I’m rooting for the arts.”
McDonald explained that she’s missing the June 8 matinee of Gypsydue to the 78th Annual Tony Awards rehearsals and there not being enough time to get from rehearsals to the show to the red carpet. “My incredible standby, Tryphena Wade, is on…I’m so grateful to her.”
The six-time Tony winner then sent a message to the theatre community, “in whatever aspect you touch the theatre as a performer, someone who works on crew, someone who works backstage, front of house, creatives, managers, even critics, and audience members. We all love it. We all love the theatre so much. So let this be a day of celebration, and gratitude that we get to do what we do. We get to love this thing called theatre, this thing that changes people lives…it gets us more in touch with our humanity. It’s the magic of theatre.”
She then ended her video with a simple directive: “Have fun.” Watch McDonald’s video below, and watch the Broadway revival of Gypsy, starring McDonald, perform at the June 8 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. Follow Playbill for our complete coverage of the 78th Tony Awards here.
