Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
by Lanie Robertson Max and Louie St Louis, MO February - March 2017 |
REVIEWS
"a superlative production of this work which is smartly crafted and brilliantly performed." "Leda Hoffmann's direction is well conceived, guiding the cast through the dramatic and occasional humorous bits that pop up, while allowing the music, and Roston, to shine and take center stage." - Chris Gibson, Broadway World Click here for the full Broadway World review. "What we see here in this stunningly realized production is an artist at the end of her life, but with so much of her talent on display even through the more difficult moments. Roston especially is a revelation, and this is a production not to be missed especially for fans of classic jazz music and of Lady Day herself." - Snoop's Theater Thoughts Click here for the full review. "In this version, a stronger literary structure slowly emerges from Lanie Robertson's script. Leda Hofmann returns to the director's chair, and when we get to the singer's second protestation, that she'd prefer a home and family, the remark is wielded defensively, like a shield, once she's succumbed to heroin abuse again. Elsewhere in this production, the opposite theme (of roaming free and wild) slowly appears, like a great bridge in the night: stretching from her father's death, all the way up to the end of this story, about a month before Ms. Holiday's actual demise in 1959." - Richard T. Green, Talkin Broadway Click here for the full Talkin Broadway review. |
CAST:
Billie Holiday - Alexis J. Roston* Jimmy Powers - Abdul Hamid Royal* Drums - Kaleb Kirby Bass - Ben Wheeler *member of Actors' Equity Association |
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director - Leda Hoffmann Scenic Designer - Dunsi Dai Lighting Designer - Patrick Huber Costume Designer - Dorothy Jones Sound Designer - Casey Hunter Stage Manager - Richard Agnew* Assistant Director - Kate McAllister |