For Immediate Release: January 17, 2007
Media Contact: Chuck Reece, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 215.785.0100

It's just one of those things that happens in live theatre. The leading man or lady can't do the show and their "Standby" goes on. Anthony Hopkins filled in for Sir Laurence Olivier at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shirley MacLaine went on for.what's-her-name in The Pajama Game.

At Bristol Riverside Theatre, it's Demetria Joyce Bailey's turn, as she steps in to play the title role in the Northeast Premiere of Larry Parr's Ethel Waters, His Eye Is On The Sparrow. Ernestine Jackson, who was slated to play the role, left the production stating that her health would prohibit her from continuing with the production. Opening night is Thursday, January 25 at 8:00pm.

With just 9 days before the first public performance, Ms. Bailey has quite a task before her. She is used to rehearsing at BRT on a tight schedule, two weeks, about 40 hours total in BRT's Summer Musicale productions. But those shows have six performers and no dialogue; Sparrow is a one-woman show. Not only does she have 17 songs to learn, she must memorize the biographical monologues throughout the 59 page script. And to top it off, she is performing in the new play My Mother's Inheritance at the Arts Garage in Philadelphia through Sunday, January 21.

Following Ms. Bailey's first rehearsal Tuesday director Susan D. Atkinson remarked, "I am floored by Demetria's abilities to absorb so much music, dialogue and blocking in one day. We all knew she was talented, but her retention of the material and insight to the character was marvelous. I am greatly looking forward to the wonderful performance she is going to give."

Ms. Bailey, who lives in Philadelphia, has previously performed on the BRT stage in the 2006 Summer Musicale Series productions of For Sentimental Reasons: A Tribute to Nat 'King' Cole, War Songs: The Songs of the Vietnam Era and Broadway Rhapsody. She also joined the cast of BRT's fourth annual Winter Musicale this past December. She counts among her favorite stage credits Ain't Misbehavin' and Little Shop of Horrors, and has appeared on television in General Hospital and HBO's The Wire and on film in Unbreakable, Fallen, and The Fugitive among others.

This is not the first production she has faced last-minute adversity. In 2001 she was playing the role of the grandmother in the World Premiere production of Sparkle: The Musical at Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia. As she arrived for her 7:30 call before an 8:00 show, the stage manager informed her that the woman playing the aunt had been in a car accident and Ms. Bailey would be going on her place. "I kind of stumbled around the stage making sure I got all the cue lines out for the other actors for two days, and was extremely relieved when the person I was filling in for came back."

She was happy to give the role back.then. This time, it's all hers.

Ethel Waters, His Eye Is On the Sparrow runs Wednesdays through Sundays, January 25 through February 11 at Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, in Historic Bristol Borough. Regular prices are $39-$42 (depending on the day of performance) and are available by calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100, or online at www.BRTstage.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. BRT thanks Verizon, Grand Sponsor of its 20th Anniversary Season.

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