Synthia L. Hardy returns to Sierra Madre Playhouse in the iconic role she brought to life in her one-woman show, an exciting story about one of America’s greatest jazz/blues legends, Billie Holiday, that takes you back to an era where the joints were jumping and Hollywood was hopping.
CONSUMER ADVISORY: Strong language.
(TeenTix passholders are welcome at this production! Teens ages 13-19, learn more about how to get $5 tickets to arts events like
Billie! Backstage with Lady Day here).
This show is 90 minutes long, with one 15-minute intermission.
Click here for the digital show program.
“BILLIE! BACKSTAGE WITH LADY DAY”, is an exciting evening about one of America’s greatest jazz/blues legends. This story of Billie Holiday takes you back to an era where the joints were jumping and Hollywood was hopping. It was a time where glitz and glamour ruled and where ladies were dainty and gentlemen were smooth; where gowns flowed and hats topped short cropped hair. The show takes place backstage where Billie Holiday is talking to reporters as she gets ready to do a concert.
This musically haunting, sad, happy, unpredictable journey of jazz/blues singer, Billie Holiday takes you on a winding road of love, joy, blues, racism and astounding hit songs that tell the story of a life hard fought. The road takes you to places and people in Billie Holiday’s life that provided both pain and pleasure, excitement and disappointments. It explores her relationship with her mother who was the “glue” in her life. The highs and lows, the strengths and fragility of Billie’s turbulent life has been able to bring a new level of emotion and respect to music and inspiration to musicians and vocalists all over the world.
BILLIE! BACKSTAGE WITH LADY DAY, written by and starring Synthia L. Hardy debuted at The Whitefire Theatre in California in 2009. The director is Bryan Rasmussen. It was awarded two The NAACP Theater Awards in 2011 for Best One Person Show and Best Musical Director. It has, also, performed in other theaters, schools, temples and festivals, including the Central Avenue Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, CA.
Reviews:
“Synthia. L. Hardy… is a simmering bundle of explosive dynamite!”
“…a fully committed and richly personal performance by Hardy.”
“…funny…”
“…honest…”
“…amazing…”
“…outstanding…”
About
Synthia L. Hardy returns to Sierra Madre Playhouse in the iconic role she brought to life in her one-woman show, an exciting story about one of America’s greatest jazz/blues legends, Billie Holiday, that takes you back to an era where the joints were jumping and Hollywood was hopping.
