Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
September 28, 2023
Thank you Center Stage for inviting the students of The Community School to attend the play “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill!” It was a captivating play about Billie Holiday, the legendary Baltimore born and raised jazz singer whose powerful lyrics and voice influenced generations.
In a very creative and compelling way, the play had Lady Day weaving her life story in between singing her songs at a final performance in Philadelphia. The play not only dealt with her personal struggles with abuse, domestic violence and racism but also put it in the context of what was going on in society as a whole. For the students, it brought home the message of how many of these issues they relate to in their lives today.
A special thanks to Janal Daniel, the Director of Learning and Social Accountability for seating us inside the play at the cabaret tables. it made the experience even more real.