• PRINT EDITIONS
  • | CONTACT
  • | TEL: 304.645.1206 | E: hello@wvdn.com
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
West Virginia Daily News
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Tech
    • Crime
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News

    Monongahela National Forest plans prescribed burn in the Hopkins Knob area of Greenbrier County

    President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. (left) and Bluefield State University President Robin Capehart

    WVSOM statewide pipeline program welcomes BSU as latest partner

    Tom Cullerton named deputy district ranger in the Mon

    White Sulphur Springs Library to hold blood drive

    WVSOM's Drema Hill with Gov. Jim Justice

    WVSOM vice president contributes to establishment of West Virginia First Foundation

    Former Rainelle Mayor Andy Pendleton announces plans to run again

    Trending Tags

    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Ronceverte
    • Greenbrier County
    • Monroe County
    • Rupert
    • Beckley
    • Smoot
    • Local News
    • State News
    • National News
    • Crime
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • All
    • College Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Local Sports

    Cavalier Hurlers Combine to No-Hit Richwood in Opener

    Julia Herndon blasted a 3-run homer to cap the scoring in Gbr. West's 18-8 win (Photo by Robin Fields)

    Lady Cavaliers Craft Comeback Win at Webster County

    Allyson Martin poses with her mom, Angie, and her home run ball after East's 16-0 win over Pikeview. Martin hit her first career home run in the victory (Photo by her teammate, Taylor Boswell)

    Martin Homers as Lady Spartans Beat Pikeview

    Gabe Patton pitched seven innings and struck out 10 against Oak Hill (Photo by Nikki Bennett)

    Spartans Take Lead in Sixth to Defeat Oak Hill

    2023 Greenbrier East Tennis team

    Spartan tennis falls to George Washington

    Brilee Redden delivers a pitch in Greenbrier West's 9-1 win over James Monroe (Photo by Lisa Redden)

    Lady Cavaliers Collect Coalfield win over James Monroe

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier East
    • Greenbrier West
    • Marshall Sports
    • WVU Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet March 28

    WSS City Council hears pedestrian bridge concerns; police chief warns about vehicle break-ins

    White Sulphur Springs City Council to meet March 13

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet Monday, March 13

    A Greenbrier County grand jury handed up the following indictments in Greenbrier County Circuit Court on June 9.

    Greenbrier County Board of Zoning Appeals to meet March 7

    Ronceverte Woman’s Club to hold candidate forum

    Ronceverte City Council to meet March 6

    Lewisburg Parks Commission to meet March 7

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle
  • Election Center
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Tech
    • Crime
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News

    Monongahela National Forest plans prescribed burn in the Hopkins Knob area of Greenbrier County

    President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. (left) and Bluefield State University President Robin Capehart

    WVSOM statewide pipeline program welcomes BSU as latest partner

    Tom Cullerton named deputy district ranger in the Mon

    White Sulphur Springs Library to hold blood drive

    WVSOM's Drema Hill with Gov. Jim Justice

    WVSOM vice president contributes to establishment of West Virginia First Foundation

    Former Rainelle Mayor Andy Pendleton announces plans to run again

    Trending Tags

    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Ronceverte
    • Greenbrier County
    • Monroe County
    • Rupert
    • Beckley
    • Smoot
    • Local News
    • State News
    • National News
    • Crime
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • All
    • College Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Local Sports

    Cavalier Hurlers Combine to No-Hit Richwood in Opener

    Julia Herndon blasted a 3-run homer to cap the scoring in Gbr. West's 18-8 win (Photo by Robin Fields)

    Lady Cavaliers Craft Comeback Win at Webster County

    Allyson Martin poses with her mom, Angie, and her home run ball after East's 16-0 win over Pikeview. Martin hit her first career home run in the victory (Photo by her teammate, Taylor Boswell)

    Martin Homers as Lady Spartans Beat Pikeview

    Gabe Patton pitched seven innings and struck out 10 against Oak Hill (Photo by Nikki Bennett)

    Spartans Take Lead in Sixth to Defeat Oak Hill

    2023 Greenbrier East Tennis team

    Spartan tennis falls to George Washington

    Brilee Redden delivers a pitch in Greenbrier West's 9-1 win over James Monroe (Photo by Lisa Redden)

    Lady Cavaliers Collect Coalfield win over James Monroe

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier East
    • Greenbrier West
    • Marshall Sports
    • WVU Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet March 28

    WSS City Council hears pedestrian bridge concerns; police chief warns about vehicle break-ins

    White Sulphur Springs City Council to meet March 13

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet Monday, March 13

    A Greenbrier County grand jury handed up the following indictments in Greenbrier County Circuit Court on June 9.

