One-woman musical about Cole Porter's wife coming to Guild Hall stage

Guild Hall in East Hampton will present “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter,” Stevie Holland’s one-woman musical about Linda Porter and her life with Cole Porter for one night only, on Wednesday, September 1, at 8 p.m.

“Love, Linda” stars Ms. Holland as Linda Lee Thomas, the Southern beauty who married—and was a driving force behind—legendary songwriter Cole Porter at the dawn of the Roaring ’20s. Though her husband was gay, their companionship and love lasted through 35 years of marriage and together they lived a spectacular, glamour-filled life.

The show is directed by Ben West, whose direction of the musical “How Now, Dow Jones?” at the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival earned critical praise and a FringeNYC Excellence Award. Arrangements and orchestration are by award-winning composer Gary William Friedman (“The Me Nobody Knows,” “Platinum”).

Costume design is by Pamela Dennis, celebrated for her red-carpet creations for celebrity clients, and jewelry is by Verdura. Cole and Linda Porter were among the designer’s top clients and helped to put Verdura on the map in the 1930s.

Ms. Holland is a critically acclaimed jazz vocalist and lyricist whose most recent CD, “Before Love Has Gone,” was chosen by USA Today as a Top CD of 2008. Her previous CDs, “More Than Words Can Say” and “Restless Willow,” were included on a variety of top 10 lists and played on jazz, smooth jazz and traditional pop and standards radio stations nationally.

Orchestra tickets are $45, or $43 for Guild Hall members; balcony seats are $35, or $33 for members; available by calling 324-4050, or online at GuildHall.org.