Deidrie Henry stars as Billie HolidayinLady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grillat The Armory, but her history with Portland Center Stage and former Artistic Director Chris Coleman go way back. From a degree in aeronautical science to first acting with Chris at the age of 16,learn more about this incredible artist and her fascinating career.
Deidrie has the distinction of performing in Chris’s opening (Closer in2000) and closing seasons (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill in 2018) as Artistic Directorat Portland Center Stage at The Armory.
Chris first directed Deidrie when she was 16 years old in The Good Person of Szechwanby Bertolt Brecht (she playedThe Good Person) atThe Georgia Governor’s Honors Program — a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school students.
In June 2016, Deidrie performed the famous role of Blanche in Tennessee William'sA Streetcar Named Desire directed by Chris. The audience raved about her performance, one even said her performance was "the best Blanche I have ever seen."
Are you ready for this? Deidrie has a degree in aeronautical science. In the early 1990s she trained as a pilot, but Eastern Airlines folded the year she graduated and the market was flooded with unemployed pilots. Deidrie says “the universe conspired” to get her back to the stage and that same year she acted alongside Chris inThe Visionat Actor’s Express, founded in 1988 by Chris and Harold M. Leaver in Atlanta, Georgia.
L-R: Kevin Kenerly, Vilma Silva and Deidrie Henry in "As You Like It" at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2002. Photo by David Cooper.
Deidrie also performed at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival for four seasons, including the roles of Rosalind inAs You Like It, Irina inThree Sisters, Susie inWit, Ophelia inHamletand Vera Dotson inSeven Guitars, among others.
She performed in Dael Orlandersmith's (Forever, 2016 andUntil The Floodin our upcoming 2018-2019 season)Yellowmanat Berkeley Repertory Theatre and then againat The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. A runaway hit, it ran for eight months in Los Angelesand shewas honored as Best Actress from theNAACP and received an Ovation Award, Backstage Garland Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award.
Since 2009,Deidrie has played the role ofAnnie, the official spokesperson for Popeyes, in television commercials. Her beloved character is credited for helping Popeyes discover its brand identity.
About Deidrie Henry
![]() | Los Angeles theater:A Raisin in the SunandParadeat Center Theatre Group;Coming Home andYellowman(Best Actress Awards from the NAACP, Ovation Award, Backstage Garland Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award) at The Fountain Theatre; Small Tragedyat Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.Regional theater:It Can't Happen HereandYellowmanat Berkeley Repertory Theatre;A Streetcar Named DesireandCloserat The Armory;American Night: The Ballad of Juan Joséat Yale Repertory Theater;Ballad of Emmett Tillat Goodman Theatre; Oregon Shakespeare Festival for four seasons, appearing as Rosalind inAs You Like It, Irina inThree Sisters,Susie inWit,Ophelia in Hamlet, Vera Dotson inSeven Guitars,among others; Blues for an Alabama Sky(Helen Hays Award nomination) at the Alliance Theatre, Hartford Stage, Arena Stage and Huntington Theatre Company.Other awards: Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist and Cabaret Debut for her cabaret,What a Day for a Daydream (New York).Television:Game of Silence,The Riches,Criminal Minds,Justified,GleeandCSI.Film:Beyond the LightsandBeautiful Boy. |
Editors note: This article original stated that Deidrie Henry can fly commercial planes — she is a pilot, but not a commercial airline pilot. It also incorrectly stated thatDeidrie has been filming three to four commercialswith Popeyes since 2013 — she has been filming numerous commercials since 2009.We apologize for the errors. We do, however, stand by our original sentiment that Deidrie is an extraordinary human.
More about Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill:
Reviews of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"
"Packed with great music and featuring an incredible performance by Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday,Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grillis an absolute must-see."-BroadwayWorld
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Playwright Lanie Robertson on Finding the Voice to Make "Lady Day" Sing
Playwright Lanie Robertson talks about capturing Billie Holiday's voice for"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill."
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Specialty co*cktails Inspired by "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"
Bar Supervisor (and resident mixologist) Melissa Larrabee introduces the specialty co*cktails in honor of our final show of the season,Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
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A Force of Nature: Deidrie Henry on Becoming Billie Holiday
Deidrie Henry on the challenges, rewards and importance ofbecoming the iconic Lady Day.
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"Lady Day" Cast and Creative Team
Meet the incredible cast and creative team behind Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.
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Photos: "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"
See photos ofLady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grillcoming to The Armory May 26-July 1, 2018.
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September 30 – March 31 • FREEPortland Center Stage will hostMeet Me At The Center, atwo-part art installation by Portland-based visual artist Maria TD Inocencio. Themixed media collage uses images from nature to represent our city's residents and the ways that their lives intersect.
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Art Exhibit: More Than February by Ronin Roc
January 14 – March 31 • FREEPortland Center Stage will hostMore Than February,an artexhibit by Portland-basedmultidisciplinaryartistRonin Roc, featuring icons of Black history to honor, reshape, and reclaim the legacy andstories that get passed down from one generation to the next.
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March 6 – April 30 • FREE¡Soy Yo!, is a multi-media project, created by Mika Martinez, that examines and celebrates Latinx identity featuringmore than 50 portraits of the Hispanic/Latino community in Portland.
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Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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