Billie Holiday Large
After a much extended absence, Lady Day will return to the Apollo. The historic New York City venue has just announced that Billie Holiday will be indeed performing live before the year is out...as a hologram. A new partnership has been struck between the Apollo Theater and Hologram USA with the aim of presenting regular hologram recration performances of legendary artists in a first-of-its-kind series. In addition to Billie Holiday, 21st Century high-tech revivals of Duke Ellington and the Count Basie Orchestra, Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge will also soon take place.
Ms. Holliday, of course, made her debut at the Apollo Theater, and performed on its iconic stage over two dozen times throughout her career. In an official statement, Hologram USA CEO Alki David boasted "To be able to bring back epic artists on the historic stage that gave them their debuts is mind-boggling, and is exactly why I invested so much into this technology." The Apollo's CEO and President, Jonelle Procope, also beamed in her announcement of the hologram shows. “We are so pleased to expand our programming and employ this dramatic, cutting-edge technology as we continue to find new and innovative ways to celebrate our rich legacy for contemporary audiences,” she said.
“The possibilities inherent in this initiative are very exciting, allowing us the ability to show the enduring impact and relevance of artists across time periods and geographic locations. We’re looking forward to connecting our audiences with the artistry of great musicians, including Billie Holiday, through the magic of this technology," Procope concluded. The exact dates of the new hologram performances have yet to be announced, but will reportedly be posted soon on The Apollo's official website.
Spotted at: Gothamist
