Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill at the Wyndham’s Theatre

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill at the Wyndhams’ Theatre.

Six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald makes her West End debut as legendary jazz icon, Billie Holiday.

Spend an intimate evening filled with some of the most inspiring and moving songs ever written and hear the personal stories of Holiday’s loves and losses through a turbulent but extraordinary life. With a glorious score featuring God Bless the Child, What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Strange Fruit, Crazy, He Calls Me and Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness you’d better pull up a chair and order a drink because this legend’s got a life to sing.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill will play a limited run in 17 June 2017 until 9 September 2017 at the Wyndham’s Theatre.

STORY

1959, in a small, intimate bar in Philadelphia, Holiday puts on a show that unbeknownst to the audience, will leave them witnesses to one of the last performances of her lifetime. Through her poignant voice and moving songs, one of the greatest jazz singers of all-time shares her loves and her losses.

CAST

Audra McDonald stars as Billie ‘Lady Day’ Holiday.

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actress. Recipient of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2015. Aside from her Tony-winning performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, she has appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden, Marie Christine (Tony nomination), Henry IV, and 110 in the Shade (Tony nomination).

CREATIVE TEAM

Written by Lanie Robertson and Directed by Lonny Price.

REVIEWS

Audra McDonald is a vocal genius! One of the greatest performances I ever hope to see – New York Magazine
Mesmerizing! Pouring her heart into her voice, Audra McDonald breathes life into Billie Holiday’s greatest songs – The New York Times
One of the most exquisite & haunting performances of the year! – Entertainment Weekly

Show Information

Venue Information

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Reviews round-up – Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill starring Audra McDonald

A reviews round-up for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill starring Audra McDonald Audra McDonald makes her long awaited West End debut in Billie Holiday musical-play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Set in a north Philadelphia dive in 1959, a few months before her death at the age of 44, the play centres on one of Holiday's final performances. The six-time Tony winner's performance was applauded for 'capturing the style and spirit of the legendary jazz singer' with Dominic Cavendish (Daily Telegraph) going so far as to say 'she’s pouring divine nectar into your ears... utterly intoxicating' and Anne Treneman (The Times) calling her 'spell binding'. There was some criticsim levelled at Lanie Robertson's book which seemed to dwell on the misery and decline of the hugely accomplished Holiday. Read our round-up of reviews below. Click here to book tickets Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill runs until 19 September 2017 at the Wyndham’s Theatre.

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Audra McDonald brings Billie Holiday musical to the West End

Audra McDonald will make her West End debut in Billie Holiday musical play at the Wyndhams' Theatre. McDonald had been due to bring her acclaimed show to the West End in June 2016 however a surprise pregnancy forced the show's postponement. The Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning actress will make her West End debut portraying legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in the musical play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill won two Tony Awards in 2014 including ‘Best Lead Actress in a Play’ for McDonald, making her Broadway’s most decorated performer, winner of 6 Tony Awards and the first and only person to receive awards in all four acting categories. Written by Lanie Robertson and Directed by Lonny Price, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill recounts Holiday's life story through the songs that made her famous, including God Bless the Child, What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Strange Fruit and Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill will play a limited run in 17 June 2017 until 19 September 2017 at the Wyndham’s Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

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Audra McDonald postpones London show after announcing pregnancy

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald postpones London show with the announcement she is expecting a baby. McDonald was due to make her her West End debut as legendary jazz icon, Billie Holiday in the upcoming production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill at the Wyndham’s Theatre this Summer. Speaking from New York where she is currently starring in the Broadway production of Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, Audra McDonald said: “Who knew that tap dancing during perimenopause could lead to pregnancy? Will and I are completely surprised—and elated—to be expecting a new addition to our family. I am so very grateful to everyone in New York and London for allowing me to rearrange my schedule to accommodate this little miracle. Of course, I’m disappointed I have to postpone my West End debut in Lady Day, but I look forward to rescheduling as soon as possible.” McDonald and husband, actor Will Swenson, married in 2012. While this is their first child together, she is mother to a daughter, and he is father to two sons, from their previous marriages. Plans for revised dates will be announced soon.  Ticket purchasers should contact the Box Office or their supplier to arrange a refund.

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Audra McDonald to make West End debut in Billie Holiday musical

Audra McDonald to make her West End debut in Billie Holiday musical play at the Wyndhams' Theatre. Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner Audra McDonald will make her West End debut portraying legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in the musical play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill won two Tony Awards in 2014 including ‘Best Lead Actress in a Play’ for McDonald, making her Broadway’s most decorated performer, winner of 6 Tony Awards and the first and only person to receive awards in all four acting categories. Written by Lanie Robertson and Directed by Lonny Price, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill recounts Holiday's life story through the songs that made her famous, including God Bless the Child, What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Strange Fruit and Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness. Billie ‘Lady Day’ Holiday had what is widely considered one of the greatest jazz voices of all-time. She rose to popularity in the 1930’s and 1940’s with her pioneering vocal style strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists. After a turbulent personal life and struggle with addiction, she died at the untimely age of 44. In 2000, Holiday was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill will play a strictly limited run from 25 June 2016 until 3 September 2016 at the Wyndham’s Theatre. BOOKING Book tickets to Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

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