32-36 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DA GB
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Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill Tickets

4.7/5 - based on 19 reviews
from 19 verified reviews
  • Starring: Audra McDonald
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Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill in London

Starring:

Audra McDonald

Love Billie Holiday's beautiful, mournful music? You'll adore Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, an exceptional play-with-music written by Lanie Robertson which examines events in the life of the tragic songstress. The show premièred in 1986 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. After a best-selling stint Off Broadway it made the grade and caused a stir on Broadway itself... and the rest is history. Now it's due in the West End.

Roll back time to 1959. The scene is an intimate bar in Philadelphia, where Billie Holiday is putting on one of the last ever performances of her career. The play takes you on a poignant journey through her life and times, supported by a host of moving songs, as one of the greatest jazz and soul singers of all time shares her tragedies and triumphs, loves and losses.

Entertainment Weekly calls it, “One of the most exquisite & haunting performances of the year!”, a fitting complement bearing in mind Billie herself is played to perfection by the awesome six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, making her West End début in the role. You can expect a deliciously intimate evening filled with famously inspiring and moving songs, blended beautifully with stories from the singer's extraordinary life. And the score is unforgettable in its own right, featuring huge hits like God Bless the Child, What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Strange Fruit, and Taint Nobody's Biz-ness.

The playwright Lanie Robertson also wrote The Insanity of Mary Girard, which recently toured Ireland. He's no stranger to the world of theatre, a respected writer whose portfolio includes Back County Crimes, Nasty Little Secrets, Bringing Mother Down and Cannibal's Waltz. In 1987, he won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Lady Day, starring Lonette McKee as Billie Holiday, later played by the marvellous Eartha Kitt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Loretta Divine, Jackee Harry and – for this production - Audra McDonald.

This is going to be something special. Don't miss out – we recommend you grab tickets as soon as they come out!

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill Official Theatre Tickets

Our central reservation system connects you directly to the Wyndham's Theatre box office system. We provide live & full availability for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill tickets, from VIP and premium, to top price and discount tickets, helping you choose the perfect tickets for your budget. Pick your seats from our interactive seating plan and get your theatre tickets emailed to you instantly after your booking. Simply present your e-tickets at the door on the day and experience what London & the West End have best to offer: the magic of theatre. Buying tickets for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill has never been easier.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill Ticket Information

  • Booking until:

    Saturday, 9 September 2017

  • Cancellations & Refunds

    Once booked, tickets to Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill are usually non exchangeable and non refundable as per our terms & conditions. In practice, however, we will do our best to accommodate your request as long as we are notified at least 48 hours before the performance. Please contact us for more information.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill cheap tickets

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Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill reviews

4.7 out of 5 based on 19 reviews

What to expect:

Acting
Music
Costumes
Story
Lighting
  • Recommended for:
  • Couples (84%)
  • Theatregoers (100%)
Latest customer reviews

Please note the reviews below are from an old production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

Sheer Brilliance

This is one of the best shows I have ever seen. The acting was amazing and the singing sublime. It was harrowing but utterly compelling and has lived with me ever since I saw it. I cried all the way home.

Reviewed on 21 August 2017 by , London, United Kingdom

Emotional

I love the music of Billie Holliday it brought back memories of the film Lady Sings the Blues everything was so griping and found myself crying at the end

Reviewed on 07 August 2017 by , Bracknell, United Kingdom

Lady Day made my day.

A fantastic and moving performance. Audra takes us on an emotional roller coaster of this tragic stars life. The dark moments are quickly forgotten by the superb singing. The stage atmosphere was recreated brilliantly. The show flies by and you leave the theatre touched as much by the story as the music. Great show.

Reviewed on 31 July 2017 by , Ashford, United Kingdom

Brilliant

Reviewed on 30 July 2017 by , Romford, United Kingdom

Story telling

Great story telling, great music.

Reviewed on 30 July 2017 by , Barnoldswick, United Kingdom

Mesmerizing. Riveting.

Reviewed on 27 July 2017 by , Rochford, United Kingdom

An emotional tribute.

An excellent portrayal of the unforgettable lady day. The 3piece jazz musicians were fabulous and accompanied audra McDonald perfectly. The play stirs up your emotions and when it comes to an end it leaves you with a wow.

Reviewed on 21 July 2017 by , Loughton, United Kingdom

An amazing measured performance

Adult material and language so not suitable for families. Ideal for jazz fans generally but definitely for anyone who wants and insight into the late, great Billie Holiday. Audra McDonald is just outstanding in her depiction of a great talent ruined by drink and drugs. She captured the voice and mannerisms so well and the onstage Holiday, clearly under the influence of drinks and drugs, was just perfectly measured. Really felt the pain of Billie Holiday's sad life through the narrative. Loved the music. All credit to the supporting jazz musicians but the accolades are all for Ms McDonald, who carried the show on her very able shoulders. What a performer!

Reviewed on 21 July 2017 by , Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Unique

This is a no holds barred look at a musical legend. Holliday was a genius and her re-creator is little less. You will never hear a strange Fruit better sung by a living performer. No wonder that Audra McDoald won those six Tony awards.

Reviewed on 20 July 2017 by , Chorleywood, United Kingdom

Very moving

A tragic story magnificently portrayed by Audra McDonald with excellent musical backing by the trio of musicians. Not an easy show to watch, but absolutely memorable.

Reviewed on 13 July 2017 by , Beckenham, United Kingdom

Terrific evening

Reviewed on 08 July 2017 by , Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Painfully Moving

Audra McDonald gives a flawless performance as Billy Holiday. We have seen her before in NYC and I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't seeing Billy Holiday for real. It was achingly painful at times, wonderfully moving and a real treat. All ages should see this performance, not just Billy Holiday fans. Miss McDonald is able to adapt her voice to truly reflect the qualities that Billy Holiday possessed. We were blown away. Her bands supports her well. A great event all round.

Reviewed on 07 July 2017 by , London, United Kingdom

Emotional journey

I had goosebumps when i first head the voice of Audra McDonald and then throughout the evening. It was like Billie Holiday was singing and talking in front of us. If you want to relive a unique chance to experience an evening with the legendary singer and her band then dont miss this opportunity. Was one of the most memorable theater nights I have been to.

Reviewed on 03 July 2017 by , Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Incredible

Audra McDonald is doing the best job I've ever seen! Incredible acting, incredible singing. Billie Holiday is not easy to imitate or portray but Audra masters it 100%

Reviewed on 27 June 2017 by , Kilburn, United Kingdom

03 Jul
2017
David Scotland

Preview Report: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL at The Wyndhams Theatre

by David Scotland | Monday, July 3 2017, 08:21

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill West End shows don’t come much more anticipated than Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. A tribute to the late, great Billie Holiday, Lady Day was originally meant to transfer from Broadway to London in June of 2016. But when the star of the show Audra McDonald discovered she was pregnant the production was postponed. Now one year on she finally brings her Tony Award winning performance as Holiday to the Wyndham’s Theatre on Charing Cross Road.

Preview Report: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL at The Wyndhams Theatre
25 Jan
2016
Davor Golub

Review: Audra McDonald in Concert at the Leicester Square Theatre

by Davor Golub | Monday, January 25 2016, 22:13

Audra McDonald - Lady Day It’s been a momentous week for Audra McDonald’s UK fans. Just prior to her first solo concert in the UK for 16years it was announced that McDonald would be reprising her Tony Award winning performance as Billie Holiday in ‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill’ at the Wyndham’s Theatre this summer. Audra as Billie is a performance that I urge you not to miss. But I will go into more detail about that later.

Review: Audra McDonald in Concert at the Leicester Square Theatre