Already a smash hit on Broadway, picking up multiple Tony Awards, we are super excited that ‘Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill’ is coming to the Wyndham’s Theatre. Starring the fantastic and record-breaking, Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald.
Written in 1986 by Lanie Robertson and premiering at the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia. With direction by Woodie King Jr. and starring Reenie Upchurch as Billie Holiday. The play takes place in South Philadelphia 1959, Holiday is performing in a rundown bar, she is dying. Accompanied by a piano she sings and tells the story of her life. The show didn’t appear on Broadway until April of 2014, directed by Lonny Price and starring the fabulous Audra McDonald as Billy Holiday.
She will reprise this role when she makes her West End Debut in a few months! ‘Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill’ was originally meant to grace the West End stage in September of 2016, however this had to be postponed due to her pregnancy.
The Lady Behind Lady Day
On the Broadway theatre scene since 1992, Audra Mcdonald is a living legend, so who better to choose to play this legendary Jazz performer? She’s won Tonys, Grammys, an Emmy and in 2015 she received the National Medal of Arts (Awarded by then-President Barrack Obama), the highest honour for Arts in America. When she played Lady Day last time it was said to be one of “the most reverting, hypnotic and flawless performances”, which is probably why she won her 6th Tony Award for it. McDonald also appears in the Live Action film remake of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, playing Madame Garderobe (Wardrobe), is there anything she can’t do?
Who is Lady Day?
Born Elenore Fayan in 1915 in the jazz talent-rich Baltimore ‘Lady Day’ began her career siging songs by Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong from a very young age. When her Mother moved to Harlem-New York, Elenore soon followed where she would adopt her stage name ‘Billie Holiday’ borrowing it from Hollywood film star Billie Dove. Although never receiving any technical training nor able to read music, at the age of just 18 Holiday was noticed by producers and recorded her first record. In 1935 she got her big break, recording four sides that went on to be hits including; “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” and “Miss Brown to You” starting her on a Journey, and establishing her as one of the important building blocks of American Jazz Music.
Billie Holliday tragically passed away at the young age of 44, but her emotive voice and innovative vocal techniques live on even in today's music, cementing herself as a music legend.
Don't miss your chance to see Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill with tickets from just £22.42!
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