The Lewis family of New Orleans will present the New York City premiere of “Belle Noire,” a theatrical concert honoring iconic Black female jazz performers, for a one-night engagement on June 16.
The production is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065). Directed by the mother-daughter team of Leila and Kay Lewis, the performance serves as a multidisciplinary tribute to legends such as Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Dandridge, and Ella Fitzgerald.
“Belle Noire” combines live jazz, tap dance, and narration with archival imagery and cinematic projections. The show specifically aims to restore “lost moments” of jazz history, including recreations of performances that were historically edited out of classic films like “Broadway Rhythm” and “Sun Valley Serenade” during their original Southern theater releases.
“We weren’t seeing much of this type of performance anywhere,” Leila Lewis said in a statement. “Not just singers in pretty gowns, but theatrical, character-driven shows.”
The production is an intergenerational effort featuring several members of the Lewis family, a lineage of New Orleans musicians and educators. Featured vocalist Kay Lewis is joined by a cast and crew that includes her father, veteran bassist and New Orleans Jazz National Park ranger Kerry Lewis Sr., and several cousins and siblings serving as dancers, painters, and arrangers.
The ensemble is rounded out by a circle of “chosen family” mentors from the New Orleans jazz community, including saxophonist Louis Ford and trumpeter Jamil Sharif.
“As a family, we create for the joy of it,” Kay Lewis said. “We’ve been presenting concerts together for years, just to bring our vision to life.”
The performance has a runtime of one hour and 40 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. General admission tickets range from $29 to $69. Click here to purchase tickets.
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