“Lady Day” has ties to Donaldsonville

     BATON ROUGE – Beginning Wednesday, The Lyceum Dean Ballroom, Baton Rouge will be transformed into Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Assumption High School and Lowery Middle School graduate, Lori Payne will be the gardenia-wearing jazz emperess, Billie Holiday.

     Produced by New Venture Theatre, the show is a Broadway Production modeled after Holiday’s small performeances occuring after she had been banned from loareger venues for her narcotics convcition.

     Set in a south Philadelphia bar in 1959, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is Holiday singing some of her most beloved songs, talking about her life and chatting with the audience.

     Performances of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill will be Nov. 11-13 at the Lyceum Dean Ballroom, 343 North Third St. For more info, visit newventuretheatre.org