LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Meet the cast and director of this incredible Billie Holiday story:
Deidrie Henry (Billie Holiday): Deidrie will be appearing this month in LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL at the Garry Marshall Theater. Other Los Angeles theater appearances include "Raisin in the Sun" (Center Theater Group), "Parade" (Center Theater Group), “Coming Home” (Fountain Theatre), "Small Tragedy" (The Odyssey Theatre), and "Yellowman" (Fountain Theatre - winner NAACP for Best Actress, Ovation Award, Backstage Garland Award, and the Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award). Her regional credits include "Lady Day at the Emerson Bar and Grill" (Portland Center Stage & Actors Theater of Louisville), "American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose" (Yale Repertory Theatre), "Ballad of Emmett Till" (Goodman Theatre), "Yellowman" (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), Oregon Shakespeare Festival for four seasons appearing as Rosalind in "As You Like It," Irina in "Three Sisters," Susie in "Wit," Ophelia in "Hamlet," Vera Dotson in "Seven Guitars," among others. Other theatre credits include "Closer" (Portland Center Stage) and "Blues for an Alabama Sky" (Alliance Theatre, Hartford Stage, Arena Stage, & Boston’s Huntington Theatre).
She was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Blues for an Alabama Sky" and received a Backstage Bistro Award (New York) for Outstanding Vocalist and Cabaret Debut for her cabaret, "What a Day for a Daydream."
Ms. Henry's television work includes being a series regular on the NBC production, "Game of Silence" and the FX series, "The Riches." Other television appearances include "The Handmaid's Tale,” "Criminal Minds," "Justified," "Glee," and "CSI." Deidrie also appeared in the films "Beyond the Lights" and "Beautiful Boy."
Abdul Hamid Royal (Jimmy Powers, Music Director): Broadway/International/National Music Director credits include “Five Guys Named Moe,” “Twist,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” “The Wiz,” “Truly Blessed,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “The Sound of Music,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Betsy Brown,” “Concerts for the Earth,” “Colors of Christmas,” “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “The Life,” “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” “Dreamgirls,” “Blues In The Night,” and “Sirens of Song.” Composer/Arranger credits: “Five Guys Named Moe,” “Truly Blessed,” “Body and Soul,” “Twist,” “Cole Porter Festival,” and “Colors of Christmas.”
He has worked with recording artists Natalie Cole, Peabo Bryson, Melissa Manchester, Liza Minelli, Ashford & Simpson, Jennifer Holliday, Patti LaBelle, Christina Aguilera, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, David Foster, the LA Philharmonic, and Phil Collins.
Awards include the Ovation Award & the LA Drama Critics Circle Award - Best Music Direction on “The Gospel at Colonus.” NAACP Image Award for the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, “Five Guys Named Moe.” NAACP Image & Stage Scene LA Award - Outstanding Musical Direction on the LA production of “Recorded In Hollywood.”
GREGG T. DANIEL (Director) - Gregg is back at Garry Marshall Theatre after his critically acclaimed production of THE MOUNTAINTOP. Credits include the West Coast premieres of Mfoniso Udofia’s, “Her Portmanteau” (Boston Court Theatre) and Tearrance Arvelle Chisolm’s, “Br’er Cotton” (Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble), Lorraine Hansberry’s, “Les Blancs” (Rogue Machine Theatre – Ovation nominated, Best Director), and the LA premiere of Greg Kalleres’, “Honky” (nominated Best Director, Comedy). Other credits include “A Raisin in the Sun” (A Noise Within - Ovation nominated, Best Director) and a revival of Alice Childress’, “Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White” (Antaeus Company - Winner Stage Raw Award, Best Revival & Best Ensemble). Regional work includes Samm-Art Williams', “Home” (International City Theatre), the New Jersey premiere of Katori’s Hall’s, “The Mountaintop,” and Matthew Lopez’s, “The Whipping Man” (Cape May Stage).
He is a recipient of the NAACP Best Director award for International City Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s, “Fences” (nominated LA Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, and StageScene LA). Additional LA credits include Lee Blessing’s, “Cobb,” Eric Simonson’s, “Lombardi,” Frank McGuinness’, “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” (Broadway World nominated, Best Director), and Tom Stoppard’s translation of “Heroes” (Group Repertory Theatre). For Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble, the West Coast premiere of Kwame Kwei-Armah’s, “Elmina’s Kitchen” (Winner NAACP, Best Ensemble).
Gregg is a Founding Member/Artistic Director of Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble (Lower-Depth.com). He is also an accomplished actor with over 100 appearances in television and film roles. He is married to actress Veralyn Jones.