While McDonald’s star has been rising on Broadway, it has taken it a little longer for her to become well known outside of the music theater community. But that is changing. In April 1999, "60 Minutes"on CBS network television introduced the multi-talented performer to America as possibly being "the next Barbara Streisand." She has the talent and is getting the exposure. McDonald has performed numerous times on both the small and large screen and in 1998 her solo album "Way Back to Paradise," debuted to critical acclaim.

For McDonald, her love of performing began when she was a small child. Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1970, but raised in Fresno, California, McDonald almost always knew she wanted to sing. She comes from a musical family—her father, a former college music major, her mother and both grandmothers pianists, and her aunts, professional singers. Throughout her youth, McDonald’s parents supported her desire to perform. They took her to dance lessons, singing lessons, and piano lessons. By age nine, her practicing began to pay off and McDonald began performing at local dinner theaters.

The years she spent performing at dinner theaters and attending performing arts junior high and high schools gave McDonald a solid foundation in all aspects of the theater and musical theater. "I have spent over two-thirds of my life on the stage so I feel most comfortable there," says McDonald. By the time she graduated from high school, McDonald had set her sights on going to New York City to become a Broadway star. However, McDonald’s father, a high school principal in Fresno, Calif., and her mother, director of the affirmative action program at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obis, wanted her to pursue her education.

"My parents were key in my success because they stressed the importance of two things: discipline and education. Education was the only weapon against prejudice, and without discipline and hard work, you were insured failure because nothing in this life is just given to you. You must work for it. They encouraged me in my pursuit of a stage career but they encouraged me to get as much experience and education about the stage as I could."

For McDonald and her parents, Manhattan’s Juilliard School proved to be the solution. The school, founded in 1905 as a conservatory to rival those in Europe, offers training in music, dance, and drama. Attending Juilliard did two things for McDonald. It helped the mezzo-soprano train as a classical vocalist and it allowed her to keep alive her dream of performing on Broadway. And her dream was soon to come true. McDonald graduated from Juilliard in 1993 and landed a role in the touring production of the musical production of "The Secret Garden." That June, she was asked to audition for the proposed Broadway revival of "Carousel." But the unthinkable happened. During the final callback, McDonald fainted right at the beginning of her audition song. But, a true professional to the end, McDonald recovered enough to sing. Her impressive second try landed her the role of Carrie Pepperidge.

At the time, McDonald’s casting was somewhat controversial because of her casting as a traditionally white character. "I have been very lucky. Nicholas Hytner {director of Carousel} had the guts to cast me in a typically white role in Carousel," says McDonald. "Because this was my first major role, people were first introduced to me in an atypical way. There wasn’t an immediate stereotyping of me and my talent as is often the case with Black performers." McDonald’s performance wowed audiences and critics alike and in 1994 earned her the Tony Award for featured actress in a musical. McDonald hopes that other African-American performers will benefit from her positive experience. "I hope that because of Nick’s brave decision more directors and producers will be willing to at least consider colorblind casting."

Two years after performing in Carousel, McDonald returned to Broadway. McDonald’s portrayal of a budding opera singer, who clashes with Maria Callas (Zoe Caldwell) in "The Master Class," won her a second Tony Award. That same year proved to be a turning point for McDonald. She made her film debut as an opera singer in "Seven Servants" and was cast as Bill Cosby’s daughter in the 1996 "Cosby" pilot. But, the Cosby role was not to be. McDonald, who had also been participating in workshops for the new musical "Ragtime," was asked to join the cast.

"The decision in that particular case was made for me because I was let go after doing the pilot," says McDonald. "I was really quite relieved because I was really torn about choosing between ‘Ragtime’ and ‘Cosby.’" So Tekayah "Crystal" Kemah replaced McDonald on Cosby and McDonald began her role as Sara on Ragtime. For her performance, McDonald made history, becoming the youngest three-time Tony winner.

McDonald’s Cosby connection continued even though she did not remain on the show. "It is funny," says McDonald, "that the next TV project to happen for me was "Having Our Say" which was co-produced by Camille Cosby and Judy James.

