Since Ella went on the road about 4 years ago, the production has earned an impressive three million dollars and has played in 19 regional theaters. So, for all those critics who didn't like it, maybe they were also for the Indianapolis Colts at the Super Bowl.
In other words, they can't pick a winner. Ella is a winner. You don't earn those kind of bucks if you are a loser. Audiences like Ella Fitzgerald and the house was nearly full on Super Bowl Sunday at the Pamela Brown Auditorium.
Ella shines with Tina Fabrique as Ella Fitzgerald, whom many consider to be the First Lady of Jazz. Fitzgerald was best known for her “scat” singing, the improvisational musical verbiage thought to have roots in Africa.
This production has been called a bio-musical and that is the exact term to describe director Rob Ruggiero's salute to one of America's greatest performers who started her career in an amateur night at the renowned Apollo Theater in New York in 1934, and continued to move audiences until her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall in 1991. She recorded more than 200 albums and won 13 Grammys.
Ella Fitzgerald was not only the First Lady of Jazz for almost 60 years, she could sing the blues with the best, croon a ballad with Frank Sinatra, or knock out a novelty song with no competition.
The cast and crew have replicated a night club atmosphere much to the dismay of some theatre purists. But, theatre is always evolving and this production will appeal to anyone who demands to be truly entertained. And there is a story between the songs. It's a story of a woman who had a gift. It's a story of a woman who had hard choices to make juggling a career with motherhood. And it's a story of a black woman who never gave up wanting to sing her heart out for her fans.
And if you want to hear the best jazz in town right now, this is the place. You won't be disappointed. The smooth trumpet of Ron Haynes, the rhythmic drums of Rodney Harper, along with Clifton Kellem's melodic bass and George Caldwell's lively piano will leave you wanting more. It's classic jazz at it's finest. And you can take the kids. It's the perfect venue to introduce them to jazz and music history.
Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 584-1205 www.actorstheatre.org
Remaining performances - through Feb. 20
ADULT TICKETS
Previews: $23, $31
Wednesday Matinee: $28, $38, $43
Sunday-Thursday & Weekend Matinees: $34, $44, 50
Opening & Friday-Saturday Evenings: $38, $48, $59
KIDS TICKETS Ages 11 - 14, $15 kids tickets available with purchase of adult full-price ticket
(Children's discount not available online and cannot be combined with Subscriber Discount.) This play is recommended for children 11 and up.
The review was fabulous.... I was there and I enjoy the show very much so. I recomend That you go see this with you friends and love ones. I don't like Jazz but this show lifted me and a few others out of thier seats to clap wit amusement.... This is a play that you must go see for yourself to experience the thrills that i recieved while sitting there and listing to all the goood music and of course SCATING.....
(Review by Alida Antonia Cornelius)
3
Theatre Lou.