Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater will star as Billie Holiday in a new Broadway production of the musical Lady Day, opening September 26 (6:30 p.m.) at Times Square’s Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42 Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut following runs at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris and the Donmar Warehouse and the Piccadilly Theatre in London. For that performance, Bridgewater received an Olivier Best Actress in a Musical Award nomination. Produced by Misty Road Productions, the show’s creative team also includes composer and arranger Bill Jolly, who will serve as musical director. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 12 at 8 p.m.
Lady Day features such Holiday songs as “Don’t Explain,” “Good Morning Heartache,” “A Foggy Day (In London Town),” “Them There Eyes,” “Strange Fruit,” “My Man,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Mean to Me,” and tells the story of Holiday’s final comeback performance.
Bridgewater, who also hosts the syndicated radio program JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, won a Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award in 1975 for her role in The Wiz. She has also won multiple Grammy awards.
For more information visit Lady Day the Musical.
