January 24, 2013 - March 31, 2013
DC MetroStage
CAST
Roz White, Sandy Bainum, Anthony Manough, Yvette Spears, Lori Williams
The year is 1955. The place is New York City’s 52nd Street, the cultural mecca of jazz in the universe. It is a place where music and mythology mingle in one unforgettable evening. Four jazz divas in the tradition of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee gather in a dressing room waiting to go on. From their lips we hear the tapestry of bebop, blues, and jazz in music, and the collective storytelling that gave rise to the mythic folklore of jazz mythology about Miles, Monk, Bird, Basie, Ellington and others including the one mysteriously known as the Jazz Baroness. Experience the many colorful personalities that define one of the most pivotal music periods of the twentieth century.
Ladies Swing the Blues, a world premiere with book and lyrics by Thomas W. Jones II and original music and arrangements by William Knowles will be in performance Jan. 24-Mar. 17 at MetroStage. The production explores the jazz folklore, mythologies and backstage stories of the 40’s and 50’s with four legendary jazz divas as they gather to commemorate the passing of jazz legend Charlie Parker.