by Lanie Robertson

It’s 1959 and legendary musical performer Billie Holiday appears in a small Philadelphia bar for one of her final performances. Audiences get more than expected. She sings a dozen of her beloved classics, like “God Bless the Child,” “Strange Fruit,” and “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” and interlaces them with salty, sometimes funny, stories that reveal a riveting portrait of one of the greatest jazz/blues vocalists of all time.

Contains strong adult language and content

"searing portrait of a woman whose art was triumphant."  On Stage

“Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

cast and creative:

Levi Barcourt* (Jimmy Power)

JoAnna Ford *(Understudy)

Melba Moore* (Billie Holiday)

KATORI HALL (Playwright)

CHUCK SMITH (Director)

Created and adapted by Nate Jacobs

World Premiere

Broadway musicals have charmed the world for decades. This summer, WBTT salutes that genre with an original revue by Nate Jacobs. Sing along with your favorite songs from award-winning shows and breakthrough roles that helped launch the careers of such Black artists as Melba Moore in Purlie, Ben Vereen in Pippin, Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls, and Nell Carter in Ain’t Misbehavin’. It’s Broadway, WBTT style…electrifying!

CAST AND CREATIVE

SYREETA S. BANKS

ARIEL BLUE

BRIAN L. BOYD

KEENAN CARVER

JOANNA FORD

DONALD FRISON (Ensemble/Choreographer)

DERRIC GOBOURNE JR. (Ensemble)

CHERISE JAMES

MICHAEL MENDEZ

RALEIGH MOSELY II

LEON S. PITTS, II

JOSHUA THOMPSON (Ensemble)

TOPAZ VON WOOD (Ensemble)

LATERRY BUTLER, B.A., CAGO (Music Director/Pianist/ Music Arranger)

WORLD PREMIERE
As the 1960s Civil Rights movement unfolded, black music evolved from the controlled Motown performances to fiery cross rhythms sound—a little gospel, a lot of soul. The passionate soloists, such as James Brown, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, added energetic movements and unique vocalizations that inspired many future performers. Soul Man will feature some of WBTT’s most popular male performers.

cast and creative:

Ariel Blue (Diamond)

Derric Gobourne Jr . (Breezy)

Michael Mendez* (Soulman 2)

Raleigh Mosely II (Soulman 4)

Leon S. Pitts II* (Soulman 3)

Sheldon Rhoden* (Soulman 1)

Henry Washington (Soulman 5)

Book by Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzburg
Music by Judd Woldin
Lyrics by Robert Brittan
Based on Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun"

CAST AND CREATIVE

TODD BELLAMY II (Ensemble)

BRIAN L. BOYD (Walter Lee Younger)

EARLEY DEAN* (paster)

JOANNA FORD* (Ruth Younger)

SIEGLINDA FOX (Mrs. Johnson)

DONALD FRISON (Ensemble)

KIARA HINES (Beneatha Younger)

BRENTNEY J. (Ensemble)

JANNIE JONES* (Mama Lena Younger)

ANGELA Pierre (Ensemble)

SAMUEL WAITE (Travis Younger)

ARTHUR WESLEY (Ensemble)

JIM WEAVER (Director and Choreographer)

BRENNAN STYLEZ (Music Director)

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States