Starring
Freda Payne

Freda Payne is a Detroit Native and Grammy Award nominated artist. Her song “Band of Gold” reached number 3 in the US and was certified Gold. It reached the peak position on the UK singles chart and remained #1 for 6 weeks in 1970.

Conceived by Maurice Hines Jr.
Written and Directed by Lee Summers

May 29 - June 23, 2024

Ella, First Lady of Song traces the 60-year career of the woman Mel Torme called “the best singer on the planet.” The story of Ella Fitzgerald truly challenges the age-old saying “The show must go on.” From the Apollo Theater to the CÔte d’Azur, this jazz musical covers Fitzgerald’s hardscrabble childhood to her enduring legacy in the music world and beyond. Songs include classics such as “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “A Tisket-A-Tasket,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”.

*Michigan Premiere
MBT Rating: Middle School & Up

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