"Love Defined" by Gale Whiting

Lafayette artist Gale Whiting brings four iconic African American singers—Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughan—to life in her original play, Love Defined. The play will debut August 8-10, 2025, at Cité des Artists, offering a unique, heartfelt tribute to the legendary artists and their contributions to music across genres. Written and produced by Lafayette Artist Gale Whiting, Love Defined is a one-woman show that celebrates the timeless legacy of these artists. Through her portrayal of each of them, Whiting honors their musical gifts and their groundbreaking impact on jazz, blues, pop, and swing music through the decades.

“I consider them timeless and iconic because they broke color barriers,” says Whiting, who performs under the stage name of Gale Leslie. “Moreover, they transformed their respective eras, infusing jazz, blues, pop, and swing.”

Whiting plays all four singers, with each representing a different facet of love. Holiday is portrayed…