Alpine Theatre Project presents 'Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill'

Alpine Theatre Project (ATP) presents "Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill" at ATP Studios at Mountain Center in Whitefish, opening Thursday, Feb. 12. Performances run Feb. 12–15 and Feb. 19–22, with 7 p.m. evening performances and 3 p.m. Sunday matinees on Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, each followed by a post-show talkback. 

Set in a recreated late-night club environment, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill places audiences inside an intimate jazz club setting as Billie Holiday’s story unfolds between songs. This is an amazing, close-up night of live music and storytelling, designed to feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable inside Emerson’s. 

“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is exquisite. It’s intimate, it’s honest, and it pulls you into the room in a way you don’t expect,” said Tracy McDowell, artistic director of Alpine Theatre Project. 

Angela Wildflower stars as Billie Holiday. Wildflower is a professional actress and singer whose credits include Broadway’s Motown The Musical and television appearances including Atlanta and Blue Bloods. Her performance is amazing: vocally fearless, emotionally exacting, and built for an intimate room where every moment lands. 

ATP’s production is directed by LaTrisa Harper, whose credits span Broadway, national tours, Off-Broadway, and regional stages. Her Broadway credits include The Color Purple (u/s Nettie, Squeak) and The Lion King (Cheetah). National touring credits include Motown (Mary Wells, Gwen Gordy) and The Color Purple (u/s Nettie, Squeak). Harper is also a longtime teaching artist with Harlem School for the Arts and has directed and choreographed productions including In the Heights, Sister Act, Once On This Island, The Wiz, and Matilda. She is a former member of Ailey II and holds a B.F.A. from Towson State University. 

Music direction and piano are by Joshua Stephen Kartes, who is based in Denver. Kartes leads the musical world of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill from the piano, shaping the pacing, tone, and emotional arc of the evening in real time. His role is central to the production’s intimate, club-style feel, supporting Holiday’s songs with the close collaboration that makes the music feel immediate and alive. 

The production features live jazz and iconic Billie Holiday songs, including: “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” “God Bless the Child,” “Strange Fruit,” “T’Ain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do,” “Don’t Explain,” and more. 

Tickets and information: Shows + Tickets — Alpine Theatre Project