In addition, audiences get an opportunity to see actress Tracie Ellis Ross show off her musical chops, as they witness the child of a music icon hold her own behind the microphone.
In fact, it’s clear when watching, “The High Note,” that director Nisha Ganatra plays on the cultural knowledge that the actress playing Grace Davis is the daughter of one of Black music’s original divas.
Despite the inability to separate the real life facts from the fictional character of Grace Davis, audiences want to know if Tracie Ellis Ross can really sing.
But in partnership with Tracie Ellis Ross’ strong acting, the character of Grace Davis is dynamic, and audiences are rooting for her, even when she’s being a diva or mean.
This is not the first time audiences have seen actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. (David Cliff) in a role that involves a little music, but in “The High Note,” his skills as a singer are put on display and he has some enjoyable pipes.