The 1999 CBS made-for-television movie "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years," was based on the 1993 bestseller of the same name and told the story of African-American sisters Sara (Sadie) and A. Elizabeth (Bessie) Delany. McDonald feels that she was probably better suited to play the young Bessie than Cosby’s daughter. "The role of Bessie Delany felt like a better fit for me. I really enjoy the medium of film and television and I hope to do more in the future."

McDonald says that though she loves to sing and act, acting is probably the hardest. This may be partly due to the fact that though she has had years of acting experience, she has never had any formal training. "The most challenging thing for me would have to be acting," says McDonald, "I don’t think that came as natural to me as singing did, so that is something I have to work harder at."

But, whether it is hard or not, McDonald is enjoying expanding her repertoire. "I prefer to mix things up all the time. I don’t ever want to pigeonhole myself to just one thing." And mix things up she has. McDonald briefly played a singer performing at a wedding in the 1997 movie "The Object of My Affection," and played the daughter of Yaphet Kotto’s Al Giardello on the 1999 series finale of NBC’s "Homicide: Life on the Street." McDonald has also sung on PBS productions, "Leonard Bernstein’s New York" and "Some Enchanted Evening," and the Boston Pops "Evening at Pops."

During the two-year period 1998-1999, McDonald has also showcased her considerable singing talent. In 1998, she made her solo cabaret debut at NYC’s Joe’s Pub and released her first solo album "Way Back to Paradise." The album marked the beginning of McDonald’s exclusive recording contract with Nonesuch Records. "Way Back to Paradise" debuted to great praise and excellent sales. It was named Adult Record of the Year by the New York Times and was described by music reviewer William R. Braun in Opera News as marking "the bull’s-eye arrival of a singular and major new voice." On "Paradise" McDonald is simply stunning. With her distinctively rich voice, McDonald performs songs from the newest generation of musical-theater songwriters." 'Way Back to Paradise’ is a celebration of young lesser- known composers who are currently on the scene today. Most of the composers were colleagues. I had known and loved their music and wanted to sing more of it."

The songs McDonald chose for her CD are varied. "Each of the songs has a specific story about peoples' wants, needs, desires, etc.," says McDonald. Among the themes McDonald sings about are women’s empowerment, race, salvation, adultery, and love. "Each song I chose was a song that elicited an immediate reaction from my soul," remarks McDonald. "That is basically how I choose any song. If it moves me or if I can identify with the story, then I sing it."

In 1999, McDonald returned to the stage. In her debut as lead actress in a musical, McDonald played the title role in "Marie Christine," a musical written specifically for her by composer Michael John LaChiusa. "Michael John was at one of my auditions for ‘Carousel’ and shortly after, he told me that he would write a musical for me one day and he did," recalls McDonald. "Marie Christine is a musical version of Medea set in New Orleans {during the 1880s}. She is a mulatto woman who is seduced by a white man of the north." In the summer of 1999, McDonald joined Oscar Winner, Kathy Bates, and other Broadway veterans to film an all-new musical production of "Annie" for the "Wonderful World of Disney." McDonald plays Grace Farrell, Oliver Warbucks’ devoted personal assistant.

So what does McDonald expect for the year 2000 and beyond? Professionally, McDonald wants to continue to improve as an actress and singer. Personally, she would like to continue to spend quality time with her family, fiancée’ and good friends. But, McDonald says she would also like to continue to inspire her audiences and give back to her community. She thinks that young people, especially minorities, often face a lack of esteem and good role models. "The best advice I can give is to not put any limitations on your dreams and goals, however far-fetched they may seem to anyone else. The world and society will put enough limitations on you as it is, so it is important that you reach as high as you dream to."

You can do anything you want to, stresses McDonald. "There is enough in this world to hold people back but don’t you ever hold yourself back. Push the envelope until you can push no further. As long as you work hard and believe in what it is you are doing, the rest of the world will come around in time."