Audra McDonald sidelined from ‘Porgy and Bess’ due to illness

Audra McDonald won her fifth Tony Award earlier this month for her performance in “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” on Broadway, but ticket-holders expecting to catch her in the musical in the next several days will be out of luck.

McDonald has withdrawn from the production through July 3, citing inflammation of her vocal cords that resulted from an earlier respiratory infection. The actress’ understudy, Alicia Hall Moran, will perform the role of Bess in her place. Moran already plays Bess in Wednesday evening performances.

McDonald is expected to return to the musical on July 3.

“Porgy and Bess,” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York, is scheduled to run through Sept. 30. The production, directed by Diane Paulus, originated at the American Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts before opening on Broadway in January.

The production is a revised version of the Gershwin classic, with changes by playwright Suzan Lori-Parks and Diedre L. Murray. The show also won the Tony for revival of a musical.

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