Audra McDonald Shines as Lady Day

Each generation has their Broadway stars.  There's the incomparable Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, and the magical Julie Andrews.  This generation is no exception with stars like Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, whom many refer to as a Broadway Living Legends.  That being said there are very few who fully capture the essence of a true Broadway star, one who changes from character to character, performance to performance, one whom you can never forget.  For this generation Audra McDonald is that star which she proves night after night as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. 

The show takes place in Philidelphia about four months prior to Holiday's tragic death due to alcohol and drug abuse.  McDonald's speaking and singing voice changes drastically as she sings some of Holiday's greatest songs (Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child) and performs what is essentially a 90 minute monologue.  When the show opens one who knows Holiday's history will see instantly that she's drunk and as she continues to drink throughout the show the audience members are treated to audience participation.  McDonald asks an audience member to help her down the stairs, to hold her drink, and to light a cigarette.  The audience becomes so used to this that as Holiday stumbles down the stairs many reach out to assist her. Her language throughout the show is no holds barred and through that she paints a vivid picture of the times. Billie Holiday led a tragic life which McDonald portrays beautifully. I have been to many Broadway shows and I have never seen such a transformation.  Her body movements, her facial expressions were all Billie Holiday.  (I was lucky enough to meet Audra after the show and she is hands down one of the nicest, most down to earth people I've ever met).

Audra McDonald is a five-time Tony Award winner (Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), tied with Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury for the most Tonys won by an actor. She is also known for playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on Shonda Rhimes hit show Private Practice.  If all is right in the world McDonald should win her record breaking sixth Tony for playing Holiday.  If nominated it will be in the category for Best Actress in a Play, the one category McDonald has not yet won.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill has a limited run, closing on August 10th.  If you have to opportunity to see it please go, it will be a performance you'll remember for a lifetime.