About This Show
Long Wharf Theatre opens the doors to the inspiring and compelling world of jazz in its production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Starring two-time Tony Award nominee Ernestine Jackson as the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, the show features such hits as “God Bless the Child,” “When a Woman Loves a Man,” and “Strange Fruit.” As the sultry music and irrepressible vocals weave through the haze of an old jazz bar, what’s left is a poignant glimpse of the life, the love, and the tragedy of a beloved American icon. The show is directed by Emmy Award winner, Lonny Price.
Just four months before the end of a brilliant career, Billie Holiday takes the stage for one of the last times at an old Philadelphia nightclub. One of the greatest Jazz singers of all time, Lady Day’s success was marred by a life of drugs and alcohol and tainted by the intense segregation of the period. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is a compelling drama that mixes the haunting melodies, the heartrending stories, and the indomitable spirit of the one and only Billie Holiday.