Feature: 8 Questions with LADY DAY at Emerson's Bar and Grill's Diedrie Henry at Actors Theatre Of Louisville

Abdul Hamid Royal and Deidrie Henry in rehearsal for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. Photo by Philip Allgeier.

The lovely Diedrie Henry who will be playing the iconic Billie Holiday in Actors Theatre's production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL took the time to answer a few questions about the show, herself, and her incredibly diverse career!

Q: Are you excited to be working in Louisville? Have you ever worked here before?

A: Tremendously excited to be here and working with two of my favorite colleagues, Artistic Director, Les Waters and my director and dear friend, Bill Fennelly. I've never worked at Actors Theatre, but have been made to feel very much at home here.

Q: This show and role really are beasts. What would you say the most challenging thing to tackle has been while preparing for Lady Day?

A: This really is a BEAST, in every sense of the word. Initially, I thought that the most challenging thing would be learning the lines...and although that has brought it's own challenges, I think the thing that surprised me is how incredibly complex Billie's world is. There are layers upon layers and as soon as I feel like I have a moment figured out, I play it and another deeper insight emerges. It's exciting and surprising and delicious.

Q: What made you want to do Lady Day?

A: Well, I started the year off by playing Blanche DeBoise in Streetcar Name Desire at Portland Center State and that was a role that, literally, terrified me. I had never experienced that amount of terror before in approaching a role that was so iconic. When I was asked to do Lady Day, it elicited only slightly less fear, and I try to always make the decision to move towards the thing that scares me. Once I accept, I don't give myself an out and then when I get close enough to it, I realize that facing that fear only makes me a stronger actor, a stronger person and allows me to have more compassion for myself and the character I'm about to play.

Q: Do you have any roles that you would love to play?

A: The next role I think I might want to tackle is Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf. I may have to wait a few years, but she is whispering in my ear and goading me, so I might have to tackle THAT beast in the near future.

Q: You have had a lot of success on the big screen, the small screen and the stage. How are they different for you, and would you say you have a favorite?

A: I appreciate the medium of TV and film, but theatre is my home. It is where I find the most truth and where I'm the most comfortable. I don't know if it's because it's so immediate and ephemeral and, therefore, more precious. Film and TV are still a bit of a struggle for me, I think, because with theatre, I love the table work and the rehearsal process and having the luxury of working through a scene and mining for the beats and the moments. I feel that film and TV don't really allow you to work in the same way and with the same amount of leisure and indulgence. Time is money, in those other mediums.

Q: What do you hope audiences will gain and take away from this production of, and your performance in, Lady Day?

A: How much of a TITAN Billie was. How full and complex and difficult and beautiful her life was. How her experiences in life fueled her and drove her to find the best part of herself and forced her to squeeze EVERY painful, delicious drop out of her existence.

Q: For anyone out there who might be wanting to go into a career as a performer, what advice would you give them?

A: Making a career out of this business is all about working on your craft. Period. You are never not viable, but the only way to have any kind of longevity is to hone your CRAFT! And in the mean time, find something that you love to do, that pays you, and that you wouldn't mind being interrupted occasionally by an acting gig. Hopefully one will take over the other, but if it doesn't, you'll still be doing something you love.

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL starts performances on January 3rd with an official opening on January 5th and will run through January 29th!

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL January 3 - 29, 2016

Actors Theatre of Louisville

316 W. Main Street

Louisville, KY 40202

Tickets: (502) 584- 1205

actorstheatre.org

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