Ms. Roston reprises her Joseph Jefferson (The Chicago "Tony") Award-winning role as jazz legend Billie Holiday. Acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger Abdul Hamid Royal brilliantly complements Ms. Roston as Billie's accompanist. Roston and Royal are coming off of two sell-out runs of this production at The Actors Theatre of Louisville and at The Milwaukee Rep.
Billie Holiday dubbed "Lady Day" by her friends - forever changed the world of jazz and popular music with her pioneering vocal style.
See the woman behind the legend in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. It's March 1959 and at a small Philadelphia club, jazz and blues "phenom" Billie Holiday takes the stage for one of the last shows of her life. Playwright Lanie Robertson's Musical Drama allows us a penetrating look into the life and times of Billie "Lady Day" Holiday, as we listen to the profound legacy of her artistry-the music itself.
Featuring:
Alexis J. Roston* - Billie Holiday
Abdul Hamid Royal - Jimmy Powers
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
Leda Hoffmann - Director
(Full list of Production Staff available here.)
Performances run Feb 17-19, Feb 22-26, Mar 1-4, playing Wednesday - Saturday performances at 8pm, Sunday performances at 3pm (special 4pm performance Saturday 3/4) at the Kranzberg Arts Center - Black Box Theatre, 501 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. Tickets: $45 General Admission; $35 Students with valid ID; and $35 Seniors 65+.
Post Show Talk Backs:
February 19 with Jacqueline Dace of the National Blues Museum
February 26 with Phil Dunlap of Jazz St. Louis
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