Audra McDonald, Will Swenson & Cyndi Lauper to Perform at Out for Equality Inaugural Event

Five-time Tony winner Audra McDonald and her Tony-nominated husband Will Swenson will join Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper to perform at Out for Equality’s inaugural celebration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden on January 21. The event will be held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Special guest Ross Mathews (TV’s Chelsea Lately) and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. are also scheduled to appear.

Out For Equality is the premiere inaugural event hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, an organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights. Additional performers will be announced shortly.

McDonald earned Tony Awards for Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, Ragtime, Master Class and Carousel, as well as additional nominations for 110 in the Shade and Marie Christine. She also appeared in The Secret Garden, Henry IV and Something Wonderful. Her film and TV appearances include Private Practice and the film adaptations of Wit and A Raisin in the Sun.

Swenson, who married McDonald in October of 2012, earned a Tony nomination for Hair. His additional Broadway credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, 110 in the Shade, Lestat and Brooklyn. His film and TV appearances include The Switch, The Singles Ward and The R.M.

Lauper starred in The Threepenny Opera and composed songs for the Broadway concert Matters of the Heart. Her new musical adaptation of Kinky Boots is scheduled to open on Broadway on April 4.