Dee Dee Bridgewater Begins Previews as Billie Holiday in Off-Broadway’s Lady Day

The off-Broadway production of Lady Day—a bio play with music starring Tony and Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater as legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday—begins performances on September 19 at the Little Shubert Theatre. Opening night is set for October 3.

Written and directed by Stephen Stahl and featuring a score from Holiday’s catalogue of hits, Lady Day tells the inspiring story of Holiday’s final comeback performance as it brings the essence and spirit of the late singer-songwriter to the stage. Joining Bridgewater are Wicked alum David Ayers and newcomer Rafael Poueriet, as well as a quartet of musicians comprised of bassist Jim Cammack, sax player Ken Hitchcock, drummer Jerome Jennings and pianist Bill Jolly.

Lady Day 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.” The show 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.