San Diego Artist Karole Foreman Returns to Cygnet as Jazz Icon Billie Holiday.

Performances run January 24 – February 18, 2024

SAN DIEGO, CA – Cygnet Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill by Lanie Robertson. This riveting one-act musical is directed by Wren T. Brown, the Artistic Director at Ebony Repertory Theatre. It runs January 24 – February 18 at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Opening Night for media is Saturday, January 27 at 7:00 PM. Tickets and information are available at CygnetTheatre.com.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill recounts Billie Holiday’s life story through the songs that made her famous. 1959, in a small, intimate bar in Philadelphia, Holiday puts on a show that unbeknownst to the audience, will leave them witnesses to one of the last performances of her lifetime. Through her poignant voice and moving songs, one of the greatest jazz singers of all-time shares her loves and her losses.

Playing the jazz icon is San Diego native Karole Foreman, who has graced the Cygnet stage in A Little Night Music and Stupid F**king Bird. She said “I am looking forward to coming home to San Diego and to Cygnet Theatre to perform Lady Day. It’s been a profound opportunity to share Billie Holiday’s story with so many audiences, but I am particularly excited to be here in my hometown with this production. I also feel honored to be able to be a part of Cygnet’s final season in Old Town. It feels like a full circle moment.”

Artistic Director Sean Murray was thrilled to be able to include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill in the Season 20 lineup. He said, “I’ve been dreaming of bringing Karole’s performance as the jazz legend Billie Holiday to our audience and to San Diego for some time. She has dazzled in this role since she debuted it in Los Angeles, and subsequently throughout the country for a couple of years now. Karole is one of Cygnet’s favorite performers and we are thrilled to share her take on Billie with San Diego.”

Karole will be accompanied by Damon Carter on piano as Jimmy Powers. Carter is also the musical director for the show.

In addition to direction by Wren T. Brown, the creative team for Cygnet’s production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill includes original scenic design by Edward E. Haynes Jr., with Mathys Herbert as associate scenic designer. Sound design is by Evan Eason, lighting design by Donna Ruzika, costume design by Kimberly DeShazo, wig and makeup design by Peter Herman, and stage management by Craig Campbell.

Tickets for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill are on sale now and may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street in San Diego Old Town Historic State Park, by calling 619-337-1525, or by visiting cygnettheatre.com. Regular ticket prices start at $39.

Cygnet Theatre Company produces a year-round season of professional Off-Broadway-style theatre as well as thought-provoking and engaging educational programming. Cygnet is committed to maintaining high standards of artistic and fiscal integrity, and serves more than 40,000 patrons annually from San Diego and beyond. Cygnet performs its mainstage productions at the state-of-the-art theatre in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. An active member of the San Diego community, Cygnet has outreach programs serving tens of thousands of students and community members annually. For more information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Fact Sheet

WHAT:

Cygnet Theatre presents Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill by Lanie Robertson

WHERE:

Cygnet Theatre

4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

WHO:

Director: Wren Brown

Music Director: Damon Carter

Original Scenic Design: Edward E. Haynes Jr.

Associate Scenic Designer: Mathys Herbert

Sound Designer: Evan Eason

Costume Designer: Kimberly DeShazo

Lighting Designer: Donna Ruzika

Wig and Makeup Designer: Peter Herman°

Stage Manager: Craig Campbell*°

CAST:

Karole Foreman: Billie Holiday*

Damon Carter: Jimmy Powers

*Member of Actors Equity Association, °Resident Artist

DATES:  

Previews begin: Wednesday, January 24, 7:00 PM

Press Opening: Saturday, January 27, 7:00 PM

Closes: Sunday, February 18, 2:00 PM

Showtimes:

Wednesday – Saturday at 7:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM

PRICE:      

Prices start at $39 with discounts for preview performances, student and military.

HOW:

Phone: (619) 337-1525

Online: www.cygnettheatre.com

In Person: Cygnet Theatre – 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego, CA 92110

With Artistic Director Sean Murray as Ebenezer Scrooge

Performances run December 1 through 30, 2023.

Cygnet Theatre Company produces a year-round season of professional Off-Broadway-style theatre as well as thought-provoking and engaging educational programming. Cygnet is committed to maintaining high standards of artistic and fiscal integrity, and serves more than 40,000 patrons annually from San Diego and beyond. Cygnet performs its mainstage productions at the state-of-the-art theatre in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. An active member of the San Diego community, Cygnet has outreach programs serving tens of thousands of students and community members annually. For more information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com.

A World Premiere by Kate Hamill

Performances run October 25 – November 19, 2023

SAN DIEGO, CA – Cygnet Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team of The Little Fellow (or – The Queen of Tarts Tells All) by renowned playwright Kate Hamill. This world premiere is directed by Rob Lutfy and runs October 25 – November 19 at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Opening Night for media is Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 PM. Tickets and information are available at CygnetTheatre.com.

