‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill’ @ Lyric Stage
Photos courtesy of Kris Ikejiri/Lyric Stage
—Rickey Wax
Billie Holiday doesn’t just walk onto the stage at Lyric Stage’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill—she owns it. From the moment Nikka Morton saunters into the smoky, intimate jazz lounge setting, she is Lady Day, resurrected with haunting authenticity. From the way she slurs certain words, drawing them out in that unmistakable, almost lazy cadence, to the wry humor and sharp-edged vulnerability of her delivery, Morton embodies Holiday completely. Her speech patterns, the rhythm of her storytelling, the way she lingers on certain phrases—it’s as if Holiday herself has stepped into the room. But it’s her voice—achingly raw, yet exquisitely controlled—that truly brings this legend back to life.
Written by Lanie Robertson, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill captures a version of one of Billie Holiday’s last performances in March 1959 at a dive bar in Philadelphia. Through a series of songs and spoken memories, Holiday reflects on her triumphs and struggles, offering a deeply personal glimpse into the life of one of our greatest jazz legends. Robertson’s script seamlessly weaves humor and heartbreak, painting a portrait of a woman whose music transcended the pain she endured.
Lyric Stage has turned its studio space into a cozy, candlelit jazz club, complete with small black tables where audience members become more than spectators—they are part of Billie’s world. She interacts with us, toasts with us, even stares us down as she shares her pain and joy through song. Under Michael Childs’ masterful direction, this is more than a performance; it’s an experience.
The show begins quietly. The band—Linny Nance (who also plays the ever-patient pianist, Jimmie Powers), Buddy Mohmed on bass, Steven Brown on saxophone, and Andre Swartz on drums—eases us into the night. The piano hums, soft and inviting. Then, Morton enters. Draped in a breathtaking white gown inspired by a look Holiday once wore, with a white fur stole and long satin gloves (designed by Monsieur Alexander), she is elegance personified. Her updo, a nod to one of Holiday’s own idols, completes the look.
At first, she charms. She jokes, she flirts, she sips from her drink, and then—she sings. God Bless the Child hushes the room, a song to her mother, whom she affectionately called “The Duchess.” But as the night progresses, the laughter fades, and the cracks in Lady Day’s glamorous facade begin to show. She recounts the horrors of her past—her time in a brothel at just 12 years old, her stint in jail, the relentless racism that shaped her career. And when she launches into Strange Fruit, under Scott Guenther’s piercing red lighting, the moment is nothing short of devastating.
Throughout it all, Linny Nance as Jimmie Powers is the quiet anchor, guiding Billie back to the music when she veers off course. The chemistry between Morton and the band is palpable, a testament to the authenticity of the production.
WHEN: January 31-February 23, 2025
WHERE Lyric Stage Studio, 1170 Quaker St., Dallas
WEB: lyricstage.org
