Audra McDonald image via wikipedia user watchwithkristin

Broadway superstar and Fresno native Audra McDonald will be in town Saturday for a special ceremony to name the Roosevelt High School theater after her.

McDonald, a Roosevelt alum, is in California as part of her nationwide tour, and will be performing with the Fresno Philharmonic that evening at the Saroyan Theater.

The event is free and open to the public and will feature a video tribute to McDonald and student performances. The event runs at the theater from 11 a.m. to noon.

“We’re thrilled to bring Audra McDonald back to her alma mater and to name Roosevelt’s theater in her honor. Ms. McDonald is held in high regard by students and staff at Fresno Unified, not only for what she has accomplished as an actress and singer, but for the kind of person she is. We look forward to celebrating this new name as a tribute to Ms. McDonald for years to come,” said Superintendent Bob Nelson.

McDonald is the winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award, received a 2015 National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama and was also named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people that year.