October 29–31, Attucks Theater
Set in 1959 in a seedy bar in Philadelphia, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is a re-creation of one of Billie Holiday’s last performances, featuring more than a dozen musical numbers—including such classics as Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, Tain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do—interlaced with reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music, and her struggle with racism, abuse, and addiction.
In-collaboration by Virginia Arts Festival and Norfolk State University Theatre Company, at Norfolk’s Attucks Theatre (where Holiday herself performed in the theatre’s heyday.
Tickets at vafest.org.