The Lewis Family of New Orleans will present the New York City premiere of “Belle Noire,” a theatrical concert celebrating the lineage, artistry, and community foundations of iconic Black female performers, for a one-night-only engagement on Tuesday, June 16.
The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, located at Loewe Plaza on East 68th Street between Park and Lexington avenues. Co-directed by Leila Lewis and Kay Lewis, the production traces a historical through-line from early Black women entertainers to contemporary performers.
General admission tickets for the event range from $29 to $69 and are available through the venue’s ticketing platform. The production has a running time of one hour and 40 minutes, which includes a 15-minute intermission.
The theatrical concert pays tribute to jazz legends such as Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Dandridge, and Ella Fitzgerald. The performance integrates live jazz, tap dance, vintage visuals, elegant costuming, and cinematic projections.
A key focus of the production is the visual artistry of the era, including theatrical renditions of performances that were historically cut from classic films like “Broadway Rhythm” and “Sun Valley Serenade” during their southern theater releases, as well as imagined recreations where no archival footage exists.
“We weren’t seeing much of this type of performance anywhere; not on YouTube, not online,” Leila Lewis said. “Not just singers in pretty gowns, but theatrical, character-driven shows. So we figured if we started it, maybe others would be inspired to follow.”
The project was created by New Orleans-born vocalist Kay Lewis and her mother, Leila Lewis. It was originally developed in collaboration with choreographer and director Mickey Davidson for its New Orleans premiere, and has been expanded for its New York presentation.
The ensemble draws heavily from generations of the Lewis family, including veteran bassist Kerry Lewis Sr., drummer Korey Lewis Sr., multi-instrumentalist Damien Gibson, arranger-bassist-keyboardist Kerry Lewis Jr., cellist Kyle Lewis, dancer and choreographer Gabrielle Lewis, and painter Alexis McQuarter.
The production also features long-term musical mentors and collaborators, including saxophonist Louis Ford, trumpeter Jamil Sharif, pianist Mari Watanabe, and trombonist Ronell “Roo” Johnson.
“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 and hear the kind of music we wish artists still played.”
Click here to purchase tickets.
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