Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill 1986

Opened: September 7, 1986
Closing: May 17, 1987

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill - 1986 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

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Billie Holiday Musical Continues Syracuse Stage 50th Anniversary Season
by Stephi Wild - Oct 5, 2023


Syracuse Stage continues its 50th Anniversary Season with “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” by Lanie Roberston, a jukebox musical that takes an unflinching look at the life and times of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. Learn more about the show and find out how to get tickets here!

New Muhammad Ali Musical ALI Will Have its World Premiere In Louisville in Fall 2024
by Stephi Wild - Apr 18, 2023


The World Premiere of ALI will be presented in Ali's hometown of Louisville, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, in Fall 2024. Learn more about the show here!

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' to Open Ebony Repertory Theatre 15th Anniversary Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 29, 2023


Ebony Repertory Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ as its 15th Anniversary Season Opening Production. 

Bryce Pinkham, Lizan Mitchell & More Join Audra McDonald in OHIO STATE MURDERS; Full Cast Announced
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 17, 2022


The complete cast for the Broadway premiere of Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy is now announced. Joining Emmy, Grammy, and Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham, and Drama Desk nominee Lizan Mitchell.

OHIO STATE MURDERS On Broadway Adds Bryce Pinkham and Lizan Mitchell
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 23, 2022


Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham and Lizan Mitchell will join Audra McDonald for the Broadway premiere of Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy.

Audra McDonald Will Lead OHIO STATE MURDERS at the James Earl Jones Theatre Beginning in November
by Stephi Wild - Aug 8, 2022


 Emmy, Grammy, and Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will return to Broadway this season starring in Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon  (Fences, A Soldier’s Play).

MCC Theater's MISCAST22 Digital Broadcast, Featuring Audra McDonald, Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit & More Now Extended
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 24, 2022


MCC Theater announced today an extension for the digital broadcast of Miscast22. Originally scheduled to conclude streaming tomorrow, May 25, the broadcast will now be available via Broadway Unlocked through Saturday May 28, 2022 at 11:59pm ET.  

BWW Review: LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL at FreeFall Theatre
by Drew Eberhard - Apr 1, 2022


Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is a play with music written by Lanie Robertson and this production is directed by Wren T. Brown. The musical premiered in 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia and its story recounts some events of Billie Holiday’s life leading up to this performance at Emerson’s four months shy of her death in 1959. Emerson’s is a small bar in South Philadelphia and the time is a midnight performance by Lady Day. Set to the backdrop of a piano center stage and a few cocktail tables around the space, we relive some events of Ms. Holiday’s life as told through stories found deep in her memory but living on the surface as if they just happened yesterday.

Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Shoshana Bean & More Join MISCAST22
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 28, 2022


MCC Theater announced today additional performers for Miscast22, which returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday April 4, 2022. The evening will honor Emmy and Tony Award® winner Christine Baranski, MCC Board Chair Susan Raanan, and MCC Youth Company Alum Alexander Lambie.

BWW Review: Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, North Carolina Theatre
by Nicole Ackman - Nov 6, 2021


“Singing has always been the best part of living for me,” Billie Holiday tells the audience in North Carolina Theatre’s new production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL. Angela Robinson plays singer Billie Holiday and Nygel Robsinon plays her pianist Jimmy Powers at NCT, under the direction of Jarvis Green.

129 Musicals & Shows You Can Stream From Home in 2021
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Nov 21, 2020


BroadwayWorld put together a list of all the live action musicals you can stream on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BroadwayHD, and Disney Plus. Are you looking for something to get your mind off… all of this? So are we. Because everyone needs some escape,

130+ Musicals That You Can Stream Now!
by Team BWW - Apr 4, 2021


Visit our list of the best musicals & shows you can watch from home! We've got you covered with all the must-sees on streaming sites.

Ebony Repertory Theatre Presents LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 10, 2020


Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) announced today that they will present the critically-acclaimed play LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL by Lanie Robertson.

Photo Flash: LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL Brings Billie Holiday To Life At ICT
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2019


Turn back the hands of time for an intimate evening with legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday when International City Theatre presents an acclaimed musical portrait of one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of all time.

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL Brings Billie Holiday to Life at ICT
by Julie Musbach - Sep 10, 2019


Turn back the hands of time for an intimate evening with legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday when International City Theatre presents an acclaimed musical portrait of one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of all time. With Karole Foreman(ICT's award-winning production of Fences) in the title role, music direction by Stephan Terry and Ebony Rep producing artistic director Wren T. Brown at the helm, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill by Lanie Robertson gets a three-week run Oct. 18 through Nov. 3.

Garry Marshall Theatre Adds Performances of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL
by Sarah Hookey - May 23, 2019


Garry Marshall Theatre has added performances of Deidrie Henry starring in the Tony Award winning Broadway play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, which now must close Sunday, June 9, 2019. 

Deidrie Henry In LADY DAY Comes to Garry Marshall Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2019


Garry Marshall Theatre presents Deidrie Henry in the Broadway play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson for 15 performances May 15 to June 2, 2019 (press opening is Friday, May 17). The director is Gregg T. Daniel and playing Jimmy Powers is musical director Abdul Hamid Royal. Daniel most recently directed The Mountaintop for Garry Marshall Theatre.

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL Comes to Garry Marshall Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 25, 2019


Garry Marshall Theatre presents the Broadway play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson for 15 performances May 15 to June 2, 2019 (press opening is Friday, May 17).  The time is 1959, a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday's last performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers - including "What a Moonlight Can Do," "Crazy He Calls Me," "Easy Living," "Strange Fruit," "Taint Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do," and "God Bless the Child" -- are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.

Photo Coverage: BroadwayWorld Remembers Those We've Lost in 2018
by Walter McBride - Dec 31, 2018


As 2018 comes to a close, we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

JAG Productions Joins Full-Ship African-American Music Festival At Sea With LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 30, 2018


JAG Productions joins full-ship African-American music festival at sea with its production of the profound jazz musical, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

Lee Daniels in Talks to Direct Billie Holiday Biopic
by Macon Prickett - Jun 6, 2018


According to Variety, Lee Daniels is in talks to direct the Billie Holiday biopic “Billie.” Sources also add that R&B singer Andra Day is the top choice for the title role and Lakeith Stanfield for the male role, though nothing is yet finalized.

Alexandra Silber to Lead CAMELOT at Shakespeare Theatre Company
by Julie Musbach - Mar 20, 2018


Shakespeare Theatre Company today announces the cast of Lerner and Loewe's multiple Tony Award-winning musical Camelot. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul (Kiss Me, Kate; Man of La Mancha), the classic musical will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from May 22 through July 1, concluding STC's 2017-2018 mainstage season.

BWW Review: LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL at Westcoast Black Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - Mar 5, 2018


Melba Moore Owns The Stage in WBTT Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill

Bristol Riverside Theatre Presents TIME STANDS STILL
by Stephi Wild - Jan 2, 2018


Bristol Riverside Theatre heads into the new year with Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Time Stands Still January 23-February 11. Directed by Susan D. Atkinson, the ensemble cast includes Laura Giknis, Eleanor Handley, Michael Satow, and Danny Vaccaro.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill have there been?
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill has had 4 productions including Off-Broadway which opened in 1986, Off-Broadway which opened in 1986, Broadway which opened in 2014 and West End which opened in 2017.
What awards has Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill been nominated for?
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill has been nominated for the Best Off Broadway Book award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. The nomination is for Lanie Robertson, the book writer of the show.
What awards has Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill won?
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill has won the Best Off Broadway Book award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Lanie Robertson.

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