Lady Day Previews

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Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/24/14 at 11:25pm

Didn't see a thread for this, they start tomorrow. A friend saw the final dress tonight and was very impressed, though not 100% sold on Audra as Billie. As far as play vs. musical, she said she would describe it as a play with music, for sure.

Can't wait to hear more reviews/opinions!

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 8:24am

Hoping to see this on Saturday (trying the rush).

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 8:49am

Anyone who rushes please post here afterwards with your rush experiences!

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:26am

Seeing this tonight- can't wait!

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:38am

I got a rush ticket through a friend. Can't wait to see it!

Updated On: 3/25/14 at 10:38 AM

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 3:06pm

What is the rush policy? I haven't been able to find any info but I may not be looking closely enough.

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 3:30pm

It's a general rush for $40 when the box office opens. Two tickets per person. I believe it's cash or credit, but that part is not specified.
Lady Day Rush Policy

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 6:01pm

Do you know what time he/she got in line for rush tickets? Im bringing my daughter to NY the second week in April and she loves Audra. Would be great to be able to get the rush tix.

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 6:26pm

Please report back. I may go this weekend.

#10

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 8:08pm

I hope the review are positive!

#11

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 9:37pm

I'll write more later but the moment Audra McDonald opened her mouth, my jaw dropped- she's giving one of the most brilliant vocal recreations of Billie Holiday's sound I've ever heard. She is extraordinary.

#12

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 9:54pm

I was insanely lucky to be at the final dress last night and I swear you could feel the entire audience have that same reaction MB! The woman can literally do ANYTHING! I was so moved by it and it will be interesting to see how she grows in the role through the run.

"I've always secretly longed for an actress to get to the top of the cherry picker and projectile vomit all over the guards below."- Wonderwaiter in the "Defy Gravity?" thread. ~~~~~~~~My dream? Sutton Foster as Cassie in A Chorus Line

#13

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:12pm

Aside from the blasphemy of admitting such a thing, let's say I-- err, I mean I have a friend... and he really has no knowledge of Billie Holliday, how much would that impact the enjoyment of seeing what is seemingly one of her concerts recreated?!

Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.

#14

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:21pm

The piece isn't so much a recreation of her concerts but uses that conceit to give the character a chance to speak about her life. At first, Lane Robertson's script seems like it's going to simply be a typical concert recreation with anecdotes between songs, but as the evening goes on it becomes much more than that. It's a far more nuanced piece than something like LOVE JANIS, for example.

I don't think enjoyment of the show is necessarily tied to a great familiarity with Billie Holiday, but certainly knowing even just a little through a simple YouTube exploration will give you all the more appreciation for how superb Audra McDonald's work is in recreating her.

#15

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:27pm

Audra is amazing. I don't know how she does it, but she actually sounds just like Billie Holiday, as far as I can tell. It's probably a cliche to say, but she's definitely channeling Lady Day: boozy, foul-mouthed, unsteady on her feet, slurring her words. This is a woman whose demons are clearly getting the better of her. I think Audra is giving a tour de force performance. And what a picture of segregated America she paints.

The production is very well done: the staging, the lighting, the subtle projections (plus, I think there are actual objects behind a scrim, with the projections on top of those). The effect is beautiful. Circle in the Square is the ideal setting for this show. We had row F seats through TDF. I think the only bad seats are those at the very ends, where you'll be looking at Audra's back most of the night.

A very enjoyable night at the theater!

Updated On: 3/25/14 at 10:27 PM

#16

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:32pm

I just got back, and holy cow was it fantastic. Apart from the predictably stellar performance by Audra, this show is very intriguing and moved me quite a bit. I definitely think Audra is a lock for best actress and I think this will probably win best revival of a play. My only gripe was that because I wasn't in the circle club, I wasn't really the part of the audience that she was playing towards and I lost a little bit of it. Definitely would have worked better in a different theatre.

Anything regarding shows stated by this account is an attempt to convey opinion and not fact.

#17

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:39pm

Okay--Michael Bennett approves. I better get those tickets ASAP.

#18

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:47pm

"and I think this will probably win best revival of a play."

Really? Revival of a play is insanely competitive this year and this doesn't really seem like something that could pull it off over the likes of Cripple of Inishmaan, Glass Menagerie, Raisin in the Sun, Waiting for Godot/No Man's Land, or Twelfth Night/Richard III.

#19

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:51pm

Well I thought it was better than both Waiting for Godot/No Man's Land and Raisin in the Sun and it was as good as Twelfth Night/Richard III. Haven't seen Inishmaan, but Glass Menagerie could give it a run for its money. I guess I just really liked this show

Anything regarding shows stated by this account is an attempt to convey opinion and not fact.

#20

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:54pm

where are the rush seats for those that rushed this morning.

#21

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:56pm

How is the seating? All around the stage?

#22

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 10:57pm

To those who've seen it: is it a musical or a play? How do we think they'll categorize it?

#23

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:05pm

....and this just proves that Audra McDonald is magic. Excited to see this next weekend.

#24

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:07pm

Musical Numbers (according to the Playbill)

"I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone"
"When a Woman Loves a Man"
"What a Little Moonlight Can Do"
"Crazy He Calls Me"
"Pig Foot (And a Bottle of Beer)"
"Baby Doll"
"God Bless the Child"
"Foolin' Myself"
"Somebody's on My Mind"
"Easy Livin' "
"Strange Fruit"
"Blues Break"
"T'Aint Nobody's Business If I Do"
"Don't Explain/What a Little Moonlight Can Do" (Reprise)
"Deep Song"

To me, it's more a play with music than a musical, kind of like the Judy Garland play.

Updated On: 3/25/14 at 11:07 PM

#25

Lady Day Previews

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:13pm

Probably worth pointing out that a few of those songs are not performed in their entirety. Ultimately, there is as much dialogue as there is singing and I'd also classify it as a play with music.

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