PAULETTE DOZIER In LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL

(Photo By Diego Mendoza)

3 Performances Sold Out – Saturday Matinée tickets still available

Paulette Dozier
in
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

In an age where pop stars and divas face unrelenting scrutiny, a look back to one of our strongest, most independent female singers is due.

Carbonell nominated actress and acclaimed jazz artist Paulette Dozier will star as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, playwright Lanie Robertson's portrait of the legendary jazz singer in performance four months before her death. The play, which will be produced by the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, will run for four performances only – April 27-29th at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.

In Lady Day, the iconic jazz singer reflects on her life, loves, tragedies, and triumphs in a powerful monologue interspersed with music from her timeless songbook. Holiday's saga will resonate strongly with modern day audiences – recent events, including the heartbreakingly wasted careers of such talents as Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse, echo Holiday's sadly familiar story of troubles with narcotics, financial exploitation, and in Holiday's case, sexual abuse.

Dozier has immersed herself in the role – studying Billie Holiday the woman as well as Billie Holiday the musician, and has come away with a deep respect for the legendary singer. The play presents a multitude of challenges for the actress/jazz singer, but she's ready to face them head on:

"Much of the suffering Billie had to endure is unfathomable, yet she managed to forge ahead and live her life as best she could just because she wanted to sing," Dozier says. "For her, singing was living and she fought to live by way of her singing. So many times you hear stories about people who say they can't get a break in life, as if the world is against them. And what do they do, either complain to no end or give up at the first sign of difficulty. Or worse, blame everybody else for their problem. Billie Holiday didn't point the blame or give up and stop singing. There's a lesson that can be learned about the fortitude she had."

"I especially like this production because as an actress I have to really "bring it," Dozier explains. "This isn't the typical role of the diva with an attitude that I generally get. In Billie's shoes, my challenge is trying to communicate the pain of her heartbreaks, physical abuse, racism, and, of course, the drug abuse; all in such a way that the play doesn't become just a 'tear jerker'. The audience must know that she found joy amongst all her suffering."

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill will be directed by Genie Croft.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill will run April 27, 28, and 29th. Performances are: Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park is located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road. Tickets for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill are $15 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948.

Please note: Tickets available for the Saturday, April 28th, 2 pm performance only.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to producing professional productions and advancing the art of theatre in the South Florida community.

For more information about Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill,the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, or Paulette Dozier please visit www.brtg.org, www.paulettedozier.com.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
April 27, 28, & 29
Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
Tickets $15
For Tickets: 561-347-3948

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