Tennessee State Univ Theatre’s “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” Chosen to Perform at the National Black Theatre Festival 8/8 (Winston-Salem)

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Nashville, TN – The Tennessee State University Theatre production of “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” by Lanie Robertson, has been chosen to perform at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for its 20th Anniversary Festival during the week of August 3-8, 2009. “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” is one of four college productions chosen to perform as a part of the Fringe College component of the National Black Theatre Festival, whose “spotlight shines bright on the most professional collegiate theatre productions from around the world. NBTF Fringe is primarily a performance showcase for college and university students.”

“Lady Day” will be given two performances on Saturday, August 8th at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at this biennial Festival’s “International Celebration & Reunion of Spirit.” The NBTF highlights productions and celebrities from the most prestigious professional and semiprofessional theatre groups, as well as television and film artists and celebrities in America and internationally.

The TSU Theatre production, directed by Lawrence James, Ph.D., features student Ashley Bishop in the title role of Billie Holiday, with support from Alex White, II, Harold Pettigrew III, and Joel Diggs. Daryl Nettles, Ph.D., is musical director, who also performs as the piano accompanist character for Lady Day. The musical band is made complete with the musical virtuosity of Paul Deyo, Brook Sutton, and Rob Crawford. Professor Mark Collino is scenic and lighting designer, and technical manager.

The production of “Lady Day” was recently honored in February 2009 as one of the five Regional Finalist productions invited to perform at the Regional IV Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, then subsequently selected as one of the nineteen Kennedy Center National Finalists.

LADY DAY opens at The American Negro Playwright Theatre 3/27 (Nashville)

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For more information contact

Barry Scott at 615-963-5809

or wbscott@Tnstate.edu

LADY DAY at Tennessee State U 3/27-4/6 (Nashville)

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The Theatre Program in the Department of Communications at

Tennessee State University

announces its 2008 Spring Main Stage Production of

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL.

Opening at the

TSU Performing Arts Center Cox/Lewis Theater

on Thursday, March 28, 2008 at 7:30PM and running through April 6th.

Curtain Times on Thursday's through Saturday's are at 7:30PM

with Sunday's Curtain Time at 3PM.

The time is 1959. The place is Emerson's Bar & Grill. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday's last performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.

Director Lawrence James says, "In this production, we get a journey through Billie's life through her music and poignant poetic storytelling. In the midst of a turbulent and demanding life, singing and her music was the salvation of Billie Holiday. Her music is a celebration of her life."

"... Evokes all the sordidness of a woman entirely shaped by suffering.... By the end ... one is filled with an unexpected joy.... Robertson's play is a spare, shrewdly constructed piece."

-- N.Y. Times.

"Hurts and exhilarates in just the right proportions."

-- New York Magazine.

"Original and riveting."

-- London Times.

"A searing portrait of a woman whose art was triumphant."

-- On Stage.

"Billie Holiday: "the greatest jazz singer of all times."

-- B. Marseilles.

Don't miss it!

The Cox/Lewis Theater is a 400 seat, state-of-the-art facility located in the beautiful Performing Arts Building on the Tennessee State University campus.

For tickets and information call 615- 963-5809.

For group rates (15 persons or more) or discounts call 615-963-2535.

CONTACT: Lawrence James

Tennessee State University

615-963-5809

Fax: 615-963-5805

Tickets to LADY DAY at Emerson's Bar & Grill

are $10 for the general public;

$7 for TSU Faculty & Staff and

$4 for students with I.D.

Please note that this production includes adult themes and language.

Showtimes: Week One: Thursday, March 27, through Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 30, at 3:00 p.m.

Week Two: Thursday, April 3, through Saturday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, April 6, at 3:00 p.m.

Directions: The Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center Cox/Lewis Theater is located on Albion Street. From I-40 West, Exit 28th Avenue Go straight through traffic Light onto Albion Street. Turn Right at 2nd Stop sign (35th Avenue North). Turn Left into Lot H. The Performing Arts Center is the building with the white fins.

For more information, please call:

Barry Scott

615-963-5742

wbscott@Tnstate.edu

Sponsored by the American Negro Playwright Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee.