The Billie Holiday Theatre will close out its 2025–2026 season with a special edition of its BILLIE & BEYOND music series on Saturday, April 4, marking what would have been the 111th birthday of jazz icon Billie Holiday.
The event continues the institution’s focus on honoring Holiday’s legacy while spotlighting contemporary artists shaping the future of Black music and cultural expression.
Launched in fall 2024 and co-curated by journalist and producer Bonsu Thompson, BILLIE & BEYOND centers women artists whose work reflects a blend of innovation, storytelling and cultural exchange. The season finale brings that vision into focus with a lineup that bridges poetry, live music and DJ performance.
"BILLIE & BEYOND was created to honor the enduring legacy of Billie Holiday by uplifting the next generation of artists whose work reflects the same depth, courage and creative spirit that defined her career," said Shadawn Smith, Executive Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre.
Headlining the evening is South African singer yolizama, a Brooklyn-based artist known for weaving together jazz, soul and global musical traditions. Performing in both isiXhosa and English, yolizama’s sound draws from Southern African musical textures alongside folk and soul influences.
Her work is rooted in personal storytelling while maintaining a broad, global perspective, shaped in part by artists such as Miriam Makeba, Busi Mhlongo, Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. Onstage, she is recognized for a style that balances intimacy with dynamic, emotionally resonant delivery.
The program opens with a performance by Mahogany L. Browne, an Emmy-nominated poet, author and educator whose work spans literature, performance and activism. Browne, who has received recognition from the NAACP Image Awards and the Kennedy Center, is known for poetry that engages themes of identity, justice and community. Her appearance is expected to set the tone for an evening centered on bold, multidisciplinary expression.
Hosting duties will be led by Shanelle Gabriel, a spoken word artist and singer whose work blends music and poetry. The night will also feature a set by DJ Tadi, adding a continuous musical thread throughout the program.
The event reflects the broader theme of the theatre’s current season, “Power,” which explores how power operates across personal, cultural and institutional dimensions within the Black experience. Programming throughout the season has included music, dance, theater and community-based events, all curated to highlight both established and emerging voices.
Located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the Billie Holiday Theatre has long served as a cultural anchor in Central Brooklyn. Founded in 1972, the venue has built a reputation for presenting work rooted in racial justice and artistic innovation, while also providing educational programming for a wide range of ages. Its legacy is closely tied to the Black Arts Movement and continues to influence its present-day programming.
Doors for the April 4 event open at 7:00pm, with the performance beginning at 8:00pm. Tickets are available at a reduced early rate through the end of Mar. with standard pricing beginning April 1. Group rates are also offered for larger parties.
As the season comes to a close, the finale underscores the theatre’s ongoing mission to connect past and present through performance, using Billie Holiday’s legacy as a foundation for amplifying new voices and creative perspectives.
