It s 1959 in a seedy bar in philadelphia, and billie holiday is giving one of her last performances interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music 4 months before her death. Lady day at emersons bar and grill tickets event dates. Lady day at emersons bar and grill was initially introduced to atlanta audiences in 1986. I love the gorgeous way story and song bring lady day to life in this powerful play. Its 1959 and billie holiday is performing in a rundown bar during one of the last performances of her lifetime. When audra mcdonald takes to the stage and pours her heart into her voice in lady day at emersons bar and grill, a similar sustained hush settles over the circle in the square, where the show opened on broadway on sunday night for a limited run. Lady day at emersons bar and portland center stage at. In lady day at emersons bar and grill, audra is not audra, she is lady day. The audience is about to witness one of billie holiday s last performances, given four months before her death. Lady day at emersons bar and grill, a play with music by lanie robertson, takes place in south philadelphia in march 1959. Its 1959 at emersons bar and grill in philadelphia, and billie holiday known as lady day tells the story of her life through her music with heartfelt honesty and a touch of salty humor. Lady day at emersons bar and grill postponed, presented by. With humor and hopefulness, the legendary singer takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of her tumultuous life.
Whilst this was a huge disappointment at the time, the extended wait for miss mcdonald to perform our side of the pond just built up the excitement and made her debut. Hedwig and the angry inch will be performed fridays at 7. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and tv news. At emersons seedy bar on phillys south side, an audience gathers to witness, unknowingly, one of legend billie holidays last solo performances, given four months before her death at fortyfour.
Lady day at emersons bar and grill by lanie robertson starring tracey conyer lee february 12,14,15 at 8pm the time is 1959. Lady day at emersons bar and grill is a play with music by lanie robertson, recounting some events in the life of billie holiday. With her plush, classically trained soprano scaled down. Lady day at emersons bar and grill long wharf theater, new haven, conn 487 seats. It so happens that broadway stunner audra mcdonald happened to have already starred in the stage work to acclaim so it only made sense to capture it on film. Ps classics twodisc, live original broadway cast album of lanie robertsons play with music lady day at emersons bar and grill, starring sixtime tony awardwinning actress audra mcdonald as. Its 1959 in a seedy bar in philadelphia, and billie holiday is. Its 1959 in a bar in south philadelphia for one of billie holidays final performances before her untimely death.
Lady day at emerson s bar and grill is a play with music by lanie robertson, recounting some events in the life of billie holiday. By lanie robertson directed by danielle drakes musical direction by wil lewis iii november 219, 2017. Lady day at emersons bar and grill runs through march 4, 2018, at the creative cauldron 410 s. Tony awardwinner audra mcdonald plays billie holiday in this adaptation of the hit broadway play. Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play audra mcdonald best sound design of a play steve canyon kennedy. Lady day at emersons bar and grill trailer youtube. Nov 04, 2017 lady day at emersons bar and grill plays at rep stage through november 19, 2017 in the studio theatre of the horowitz visual and performing arts center at howard community college 10901. Lady day at emersons bar and grill, wyndhams theatre.
Lady day at emersons bar and grill by lanie robertson. Audra mcdonald in lady day at emersons bar and grill the. Chanel playing the titular role of lady day enters the stage via the audience. A long wharf theater presentation of a play with music in. Lady day at emersons bar and grill theatrical outfit. Packed with the music that made her both a legend what a little moonlight can do, god bless the. It has opened on stages offbroadway, on broadway, and in londons west end. Audra mcdonald stars as billie holiday in this onewoman jukebox musical. So great she is, you forget that you are not really watching the great late lady day herself.
Accompanied by her pianist jimmy powers, she engages deeply with her audience as she reminisces about her rocky past, her loves and heartbreaks. Lady day at emersons bar and grill is a play with music featuring a 44 yearold billie holiday giving one of her last live shows in march 1959 before passing away four months later. It is set at a smoky little rundown club in south philadelphia, a setting that is meant to echo billies own brokendown condition. The show is playing at the wyndhams theatre until 9 september 2017. Lady day at emersons bar and grill new repertory theatre. A sixtime tonywinner, she has a rich, operatic voice, and in lady day at emersons bar and grill. Game of thrones leads nominations and other emmy news view all. There is no question that her presence is regal if not refined. With audra mcdonald, shelton becton, george farmer, clayton craddock. With humor and hopefulness, the legendary singer takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of her tumultuous life, interspersed with exuberant renditions of her beloved repertoire. If you are already familiar with the staged version then you. Billie holiday is performing in a rundown bar, during one of her last performances four months before her death in july 1959. Lanie robertsons lady day at emersons bar and grill paints a stirring portrait of jazz legend billie holiday as she performs one of her last solo concerts, four months before her death.
Presented by new repertory theatre at mosesian center for the arts, watertown ma. In 1959, billie holiday, or lady day as she was called, performed one of her final shows in a rundown bar in south philly. Harper also served as ballet consultant for the feature film, black swan, by darren aronofsky, starring natalie portman, who went on to win an oscar. Lady day at emersons bar and grill premiered at the alliance theatre, atlanta, georgia, on april 16, 1986, with direction by woodie king jr.