    Greenbrier County Board of Zoning Appeals to meet March 7

    Ronceverte Woman’s Club to hold candidate forum

    Ronceverte City Council to meet March 6

    Lewisburg Parks Commission to meet March 7

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle
  • Election Center
No Result
View All Result
West Virginia Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Cavalier Hurlers Combine to No-Hit Richwood in Opener

March 28, 2023
Julia Herndon blasted a 3-run homer to cap the scoring in Gbr. West's 18-8 win (Photo by Robin Fields)

Lady Cavaliers Craft Comeback Win at Webster County

March 28, 2023

Monongahela National Forest plans prescribed burn in the Hopkins Knob area of Greenbrier County

March 28, 2023
President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. (left) and Bluefield State University President Robin Capehart

WVSOM statewide pipeline program welcomes BSU as latest partner

March 28, 2023

Obituary: Richard “Dick” Donovan, 101

March 28, 2023

Tags

Alderson Art Business Carnegie Hall Charleston college Community Court Dear Abby Education EPA Family Featured Grant Greenbrier Greenbrier County Greenbrier East Greenbrier East High School Greenbrier East Sports health High School Home Jim Justice Justice Land Last Lewisburg Local Man NY Park Plan Project Ronceverte School Son State The Greenbrier University US VA Virginia West Virginia White Sulphur Springs WV
QR Code

Lady D to bring the spirit of Bessie Smith to the Pocahontas County Opera House

WV Daily NewsbyWV Daily News
in Entertainment
March 17, 2023
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
The Pocahontas County Opera House will present "The Lady and the Empress" on Saturday, April 15. 

The Pocahontas County Opera House will present "The Lady and the Empress" on Saturday, April 15. 

17
SHARES
119
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MARLINTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – On Saturday, April 15, the Pocahontas County Opera House will present Doris Fields (also known as Lady D) in a one-woman show, “The Lady and the Empress,” at 7:30 p.m.

The stage play, written by Fields, is based on the life and music of blues legend Bessie Smith who was also known as the “Empress of the Blues.”

The performance runs approximately 90–100 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, and features many of Smith’s most popular songs such as “T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” and “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.”

In channeling the spirit of Smith, Fields melds past and present, old and new, to create a fully self-aware character.

Since there is only one known video of the singer performing and speaking, liberty was taken in creating a persona that meshes the personalities and talents of both Smith and Fields.

The play setting is clearly in Smith’s boudoir among her stylish clothes and accessories, but the audience is unaware of the year. Smith, however, is fully aware that she is no longer among the living, but she is eager to share a little about the amazing life that she lived.

Covering the Jim Crow era, the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Depression, Smith’s life was much too big to fit into 90 minutes but add to that a modern-era band in her bedroom to help her tell her tale, and theatergoers get a scene that comes across as totally reasonable.

As people evolve, so does the show, as Smith has no problem interacting and ad-libbing with her audience, who she has allowed into her intimate space. She shares much, but also leaves much unsaid.

Questions about her love life and sexuality are left rather vague; however, she was known as much for her singing and bawdy performances as she was for her bisexuality. She never learned to read or write, but she was a savvy businesswoman and bandleader. She never had children of her own, but she adopted the son of one of her chorus girls’ nieces.

“The Lady and the Empress” leaves much to the imagination without downplaying the “bigger than life” character that was Bessie Smith.

The Pocahontas County Opera House is a 250-seat, historic theater located in Marlinton. The Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation puts on an annual performance series to bring in both local and international musicians, theater groups and other performers to Pocahontas County.

The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Ave. in Marlinton.

WV Daily News

WV Daily News

West Virginia Daily News has been serving Greenbrier and Monroe Counties since 1852.

Tags: AudienceBessie SmithBusinessFeaturedFoundationGreat DepressionHarlem RenaissanceHistoricLocalMusicNYPastPocahontas CountyPocahontas County Opera HouseSingerTheaterUSVAWV

Related

Greenbrier Sporting Club head pastry chef Alyssa Mayo
Entertainment

Alice in Wonderland-themed treats to be featured at Lewisburg Chocolate Festival

March 28, 2023
James Alford
Entertainment

James Alford recognized as American Heritage Music Hall Very Valuable Person

March 28, 2023
Abigail Van Buren
Entertainment

Dear Abby: Man forgives wife’s affair, starts his own

March 28, 2023
Entertainment

Recipes from Ronee: Big basil shrimp chowder

March 27, 2023
Load More

Next Post

Fort Spring Pike to be closed for bridge repair

West Virginia Daily News

The West Virginia Daily News has been serving the Greenbrier Valley and southeastern West Virginia since 1852.

Learn more

Information

  • Login
  • Home
  • Subscribe to The WV Daily News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ethics, Standards & Corrections
  • Submit News and Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • _____________
  • Home
  • Editions
  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News
    • Crime
    • Business and Tech
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle & Culture

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
west virginia daily newstaxi how muchupdown

Subscribe For Full Access

Flipbooks are available to paid subscribers only. Subscribe now or log in for access.