Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

What did our critic think of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL at Merrimack Repertory Theatre?

A miniature masterpiece.

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.

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.

“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.

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

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.

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 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Just imagine going to a nightclub today and getting the chance to see the iconic Billie Holiday (also known as 'Lady Day') perform, as she did in 1959. Well, you now have that chance thanks to the Rep Stage in Columbia as they bring her talent to life. Yes, Billie Holiday is alive and well and performing at Rep Stage.

Learning to age gracefully is the theme of Bristol Riverside Theatre's next Mainstage production, Quartet by Ron Harwood running October 31-November 19. Directed by Susan D. Atkinson, the ensemble cast features Keith Baker, Joy Franz, Laural Merlington, and Nick Ullett.

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 25th season with Lanie Robertson's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, directed by Danielle A. Drakes and music direction by Wil Lewis III.

Learning to age gracefully is the theme of Bristol Riverside Theatre's next Mainstage production, Quartet by Ron Harwood running October 31-November 19. Directed by Susan D. Atkinson, the ensemble cast features Keith Baker, Joy Franz, Laural Merlington, and Nick Ullett.

Portland Stage has announced the kick-off to its 2017-2018 Season with Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, starring Tracey Conyer Lee. 

The nationally regarded Fulton Theatre presents the psychedelic musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors, now through October 15. Expect the unexpected as Little Shop of Horrors is presented to our audience in a brand new and exciting way. Remember whatever you do, DO NOT FEED THE PLANT! BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The nationally regarded Fulton Theatre is proud to present the psychedelic musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors, September 19 through October 15. Expect the unexpected as Little Shop of Horrors is presented to our audience in a brand new and exciting way. Remember whatever you do, DO NOT FEED THE PLANT!

Portland Stage has announced the kick-off to its 2017-2018 Season with Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, starring Tracey Conyer Lee. 

Last night, Audra McDonald, the Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning singer and actress, made her long-awaited West End debut as jazz legend Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Let's see what the critics had to say!

One American great inhabits another in this superior cabaret, as the Broadway legend Audra McDonald slips into the skin - and unforgettable voice - of jazz icon Billie Holiday. The emotional sensitivity makes it far more than just an immensely skilful impersonation, and makes McDonald's delayed West End debut well worth the wait.