Garry marshall theatre presents the tony awardwinning broadway play lady day at emersons bar and grill by lanie robertson, starring deidrie henry as billie holiday. It was a hard trip, too, judging from the bruised and fragile state we find her in now at rep stage, courtesy of lanie robertsons fine 1986 playwithmusic, lady day at emersons. Apr 30, 2017 the events of lady day at emersons bar grille take place during the twilight of the stars career. Lady day at emerson s bar and grill postponed please note, this event has expired. In this rotating repertory arrangement, performances happen on alternating days on the same set, giving audiences the opportunity to see firsthand how performance and. See this recreation of a singular night in music history, written by lanie robertson and directed by betty hart, in aurora. Audra mcdonald is a performer of great vocal prowess and precision. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music. Buy lady day at emersons bar and grill tickets from the official site.
Though she was immensely popular and had sold thousands of records, billy holidays struggles with drugs and alcohol have kept her without means. Lady day at emersons bar and grill, starring audra mcdonald, takes place in the months before billie holiday died, set in a city that she had reason to loathe. Audra mcdonald resurrects billie holiday in new lady day. Lady day at emersons bar and grill will be performed thursdays and saturdays at 7. Lady day at emersons bar and grill waterfront playhouse. Its 1959 and jazz legend billie holiday is playing a seedy bar in philadelphia. Audra mcdonald in lady day at emersons bar and grill. Lady day at emersons bar and grill by zach theatre by brian paul scipione hey, lady day. Life and music of billie holiday revived in lady day at. Supreme artist audra mcdonald, centre, as billie holiday in lady day at emersons bar and grill at wyndhams theatre, london. Lady day has been postponed until the fall due to the effects of covid19. Oh, how i wish i had gone to nyc to see her perform this piece.
Featuring iconic songs like god bless the child and strange fruit, lady day at emersons bar and grill is an allaccess pass to billie holidays final concert. Lady day at emersons bar and grill opened at the circle in the square theatre april. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music. Adaptation of the 2014 broadway hit that won audra mcdonald her sixth tony award for her portrayal of billie holiday, who, in a haunting 1959 performance in philadelphia shortly before she. Lady day at emersons bar and grill human race theatre. Look back at audra mcdonald in lady day at emersons bar and. The play originally premiered in 1986 at the alliance theatre in atlanta, georgia, and then opened offbroadway. Lady day at emersons bar and grill, wyndhams theatre, london.
Life and music of billie holiday revived in lady day at emersons bar and grill sabrina clark, q city metro. Zach theatre is extending the production may 18 june 11, 2017, and moving it to the kleberg stage. She sings, accompanied by jimmy powers on the piano, and also tells stories about her life. The play premiered in 1986 at the alliance theatre in atlanta, georgia, and soon played offbroadway. She completely channels billie holiday, gravelly, drugaddled voice and all. Through her poignant voice and moving songs, one of the greatest jazz singers of alltime shares her loves and losses. Lady day at emersons bar and grill dc theatre scene. Lady day at emersons bar and grill a biographical play with iconic music by lanie robertson. Its 1959 in a seedy bar in philadelphia, and billie holiday is giving one of her last performances interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music 4 months before her death. Lady day at emersons bar and grill tickets are now on sale. In lanie robertsons awardwinning play, holiday engages the audience with salty, often humorous reminiscences of her troubled life as a travelling performer in a segregated south. Lady day at emersons bar and grill by zach theatre.
In robertsons awardwinning play, holiday engages the audience with salty, often humorous reminiscences of her troubled life as a travelling performer in a segregated south. Lady day at emersons bar and grill garry marshall theatre. She is the primary character in the play later made into a film lady day at emersons bar and grill. Audra mcdonald won her sixth recordbreaking tony award for her performance as billie holiday in lanie robertsons musical play. Recorded live at broadways circle in the square theatre, the twodisc set features mcdonalds spellbinding, tourdeforce ny daily news.
Featuring iconic songs like god bless the child and strange fruit, lady day at emerson s bar and grill is an allaccess pass to billie holiday s final concert. Look back at audra mcdonald in lady day at emersons bar. Apr, 2020 lady day at emersons bar and grill opened at the circle in the square theatre april. For if this version was never done we would all be missing out on something incredibly great. Featuring iconic songs like god bless the child and strange fruit, lady day at emersons bar and grill is an allaccess pass to billie 128 nw eleventh ave, portland, or 97209 5034453700. The audience is about to witness one of billie holidays last performances, given four months before her death. Lady day at emersons bar and grill concord theatricals. Lady day was originally meant to make its, and audras, west end debut almost a year ago exactly but with a surprise pregnancy turning things around, the opening of the show was cancelled. Jul 18, 2017 lady day at emersons bar and grill is a play with music featuring a 44 yearold billie holiday giving one of her last live shows in march 1959 before passing away four months later.