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Passage Theatre, Trenton's professional theater company, will open its 2009-2010 season with Barrymore-nominated actress Demetria Joyce Bailey starring in "Ethel Waters — His Eye is on the Sparrow" by Larry Parr, September 17 through September 27.

This newly conceived production, under the direction of Robert Lanchester, is based on last season's Solo Flights hit and returns triumphantly to Trenton for an extended run.

"Ethel Waters — His Eye is on the Sparrow" tells the story of the singer-actress who was born in 1896 in Chester, Pa. Her career spanned Broadway, Hollywood and television. Mr. Parr's script places Waters in a late phase of her career, performing as a featured singer with Billy Graham's evangelical crusades.

As Waters recounts the hardships and successes of her life, she interjects performances of songs that went on to be classics, including "Stormy Weather," "Black and Blue," "Taking a Chance on Love," and of course her signature number "His Eye is on the Sparrow."

The Philadelphia Inquirer raved, "When you watch Demetria Joyce Bailey's portrayal...it's an accomplished, informed realization — and moreover, she's a charmer."

Passage Theatre performs in the historic Mill Hill Playhouse an intimate 100-seat theater in the heart of downtown Trenton adjacent to the Mill Hill district.

Performances of "Ethel Waters - His Eye is on the Sparrow" are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.. Current sold out dates: 9/19, 9/20, 9/26. Tickets, priced at $25 and $30 (Saturdays), are available by calling (609) 392-0766 or on-line at www.passagetheatre.org.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM