Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill in keeping it postive

Starring Audra McDonald as Billie Holliday

She doesn't just sing, or just act, but BECOMES Lady Day. She sings amazingly, rambles emotionally and erratically, interacts with the audience. Eventually the CD will be available for purchase... I'm getting THAT one.

The stage set was amazing - since it was supposed to be a club, there were bistro type tables and chairs on the stage... AND people were sitting there having their drinks... up close and personal with the show. I understood from one of the people sitting near me those seats were $300 each. And our chairs were more comfortable.

Since the actress was wearing a white dress, when the lighting changed, so did the color of the dress - red, blue, etc. The lighting was beautiful - reflecting off the three disco balls hung up high - sending shards of light through the audience.

Even not keeping track of which song was coming when, there were a few minor key chords, and I knew the next song would be "Strange Fruit"... and it was and I cried throughout. Beautiful show, emotionally draining.