Suzzanne Douglas Conjures Up Billie Holiday In 'LADY DAY'

Escape the winter doldrums with some red hot jazz as Broadway, TV and film veteran Suzzanne Douglas brilliantly conjures up the legendary Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill opening Thursday, January 22, and running through Sunday, February 15, at the Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, NJ.

The time is 1959. The place is a seedy neighborhood bar in South Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday's explosive final performances, only four months prior to her death. Lady Day sings, laughs, and cries as she discovers and recounts her life, loves and adventures, weaving her story into more than a dozen classics including "God Bless The Child," "When A Woman Loves A Man," "Where Our Love Has Gone," "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do," and "Strange Fruit". A poignant and riveting portrait of the Lady and her music.

Suzzanne Douglas has been seen on Broadway opposite Sting in The Threepenny Opera, as well as Into The Woods, The Tap Dance Kid, Sophisticated Ladies, and A Grand Night For Singing. Audiences well-remember her stand-out performance at the Paper Mill Playhouse as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Filmgoers have enjoyed her numerous big screen appearances including Taps, opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. and Gregory Hines, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, opposite Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg. Ms. Douglas starred in the family sitcom The Parent ‘Hood, appeared in the ABC/Disney made-for-TV movie Sounder, and has made guest appearances on Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue, Touched By An Angel, I'll Fly Away, The Parkers," Critical Condition and Promised Land.

Music Director Alva Nelson appears as Jimmy Powers.
Ted Sod directs the script by Lanie Robertson, which won the Outer Critics Circle Award during its Off-Broadway run and has been produced throughout the world. Mr. Sod is dramaturge for the education department at The Roundabout Theatre Company in NYC. His directing credits include Chapter Two at the Bickford; Agnes of God, A Night In Tunisia, Talley's Folly and Wit (George Street Playhouse); By Jupiter (York Theatre Co.); The House Of Blue Leaves (Terry Schreiber Studio); Who Popped Papi Chulo? & Scarlet Sees The Light (NYC Fringe Festival); and countless other readings, workshops, and productions. Mr. Sod assisted Daniel Sullivan on Ten Unknowns (Lincoln Center Theater).

Main Stage Series performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28 for Morris Museum and Bickford Theatre Guild members, $35 for general public, $30 for senior citizens, $15 for students 18 and under or those with a valid school ID, and $27 for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets for all Season productions are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 973.971.3706 or by visiting us at www.bickfordtheatre.org.

DIRECTOR: Ted Sod
SET DESIGNER: John McDermott
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Raquel Davis
COSTUME DESIGNER: Bettina Bierly
SOUND DESIGNER: Alison Goessling

About The Bickford...

The Bickford Theatre (Eric Hafen, Artistic Director) is a professional theatre that produces and presents year-round entertainment, including a Main Stage Series, two Children's Theatre series, and a Jazz Showcase. The theatre is a Senior Member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theatres throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre's many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

The Bickford Theatre is conveniently located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, New Jersey, within the Morris Museum, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box Office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-up hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for all 2009-2009 Season productions are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 973-971-3706 or visiting the Bickford Theatre at www.bickfordtheatre.org.

Photo credit: T. Charles Erickson, courtesy of George Street Playhouse.