Shuffle Along Cancels Another Preview Performance, Audra McDonald Out Sick

Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, has canceled its March 23 preview, after not playing its March 21 and 22 performances. A spokesperson for the production confirmed that the cancellation is due to its star Audra McDonald becoming ill.

The production is also scheduled to take a hiatus from March 27 to April 1 to allow time for rewriting and restaging. The musical, which began performances on March 15, is still set to open on April 28 at the Music Box Theatre.

The company also includes Billy Porter, Brooks Ashmanskas, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Joshua Henry and Brandon Victor Dixon. McDonald will not appear in performances from June 20 through September 11; she is scheduled to return on September 13.

The show combines the 1921 musical Shuffle Along with the backstory of the people who brought it to life, including the songwriting team Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and bookwriters Aubrey Lyles and F.E. Miller. Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk collaborators George C. Wolfe and Savion Glover have reunited to direct and choreograph, respectively. Wolfe also penned the new book.

Broadway.com customers with tickets to the canceled performances will be contacted with information on refunds or exchanges.