Audra McDonald on Vocal Rest; Out of ‘Porgy and Bess’ Til July 3

Tony-winner Audra McDonald has been put on vocal rest for the remainder of June, “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” producers announced on Wednesday. 

After spending last week performing the role of Bess, for which she won her fifth Tony Award, with a respiratory infection, her vocal cords became “inflamed to a point where she cannot sing,” representatives said in a statement. She is expected to return to the production July 3.

Her understudy, Alicia Hall Moran will play Bess while McDonald is out of the production.

On June 10, McDonald won her fifth Tony, tying her with Broadway legends Angela Lansbury and Julie Harris for most Tony wins. She is the youngest actor to reach this landmark.