Freda Payne, the celebrated singer of the disco-era top-charter “Band of Gold” is bringing her acclaimed Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald to Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main Street in New Hope, for 10 concerts, Aug. 26-Sept. 5. Tickets are now on sale at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 215-862-2121.
Payne, an accomplished R&B and jazz vocalist, pays tribute to the legendary Fitzgerald’s 60-plus-year career, from her 1934 award-winning Apollo Theater debut through her celebrated career as a vocalist. The star of Broadway shows like Jelly’s Last Jam, Sophisticated Ladies and Blues in the Night, Payne recreates the spirit of Fitzgerald with her renditions of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and “Mack the Knife,” as well as many other Fitzgerald classics.
Payne’s appearance at Bucks County Playhouse caps a summer that was centered on women. The Playhouse reopened its doors in the spring with the world premiere of Candace Bushnell’s Is There Still Sex in the City? and followed the production with a special engagement of an expanded version of Marilu Henner’s club act The Marilu Henner Show. In between, the Playhouse Youth Company, an ensemble of 11 teenage women from the region, entertained audiences with their original work Dream Awake.
