MetroStage "Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song"
The dynamic Freda Payne is the primary reason to see Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, the latest biographical musical, at MetroStage in Alexandria, Virginia. While Lee Summers' book follows the "and-then-I-sang" template, the show receives a boost in authenticity from conceiver and director Maurice Hines, who worked with Ella during his own legendary career.