Bill Jolly News

The sounds of Philadelphia, the Motor City, and the Great White Way combined to honor the founder of Motown Records at the 2013 Marian Anderson Awards

In today's New York Times Arts Beat 'In Performance' video, jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater who portrays Billie Holiday in the new musical "Lady Day," sings "A Foggy Day in London Town,"

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last week at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du GymnaseMarie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there on opening night to chat with Bridgewater about the show, and you can check out what she had to say below!

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last night, October 3 at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Check out photos from opening night below!

Dee Dee Bridgewater gives a terrific performance as Billie Holiday, but the play is a clunky collection of cliches.

Don't miss an exclusive Jazz and Broadway experience when WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM joins forces with The Actors Fund to host a special benefit performance of Lady Day, the new musical about Billie Holiday starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater tonight, September 24, at 7:00 pm at the Little Shubert Theatre, 422 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) in New York City.

The curtain will rise for preview performances for the new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater on Thursday, September 19th (7PM) at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier "Best Actress in a Musical" Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Produced by Misty Road Productions (Thomas Gentile) the show is slated to open on Thursday, October 3rd (6:30PM). Check out a first look at Bridgewater as Holiday below!

Don't miss an exclusive Jazz and Broadway experience when WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM joins forces with The Actors Fund to host a special benefit performance of Lady Day, the new musical about Billie Holiday starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater on Tuesday, September 24, at 7:00 pm at the Little Shubert Theatre, 422 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) in New York City. Tickets for Lady Day are on sale now.

This Fall will bring with it ten new Broadway plays and five new Broadway musicals, and yet there is even more on the way for Off-Broadway, including: ALL THE FACES OF THE MOON, ARGUENDO, THE OLD FRIENDS, FETCH CLAY MAKE MAN, BIKE AMERICA, NATURAL AFFECTION, FUN HOME, BAD JEWS, LADY DAY, ANTHEM, GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS, THE PATRON SAINT OF SEA MONSTERS, THE JACKSONIAN, HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, CHERI, DOMESTICATED, LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME, THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, and THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA.

Tickets will go on sale for the new musical Lady Day about Billie Holiday, starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater today, August 9th at 12noon at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) . Tickets will also be available on phone and online. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 19th (7PM) and an opening is set for Thursday, October 3rd (6:30PM).

Tickets will go on sale for the new musical Lady Day about Billie Holiday, starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater on Friday, August 9th at 12noon at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) . Tickets will also be available on phone and online. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 19th (7PM) and an opening is set for Thursday, October 3rd (6:30PM).

Jazz greats and iconic stylists will take New York stages by storm this fall. Details below

David Ayers (Wicked and SILENCE!) in the role of 'Robert,' Billie Holiday's Manager along with newcomer Rafael Poueriet in the role of the 'Assistant Stage manager' as well as Jim Cammack (veteran bass player for legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal), Ken Hitchcock (NY Saxophone Quartet & Manhattan Jazz Orchestra's acclaimed tenor sax player), Jerome Jennings (performer & drummer for Benny Golson and Sonny Rollins) and Bill Jolly (three-time Emmy Award winning pianist/composer/arranger) in the speaking roles of the onstage musicians complete the acting ensemble for the upcoming Billie Holiday musical 'Lady Day' starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater. With an opening set for Thursday, October 3rd (6:30PM) the production will take residence at Times Square's Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Produced by Misty Road Productions the show's creative team also includes Mr. Jolly, who will also serve as musical director. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 19th(8PM).

Multi-award-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt, along with noted costumes designer Patricia A. Hibbert, and acclaimed lighting designed by Ryan O'Gara will head the design team for the upcoming Billie Holiday musical "Lady Day" starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater. With an opening set for Thursday, October 3rd(6:30PM) the production will take residence at Times Square's Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier "Best Actress in a Musical" Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Produced by Misty Road Productionsthe show's creative team also includes three-time Emmy Award winning composer & arranger Bill Jolly, who will serve as musical director. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 19th(8PM).

Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater will star as one of the world's incomparable and legendary jazz artists --- Billie Holiday, in the celebrated musical 'Lady Day' opening Thursday, September 26th (6:30PM) at Times Square's Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Produced by Misty Road Productions the show's creative team also includes three-time Emmy Award winning composer & arranger Bill Jolly, who will serve as musical director. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 12th (8PM).

Jackie Taylor, founder and executive director of Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater, is proud to announce the World Premiere presentation of I Am Who I Am (The Story of Teddy Pendergrass). Produced, written and directed by Taylor, and featuring three new songs penned by Pendergrass and co-writer Bill Jolly, I Am Who I Am, begins previews March 7 at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon Street, with an official press opening on Saturday, March 15, at 8PM. Of note, a special Gala Opening benefit performance, with Teddy Pendergrass in attendance, will take place Sunday, March 16, at 3PM.

The World Premiere of Stephen Stahl's 'Straight To Hell' at the Abingdon Theater Complex, March 14th-25th.