Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald brings her acclaimed portrayal of Billie Holiday in the Broadway smash โLady Day at Emersonโs Bar & Grillโ to HBO, with the exclusive presentation scheduled to debut Marchย 12.
Filmed before a live audience at Cafe Brasil in New Orleans, the special features McDonald in her history-making, tour de force performance as the jazz icon.ย Originally written for off-Broadway by Lanie Roberston in 1987, the show tells Holidayโs life story through the songs that made her famous, including โGod Bless the Child,โ โWhat a Little Moonlight Can Do,โ โStrange Fruitโ and โTaint Nobodyโs Biz-ness.โ
McDonald made history and became Broadwayโs most decorated performer when she won her sixth Tony Award, for Lady Day at Emersonโs Bar & Grill, in 2014. In addition to setting the record for most competitive wins by an actor, she also became the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories. The showโs run at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway was extended four times due to high demand.
