Lady Day Previews- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

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.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:22pm

Is "Strange Fruit" performed in its entirety? I hope so!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:23pm

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

Excerpt of course for the fact that the writing of that play was an excrescence, devoid of insight or wit or heart or soul, communicating nothing other than the un-startling faux-revelation that a diva had reached a low-point and become pitiable.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, at least as far as I remember from the original production and the Old Globe production I saw in San Diego, is a play with music that leaves with as great an understanding of what made Billie great as it does of what brought Billie down.

Updated On: 3/25/14 at 11:23 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:40pm

All you need to know about Billie: Tow early television appearances, one in 1956, when she was till in good shape, and one just a year before her death, when she was just hanging on and the voice was going, but the heart and the soul and the musicianship were still in evidence.


Billie Holiday on Stars of Jazz (1956)

http://youtu.be/N0aaZnxnkEo

1. "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"
2. "Billie's Blues"
3. "My Man"




Billie Holiday at Art Ford's Jazz Party (1958 ) (Part One)

http://youtu.be/odgHMvESF-U

1. "Moanin' Low"
2. "Don't Explain"
3. "When Your Lover Has Gone"


Billie Holiday at Art Ford's Jazz Show (1958 ) (Part Two)

http://youtu.be/yji7tvcfxw0

4. "Foolin' Myself"
5. "Easy to Remember"
6. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"

Updated On: 3/26/14 at 11:40 PM

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:40pm

PalJoey, you just nailed it. That is exactly the difference between the two.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:41pm

Yes, "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless the Child" are both performed in their entirety- and brilliantly. Audra disappears into them completely, and there is absolutely no trace of the signature voice we have come to know from her. The sounds that come out of her mouth are pure Billie Holliday. It's rather mind blowing.

Updated On: 3/25/14 at 11:41 PM

[g4rat]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 12:12am

I Haven't posted in a while...years actually, but I definitely have to chime in on this one. Saw the show tonight and Audra is giving an extraordinary performance here!!! It really is a thrill to see Audra saunter out onto stage and go into the first number. You're brain is trying to rap around the fact that it's Audra singing on stage and not Billie, but after a while you give in and start to really see Billie. I teared up a few times throughout the show, especially during "Strange Fruit", and I also laughed pretty hard at points.

I do have to say that as much of an Audra fan I am, I've never quite seen her as an actress who completely disappears when she's performing, but tonight she really turned into Billie and was giving detailed character work in her voice and physicality. I can't even imagine how amazing she'll be given a few more performances!

Updated On: 3/26/14 at 12:12 AM

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 3:36am

What is the running time on this? And is there an intermission?

[Blackbird3]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 4:18am

The run time was just under 90 minutes. I think I was out by 9:35. No intermission.

For those inquiring about rush, we obtained two tickets around noon. There was no wait, but they had a set number of tickets. Seats were in row E on the side, stage left. Perfect view.

It seems that the band plays a small set before the show officially begins. It took quite a while to get to our seats, so I can't be sure as to what time it started, but I would say get there on the early side if you can. I really think it helped set the mood.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 6:17am

I'm excited (and admittedly surprised) to hear that she has disappeared inside Billie Holliday. I'm also very glad that as an artist, she's willing to take such a risk. It's a combination of ability and bold confidence to take it that far. She really is a national treasure.

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 8:04am

^^^ She certainly is!

[Kad]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 8:07am

God, I hope a recording of Audra singing those songs comes from this. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 8:21am

It will be interesting to see if they do a recording. In an odd way a recording of Audra singing the songs in her "own" voice might be more successful because it's almost strange to imagine buying an Audra McDonald album and then turning it on and hearing instead a completely flawless vocal impersonation of Billie Holiday. Honestly, she sounds exactly like the recordings of the actual Lady Day.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 8:36am

I would be more interested if it was filmed for a Great Performances or home video release, rather than an audio recording, for the reason MB states.

EDIT: And I would be even more interested in this being filmed for a cinema/theatrical release (like Give 'Em Hell, Harry or Mark Twain). I would love Audra in the mix for Oscar consideration. Why not? I can't imagine it would be an expensive film.

Updated On: 3/26/14 at 08:36 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 8:54am

What I witnessed last night at Circle in the Square was a tour de force performance by Audra McDonald. Is there anything this woman CAN'T do? This show and THE GLASS MENAGERIE are two of the best shows I've seen this season.

She will most definitely get a nomination for this - - - and I would not be surprised if she won.

I really wish we get a recording of this show or Audra goes into the studio and does an album of Billie Holiday songs on her own.

I usually do not stage door but I wanted to this time just to let her know how absolutely magnificent she is and how much her performance touched me but I decided against it - - - I am just too in awe of her and I probably wouldn't have gotten the words out.

I highly recommend this one. I'm thinking about going back again but tonight I'm going to the Cabaret, ol' chum!

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:12am

I was at the dress rehearsal on Monday and I want to echo the praise for Audra's incredible performance. I gasped when she opened her mouth for the first number because I was not excepting to hear Billie Holiday's voice come out of her mouth. The anecdotes were wonderful, especially the restaurant story near the end of the piece.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:17am

For those interested in rushing, I just got back from the box office, and there were only two people ahead of me getting rush tickets for the matinee today. I overheard the box office person telling them that they had "great seats."

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:29am

Delighted hearing this response. Especially given the show's tv ads in which Audra, out of context, looks like she's trying way too hard, were making me very skeptical. Sounds like this might just turn out to be a prime example of the art of out of the box casting, casting that aims not to go by the numbers but to thrill and astonish.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:37am

Gosh, I wasn't interested in this at all, but now I'm all turned around!

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:42am

If anyone is interested in rushing, I would recommend to do it as early as possible in the run. From what Blackbird and StageStruckLad posted, it sounds as if good seats are easily available. Who knows how long that will be the case?

Also, did anyone see Lonette McKee doing the role back in the ’80s? She got wonderful reviews. It sounds to me as if the show has been changed slightly since then. Here's the link:


Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Updated On: 3/26/14 at 10:42 AM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 10:58am

I'm excited to see this! Anyone hear Joey Arias singing Billie Holliday?

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 11:12am

Wow. I believe that Audra is brilliant at everything she does, but these responses to her performance are thrilling.

Has anyone heard any rumors about a possible extension? If this kind of word-of-mouth spreads (and she earns a Tony nom, as seems likely to happen), you would think they might like to stick around for the Tony’s and after – especially if she has a good chance of winning.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 6:47pm

Will this turn into Audra McD vs. Cherry Jones at the Tonys?

This is like Sophie's Choice!

*cries*

[Okiekat]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 6:53pm

This is thrilling news! Though it will likely be harder to rush the show. I can't wait. Did anyone rush today?

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 3/26/14 at 7:23pm

Anyone know if this is a limited engagement? Tickets are available only through June 1 and we won't be in town until later in the month. This is now at the top of my list for shows to see.

Edit: I didn't realize that Gilmore had asked the same question. I'm just too darn excited about this! Updated On: 3/26/14 at 07:23 PM