"Marissa Davis (Billie Holiday) is perfect" "Don’t miss this exquisite production" – West Side Leader http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-entertainment-news.asp?aID=36684

"Actress-chanteuse Marissa Davis creates an air of deep melancholy, combined with both humor and bitterness, as the title character"

"Under the excellent direction of Terrence Spivey, Davis comes across as mature beyond her 20-something years as she brings to life one of troubled jazz singer Billie Holiday’s final performances at a seedy bar in South Philadelphia." – The Akron Beacon Journal https://www.ohio.com/akron/entertainment/arts/review-lady-day-at-weathervane-paints-portrait-of-a-fading-billie-holiday

AKRON – Playing to sold-out houses in Weathervane’s Founders Theatre, Lady Day has touched theatre-goers, young and old alike, throughout its originally scheduled run. Whether you missed out the first time around, or would like to relive the enthralling magic of this one-of-a-kind show, you will have the opportunity to experience this “not to be missed” production this coming Friday and Saturday.

The extended-run performances of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill run January 26 and 27, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $22 and can be ordered by calling the box office at 330-836-2626 or going to www.weathervaneplayhouse.com.

Weathervane invites playgoers to be transported to a seedy bar in Philadelphia during the year of 1959 to relive one of Billie Holiday's final performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.  Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is directed by Terrence Spivey, who ran Karamu House for over 12 years and was selected as Scene Magazine’s Best Director of 2017.  Ed Ridley, who most recently received a Cleveland Critics Circle Award for his music direction of Ain’t Misbehavin’, serves as the music director for this production.

On working at Weathervane and the production, Spivey says, “I am excited to be back at the wonderful Weathervane Playhouse, having directed their productions of Fences and The Great White Hope. Billie Holiday's music is as timely now as ever, touching the hardships and happiness that we all experience. Kudos to Melanie and Weathervane for bringing this dynamic and historical figure to the Akron stage.”

THE CAST

MARISSA NICOLE DAVIS
Billie Holiday

THE CREATIVE TEAM

TERRENCE SPIVEY
Director

ED RIDLEY
Musical Director/Jimmy Powers

BRADFORD MCGHEE
Bass Player

JASON MAURER
Stage Manager

BARBARA TROTTER
Properties Designer

AYRON LORD
Lighting Designer

HAZEN TOBAR
Sound Designer

LOREN “COCO” MAYER
Costume Designer

RICHARD MORRIS, JR.
Scenic Designer/Technical Director

KATHY KOHL
Assistant Technical Director

KELLIE ROSSINI
Master Electrician

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