"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" is a celebration of the life and music of Billie Holiday. It's on stage now at the Arvada Center. The production is an intimate, immersive experience. The set is cabaret-style, so some audience members are immersed in the action, which gives the very personal portrayal of Holiday even more intimate.

"The music is beautiful. I'm so grateful I get to sing it," Essence Anise Tyler, who plays Billie Holiday in this one performer play. "I don't necessarily sing it like I would sing it. I had to place it in a certain way that was more like Billie."

The Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities

Capturing the way Holiday manipulated phrasing and tempo was a challenge that Tyler embraced. She also had to embody the emotions of Holiday's turbulent life.

"Some of

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