Audra McDonald Out of 110 For Two Days After Father's Death

Audra McDonald will miss three performances of 110 in the Shade on May 2 and 3 following the tragic death of her father on April 29. Stanley McDonald of Fresno, California, crashed while piloting an experimental aircraft he had built himself. According to the Sacramento Bee, McDonald, 62, retired in 2005 as the Fresno Unified School District's assistant superintendent of human resources after 33 years with the district. McDonald was an experienced helicopter and fixed-wing pilot and was logging his required training hours in the single-occupant craft when it crashed, his wife, Vicki, said.

Audra McDonald will remain in New York and appear in her starring role as Lizzie Curry on Tuesday, May 1, at Studio 54, according to a production spokesperson. She will miss the next two days and return to the show on Friday, May 4. Colleen Fitzpatrick, who plays Odetta Clark, is understudy for the role. McDonald also dropped out of a scheduled performance at a Lincoln Center gala on April 30 and will be replaced by Kelli O'Hara.

110 in the Shade is a production of the Roundabout Theatre Company, directed by Lonny Price. It began previews on April 13 and is scheduled to open on May 9.