By Town Crier Report

Triple Tony Award-winning singer-actress Audra McDonald thrilled an audience of TheatreWorks supporters at a gala event held recently at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

The event raised some $50,000 for TheatreWorks’ education and outreach programs.

McDonald performed a cornucopia of old and new songs, ranging from Gershwin’s “Someone To Watch Over Me” to an early Jonathan Larson patter song: a housewife’s lament titled “Hosing the Furniture,” from a never-produced collaborative musical about the 1939 World’s Fair.

She also unveiled songs from the new musical “Sarah Plain and Tall,” sang a heartfelt tribute to Judy Garland with a poignant “The Man That Got Away,” and brought to light the rarely heard “When Did I Fall In Love?” from “Fiorello!”

In all, McDonald sang some 19 songs, mainly by the newer crop of Broadway and cabaret composers. She was ably supported by her musical director, Ted Sperling, who helped with background tidbits about the varied selections.

The sold-out house gave a standing ovation and would not let the soprano leave until she had delivered three encores. She joked, “What would you do if I launched into ‘Maybe’ from ‘Annie’ right now?” She went on to reveal that “Annie” was one show she did not get cast in when she was starting out as a preteen in Fresno at the Goodfellow Dinner Theatre.

In the audience were two chums from that era - Rhonda Berry and Jana Fore - who drove in from Fresno for the evening. Also watching was a former child star, Tony-winning actress Daisy Egan. She didn’t star in “Annie” either; it was “The Secret Garden” that copped Egan the statuette.

Guests who purchased premium seats joined McDonald at a post-show champagne reception in Mountain View City Hall.