LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
By Lanie Robertson
Musical Arrangements by Danny Holgate
Directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin
Music Direction by Jason Alexander Holmes
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place intermittently beginning in late May 2023. The rehearsal schedule will be set based on the availability of performers and the creative team. Technical and dress rehearsals will take place from July 9-14, 2023.
Performances
- Saturday, July 15, 7:30 PM
- Sunday, July 16, 3:00 PM
- Saturday, July 22, 7:30 PM
- Thursday, August 3, 7:30 PM
- Friday, August 11, 7:30 PM
- Sunday, August 20, 3:00 PM
About the Show
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL is a riveting portrait of Billie Holiday and the songs that made her famous. In a captivating evening of story and song, audiences will be transported to the gritty Philadelphia bar where the legendary jazz singer gave one of her final public performances in 1959. The hard-hitting musical chronicles the singer’s life story – both humorous and heart-wrenching – and celebrates the music she gave the world including “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do.”
Available Role
Billie Holiday (Female, 43, Black/African Descent)
Legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday, in one of her final concert performances at a small bar in Philadelphia. Throughout the evening, Billie oscillates between a full-octane passionate performance to utter desperation and loneliness—an effort that is likely inspired by substance abuse. She is passionate, profane, demanding, and sometimes cruel. Billie honestly recalls major moments and influences from her life with great humour and delight—oftentimes in contrast to the harsh experiences that she recounts. Billie’s stories carry her in and out of song, exposing both her triumphs and her hardships.
Auditions by Video Submission
What to send:
- 32 bars of a song in the style of Billie Holiday
- Please send a direct video link. Do not send the video as an attachment or download link.
- Monologue showcasing your storytelling skills
- Resume
- Headshot
Please send the requested materials to Tyler Gabbard, Theatre Director at tgabbard@thecarnegie.com by Friday, January 20, 2023. In-person callbacks may be scheduled in January or February.
Also Note:
- You will be asked to turn in a full list of conflicts for rehearsal dates listed. Please have that prepared if asked to provide this info.
- No performance conflicts will be accepted.
- Stipends offered will be between $1000-$1500 for all roles. Not AEA eligible. No housing provided.
COVID-19 Policies
The Carnegie fervently encourages all auditioners to seek the Covid-19 vaccination before attending in-person callbacks. Proof of a completed initial vaccine course is required before the start of rehearsals for all company members. Rehearsals may be conducted in masks depending on virus transmission rates. Performances and audiences will not be masked.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 