Billie Holiday News

The Public Theater will open its 2014-15 downtown season with the world premiere of Bridget Everett's ROCK BOTTOM at Joe's Pub.š Created by Bridget Everett, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, and Matt Ray, ROCK BOTTOM was originally commissioned as part of the Joe's Pub 2013 New York Voices series.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: NYMF kicks off tonight with a concert celebrating some of the musical theatre world's top composers, James Franco directs THE LONG SHRIFT off-Broadway and more!

Beautiful Soup has announced that Kristen Gehling will replace the previously announced Francesca MacAaron as legendary stage and star screen Tallulah Bankhead in SHADES OF BLUE: THE DECLINE AND FALL OF LADY DAY... Gehling will also appear in repertory as famed director Margo Jones in WHAT WAS LOST.

Audra McDonald is, without dispute, one of Broadway's most cherished stars, constantly dazzling audiences with her genius performances in musicals and plays alike. Currently starring as the legendary Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, McDonald recently broke a huge record, becoming the most recognized actor in the history of the Tony Awards. Just in case you've totally lost your mind and forgotten why you fell in love with her in the first place, below BroadwayWorld brings you ten more reasons to love Audra McDonald.

PS Classics will release the Original Cast Album for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, featuring six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, on July 15. Click here to listen to a preview of the album!

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, the musical play which stars record breaking Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald as jazz legend Billie Holiday, just played it's 100th performance yesterday, July 2, 2014. The most honored female performer of the 2013-2014 season, Ms. McDonald was also the recipient of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and you can check out photos below!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: LADY DAY marks the big 1-0-0, Ariana Grande debuts songs from her new album on MTV, and JUNE MOON starts this year's festival in Williamstown!

Annie Ross has been an abundant contributor to the art of jazz for over 50 years and audiences have the opportunity to see her perform in all her glory every Tuesday at 9:30pm at the Metropolitan Room.

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series just took on THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 featuring such performers as Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTashaYvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair),Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, Nightlife Award-winner William Blake and many more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the after party below!

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series just took on THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 featuring such performers as Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTashaYvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair),Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, Nightlife Award-winner William Blake and many more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the ladies in action!

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series just took on THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 featuring such performers as Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTashaYvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair),Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, Nightlife Award-winner William Blake and many more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the gentlemen in action!

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series tonight, June 23 at 8pm, THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 has added to its cast Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTasha Yvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair), Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, and Nightlife Award-winner William Blake.

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series on Monday, June 23 at 8pm, THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 has added to its cast Aladdinstar Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTasha Yvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in Les Miserables), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair), Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, and Nightlife Award-winner William Blake.

In 1939, seventy-five years ago, a young Billie Holiday took to the stage for the very first time to perform a protest song that would become her signature tune, Strange Fruit. It was at the end of her performance. Lights were dimmed, with just a pencil light on her or face. Waiters stopped serving; the bar was silent and there was no encore. Patrons were left to consider the message in the song.

Kate Fuller, takes on the role of Annie Ross at the closing night of her short lived jazz club, Annie's Room.

After Beautiful Soup Theater's acclaimed and sold-out production of Little Wars in April, they proudly presents the last two works in Steven Carl McCasland's trilogy examining women in the arts. Complete casting for both plays has been announced.

It was the great Marcus Garvey who said 'Be as proud of your race today as our fathers were in days of yore. We have beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world.'

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.