Audra McDonald Celebrates Danny Burstein’s Birthday
Broadway icons unite in a touching tribute to honor theatre’s most cherished talents today
Image: Instagram
A Heartfelt Stage Salute
On July 26, Broadway legend Audra McDonald took a moment offstage to honor her colleague and friend Danny Burstein with a heartfelt Instagram shout-out. In her post, the six-time Tony Award winner wrote, “Happy Birthday to one of the greatest most awesome humans on the entire planet. Love you so much @Dannybur.” The image accompanying the message captures McDonald smiling widely as she shares her birthday wishes in a warmly lit portrait.
Broadway Bound: A Shared Legacy
McDonald and Burstein’s careers have run in parallel across two decades of landmark Broadway productions. McDonald, born July 3, 1970, holds the record for the most Tony Awards won by any actor, claiming six statuettes from eight nominations. Her resume spans trailblazing performances in Carousel, Ragtime, and Porgy and Bess.
Burstein, who turns 59 this year, first made his Broadway mark in the late 1980s and earned his first Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for The Drowsy Chaperone in 2006. Since then, he’s been nominated five more times, most recently for his turn in Sweeney Todd. Both performers have become fixtures at the annual Tony Awards telecast—often sharing the halls, green rooms, and the stage itself.
Their friendship extends offstage as well. Colleagues describe Burstein’s warmth and quick wit as the perfect counterpoint to McDonald’s thoughtful presence—a dynamic that shines through in the birthday salute.
Spotlight On Danny Burstein
Danny Burstein’s body of work runs from revivals of Follies and South Pacific to acclaimed turns in Endgame and The Visit on the West End. Born in Los Angeles and raised in a family of Hungarian immigrants, he trained at Yale School of Drama before establishing himself as a go-to character actor with formidable range. Beyond his Tony win, Burstein also received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle honors, solidifying his reputation as one of theatre’s most reliable scene-stealers.
His July birthday has become something of an annual milestone among Broadway’s tight-knit community. Colleagues and fans alike flood social feeds with photos and memories—yet McDonald’s tribute stands out for its sincerity and playfulness.
Another Award-worthy Partnership
Just weeks before the birthday post, McDonald shared another Instagram moment celebrating her shared success with Burstein and fellow actor Joy Woods. In that post, the trio posed together as Tony nominees for The New York Times, showcasing the breadth of talent on Broadway today. Viewers can revisit the candid snapshot here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKhuiHpuWXX/.
That nomination photo underlines how often these artists cross paths at the highest level of their craft—onstage in musicals, at awards galas, and in community initiatives. McDonald recently co-hosted a Hollywood Reporter roundtable featuring Broadway figures, and Burstein has lent his support to emerging talent through workshops and master classes.
Looking ahead, both stars have major projects lined up: McDonald will return in a new revival set to open next season, while Burstein is slated to join the cast of an original musical workshop this fall. Their parallel trajectories continue to intertwine, making this birthday salute more than a personal note—it’s an homage to a partnership built on mutual respect and shared artistic ambition.
As the curtain falls on another year in Burstein’s life, McDonald’s public celebration reminds the theatre world that even in a profession defined by spectacle, the strongest moments often come from simple acts of friendship.
Their bond offstage is as enduring as any role they’ve inhabited together—proof that in Broadway’s ever-shifting spotlight, genuine camaraderie remains the greatest encore of all.
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