The Little Fellow is a risqué comedic drama loosely based on the life and tell-all memoirs of the 19th century’s most famous courtesan – Harriette Wilson, also known as The Little Fellow. Since the age of thirteen, Harriet has navigated through the pitiless and glamorous world of the British regency’s demi-monde: eventually becoming the “top of the bottom” as the self-styled Queen of Tarts. Her defiance of social conventions and refusal to be a lady have attracted many patrons – included some of the country’s most distinguished and high-powered men. But Harriet wants to get out of the ‘business’… and she has a plan. A plan that may threaten her reputation, her business, and ultimately, her life – as she confronts the cost of winning in an unjust world.

The Little Fellow (or – The Queen of Tarts Tells All) received its first reading through The Bill and Judy Garrett Finish Line Commission in 2019.

“Like most playwrights, I have plays ‘on my shelf’ – earlier plays that haven’t yet seen the light of day,” said playwright Kate Hamill. “That was the great gift of The Bill and Judy Garrett Finish Line Commission – to help me rewrite The Little Fellow and bring it to life; without the commission, I doubt I would have re-attacked the piece! The Little Fellow was my second full-length play, originally written in 2014 – and when I came to work on it with my friend Robby Lutfy at Cygnet in 2019, I completely revamped and retooled the script.” She continued, “This play is based on the true story of the (in)famous-in-her-time Harriette Wilson, the greatest and most unusual courtesan of her day, who brought her wealthy and powerful clients to their knees. I’m excited and grateful to bring this often-forgotten woman’s journey to the stage, and re-examine the emotional cost of power dynamics, sex work, and the intersection of gender/class roles – both in Harriette’s time and in our own.”

“I am excited to return to Cygnet to work on the world premier of a play I have loved for a long time with an incredible team of artists,” said director Rob Lutfy. “Kate Hamill is not just an old friend of mine, but one of the most produced playwrights in the country year after year. The Little Fellow is set in the world of London in the 1830’s; a world of survival. In a time when vulnerability would get you killed, one had to consume or be consumed. So what happens when an England’s most popular courtesan decides to exploit her clients by exposing them at their most vulnerable? What does it cost to win in a society with extremely regimented rules and proscribed behavior? I’m fascinated by this story’s anti-heroine and the parallels to modern women like Stormy Daniels.”

The cast of The Little Fellow includes Keiko Green as Harriet Wilson, Sofia Jean Gomez as Julia Johnstone and others, Rachael VanWormer as Mary and others, and MJ Seiber as George Noel Hill, Lord of Berwick; Mr. Stockdale; Old Man the Marquis of Worcester; Arthur Wellesley, & others.

In addition to direction by Rob Lutfy, the creative team for Cygnet’s production of The Little Fellow includes scenic design by Yi-Chien Lee, lighting design by Anne E. McMills, sound design by Steven Leffue, props design by Alyssa Kane, costume design by Shirley Pierson, wig and makeup design by Peter Herman, and stage management by Heather Brose.

Tickets for The Little Fellow are on sale now and may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street in San Diego Old Town Historic State Park, by calling 619-337-1525, or by visiting cygnettheatre.com. Regular ticket prices start at $32.

Cygnet Theatre Company produces a year-round season of professional Off-Broadway-style theatre as well as thought-provoking and engaging educational programming. Cygnet is committed to maintaining high standards of artistic and fiscal integrity, and serves more than 40,000 patrons annually from San Diego and beyond. Cygnet performs its mainstage productions at the state-of-the-art theatre in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. An active member of the San Diego community, Cygnet has outreach programs serving tens of thousands of students and community members annually. For more information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com.

THE LITTLE FELLOW (OR – THE QUEEN OF TARTS TELLS ALL)

FACT SHEET

WHAT:

Cygnet Theatre presents The Little Fellow (or – The Queen of Tarts Tells All) by Kate Hamill

WHERE: 

Cygnet Theatre

4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

WHO:

Director: Rob Lutfy°

Scenic Designer: Yi-Chien Lee

Sound Designer: Steven Leffue

Costume Designer: Shirley Pierson°

Lighting Designer: Anne E. McMills

Props Designer: Alyssa Kane

Wig and Makeup Designer: Peter Herman°

Stage Manager: Heather Brose*°

CAST:  

Keiko Green*: Harriet Wilson

Sofia Jean Gomez*: Julia Johnstone and others

Rachael VanWormer°: Mary and others

MJ Seiber*: George Noel Hill, Lord of Berwick; Mr. Stockdale; Old Man the Marquis of Worcester; Arthur Wellesley, & others

*Member of Actors Equity Association, °Resident Artist

DATES: 

Previews begin: Wednesday, October 25, 7:00 PM

Press Opening: Saturday, October 28, 7:00 PM

Closes: Sunday, November 19, 2:00 PM

Showtimes:

Wednesday – Saturday at 7:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM

PRICE: 

Prices start at $27 with discounts for preview performances, student and military.

HOW:

Phone: (619) 337-1525

Online: www.cygnettheatre.com

In Person: Cygnet Theatre – 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego, CA 92110