Tony Winner Dee Dee Bridgewater to Headline Billie Holiday Musical Lady Day

Lady Sings the Blues! Tony and Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater will channel legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in the new bio play with music, Lady Day. Written and directed by Stephen Stahl and featuring a score of Holiday’s hit songs, the production will begin performances September 12 at off-Broadway’s Little Shubert Theatre. Opening night is set for September 26. 

Lady Day tells the inspired and heart-wrenching story of Holiday's final comeback performance. Featuring a newly revised book, the play brings the essence and spirit of the late singer-songwriter to the stage. The production features 25 Holiday standards, including “Good Morning Heartache,” “Don’t Explain,” “A Foggy Day (In London Town),” “Strange Fruit,” “My Man,” “God Bless the Child,” “Mean to Me” and “Them There Eyes.” Lady Day has been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and the Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris, as well as the Donmar Warehouse and the Piccadilly Theatre in London, where Bridgewater earned an Olivier nomination for Best Actress.

Bridgewater earned a Tony for her portrayal of Glinda in The Wiz. She also appeared on Broadway in The 1940s Radio Hour. She has received three Grammy Awards, including the 2011 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee. Bridgewater was the first black actress to star as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and has also appeared on stage in Sophisticated Ladies, Cosmopolitan Greetings, Black Ballad and Carmen Jazz.

Watch Holiday croon one of her hits below!