By Lanie Robertson

Directed by Norma Saldivar

It's 1959 in a South Philadelphia nightclub, where legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday is giving one of her final performances...and you are there. Through a skillful blend of biography and cabaret, this extraordinary play draws us into Holiday's triumphs and setbacks -- from scrubbing steps in Baltimore through her rise to fame. The production features more than a dozen of the songs that made Lady Day an American icon, including "God Bless the Child," "Strange Fruit," "Where Our Love Has Gone" and "Ain't Nobody's Business if I Do."

Produced by The Rep

Presented at the Madison Civic Center in the Isthmus Playhouse.

January 8-30, 1999. Ticket prices are $25 for Friday and Saturday performances and $20 for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday performances. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Ticket Office, 211 State Street, or by calling 266-9055. Rush tickets may be available the day of the performance. For tickets to a sign-interpreted performance on January 24 at 5:00 pm, please contact the Civic Center Ticket Office by January 11 (TDD: 267-2674). For information on group rates, call Madison Rep at 256-0029. This play contains strong language.

Opening night patrons are invited to a post performance reception at Deb & Lola's on State Street. Audience discussions will follow the 1:30 pm performance on January 10 and the 7:30 pm performance on January 20.

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Jazz up January with Madison Repertory Theatre's production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill

Vikki Myers will star as the legendary Billie Holiday in Madison Repertory Theatre's next production, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, by Lanie Robertson. The play opens on Friday, January 8 and runs through Saturday, January 30 at the Madison Civic Center's Isthmus Playhouse.

The play is set in a South Philadelphia nightclub in 1959, where Billie Holiday is making what will be her last series of appearances. Through reminiscences and songs, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill shares Holiday's personal stories and unforgettable tunes in a cabaret style biography packed with music and emotion. The play chronicles her triumphs and setbacks - from scrubbing steps in Baltimore through her rise to fame and her tragic end.

Billie reveals herself to the audience in a kind of stream-of-consciousness, in which songs remind her of stories and stories remind her of songs. A monologue about her mother, whom she fondly calls "Duchess," introduces "God Bless the Child." A recollection of the racism she encountered touring the South with Artie Shaw's all-white band is reflected in "Strange Fruit," a searing metaphor for lynching. The production features more than a dozen songs that made Lady Day an American icon.

Chicago actress Vikki Myers returns to Madison to play Billie Holiday. Ms. Myers debuted at Madison Rep in 1996 as Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. The following year, she played multiple roles including Reverend Al Sharpton, James Brown and an orthodox rabbi in the Rep's production of Fires in the Mirror. Madison audiences will now be able to hear her vocal talents as well. Myers states, "My goal is not to be a Billie Holiday impersonator&endash;no one can do that&endash;but to convey her style and the intense feelings she communicated through her music."

Music Director and musician Neal Tate plays Holiday's pianist, Jimmy Powers. Mr. Tate originated this role when the show premiered at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre. His extensive career includes vocal coaching and arrangements for Phylicia Rashad, Nell Carter, Gregory Hines, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Al Hibbler, Cab Calloway and others. Tate won a Grammy Award for his composition "Bubblin' Brown Sugar" and an Aldeco Award for his work "Williams & Walker." Music direction credits include the National Broadway tour of "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Hair" in New York City, the National Broadway tour of "The Me Nobody Knows," "Finian's Rainbow" at the Berkshire Theatre Fetival, "Fantastiks" at Southern Street Playhouse in New York City and many others.

Madison Rep welcomes Norma Saldivar as the production's guest director. This fall Ms. Saldivar joined the faculty at the UW-Madison's Department of Theater and Drama. Formerly a resident director and artistic administrator at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, she has also been a guest director at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle and San Jose Rep.

The design team for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill includes Scott Rött (costumes); Frank Schneeberger (set), Jack Sayre (sound), John Frautschy (lights) and Meghan Gauger (production stage manager).

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill is funded in part by grants from the Shubert Foundation, the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission with additional support from the Madison Community Foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin. The Rep is grateful to the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times, the corporate sponsors of this production.

 

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