In Porchlight’s seductive and sobering production of Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, the moment Alexis J. Rogers makes her reluctant entrance, drink in hand, you know you’re in for a turbulent ride. Rogers, channeling the singular jazz singer Billie Holiday, known by her fans as “Lady Day,” simply captivates in the central role of this primarily one-woman showcase. And when Rogers opens her mouth to croon out Johnny Mercer’s “When a Woman Loves a Man”: goosebumps.

True, while Rogers may give off the vibe of being a decade too young for the role in this play, which captures Holiday during the last months of her life — a life filled with partying, prison time and personal tragedy — she captures the artist’s hard-worn spirit with fearlessness and honesty. In short: Rogers is Billie Holiday. Read the full review at The Huffington Post >