Stage and Radio Adapations of F. Scott Fitzgerald Works
by Anton Rudnev
Here you will find some information on foreign (non-Russian) stage adaptations of F. Scott Fitzgerald novels, short-stories and other works (not only stage, but also radio productions). There also presented some info on plays based on F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald chaotic lives; they became a legend, so the dramatists are often focusing on Scott and Zelda for the works concerning 1920's times, Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties' era. Not only theater; the radio material is included here, too.
The order is chronological, descending.
2013: Love's Melody
(play, Tryon Fine Arts center, USA)
A very short play by F. Scott Fitzgerald, written in 1937 for Lefty and Nora Flinn home party in Tryon, NC.
Director: Lavin Cuddihee (also acts as Cedric the Sailor and F. Scott Fitzgerald).
Other cast: Mark Monaghan (as Benny the Blood and Lefty Flinn); Katie Cilluffo (as Rummy Rose and Nora Flinn).
Performed once at Tryon Fine Arts Center (The Gatsby Gala Fundriser) on Nov. 19, 2013.
Released on YouTube by "An Eric Olsen Pictures Video Production", see the videofiles section.
2007: Veliki Gatsby [The Great Gatsby]
(play, “Zagrebacko Kazaliste Mladih”, Zagreb, Croatia)
Redatelj: Ivica Buljan. Text by F. Scott Fitzgerald, transl. into Croatian by Sime Balena.
See here for details and some photos.
2007: The Camel's Back
(radio-drama, Seattle, USA)
Adaptation by J. Roth.
Performed by The Erstwhilists.
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section.
2006: The Great Gatsby
(play, “Seattle Repertory Theatre - Bagley Wright Theatre”, Seattle, USA)
Adaptation by Simon Levy.
Performed on November 2 – December 10, 2006.
2005: Waiting for the Moon
(biographical musical, “Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center”, Marlton, NJ, USA)
Music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy.
Production: “Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center”, Marlton, NJ, USA.
See WIKIpedia article about this production.
2005: Meeting F. Scott Fitzgerald
(biographical play, released on DVD, USA)
A One-man Play.
Directed by Larry Vanderveen, starring Larry Vanderveen.
The performance was filmed and released directly on DVD.
2004: The Last Party: Scott Fitzgerald’s Last Day
(biographical musical, “Takarazuka Review”, Tokyo, Japan)
Produced by Takarazuka Review Co., 2004, Tokyo.
Cast:
Скотт Фицджеральд / ЯМАТО Юга (Блестящий американский писатель появившийся в литературном мире в 20-е годы)
Зельда Фицджеральд / Аяно КАНАМИ (жена Скотта; девушка которая стала героиней его романов)
Шэйла Грэм / Ицуминэ АКИ (Любовница Скотта в последние годы его жизни; голливудская журналистка)
Максвелл Перкинс / МИСАТО Майя
Доктор / НАЦУ Хироми
Эрнест Хемингуэй / РЁГА Харухи
Скотти Фицджеральд / Сакихана АНН (Единственная дочь Фицджеральдов)
Эдуар Жозан / ЦУКИОКА Нанао (Летчик, офицер французской армии; страстное увлечение Зельды)
Секретарь Перкинса / Цукиширо МИСАКИ
Лора Гатри / Микадзэ МАЙРА (Секретарша Скотта)
Луис Моран / Аясэ МИТО (Голливудская актриса; любовница Скотта)
Репортер / ЯКУМО Мика
Женщина доктор / Ооми АКО
Мальчик парижанин / МИМАКИ Сакьё
Студент в парке / СУДЗУ Харуки
The production was filmed and is available on Japanese DVD even in two versions: by Cosmos and Moon troopes; see the videofiles section.
2004: Zelda, the Musical / Beautiful and Damned
(biographical musical, “Lyric Theater”, London, UK)
Music by Les Reed and Roger Cook.
Starred: Michael Praed and Helen Anker (London Cast).
The musical has run at Lyric Theatre, London from May 10 till August 14, 2004.
there also released the CD with Composer's concept album (label STAGE 9024).
The 2004 production was filmed, see the videofiles section.
2023 UPDATE: The production was renamed as Zelda the Musical and will premiere in New York in August 2023 (it will be performed at 54 Below).
2003: Tender is The Night
(radio-drama, BBC - radio 4, UK)
Adaptation in two-parts by Michael Hastings.
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section
2001: Angel's Trumpet
(biographical play, “Theatre Junction”, Calgary, Canada)
A One-act play, by Sharon Pollock.
Published as a book, See here some photos and notes.
1999: The Great Gatsby
(opera, “The Metropolitan Opera”, NY, USA)
Words and music by John Harbison; song lyrics by Murray Horwitz.
The opera premiered on December 20, 1999.
The libretto has been published New York: G. Schirmer, Inc., 1999
1996: The Great Gatsby
(ballet, “The Pittsburgh Ballet”, Pittsburgh, USA)
Scenario and choreography by Bruce Wells; original music by Michael Moricz; scenery and costume design by Peter Farmer.
The ballet premiered on 25 April 1996.
1991: The Great Gatsby
(musical, “Takarazuka Review”, Tokyo, Japan)
Scripted and directed by Schinichizo Koike.
Produced by Takarazuka Review Co. Aug. 8 - Sep. 17; Dec.3-26, 1991, Tokyo.
The production was filmed and is available on Japanese DVD, see the videofiles section.
1984: I Don't Want to be Zelda Anymore
(biographical play, “Actors Repertory Theater”, New York City, USA)
Play, by Marty Martin.
Cast: Margie Bolding as Zelda.
Production was filmed on July 23, 1984 and released on YouTube, see the videofiles section.
1982: Bernice Bobs Her Hair
(play)
A One-act Play, by D. D. Brooke.
Adapted from the classic short story of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Production: unknown.
Play published Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1982
1979: The World of F. Scott Fitzgerald
(biographical radio-play, National Radio Theatre of Chicago, WNYC.-FM, NY, USA)
National Radio Theater, National Public Radio. Radio play (8 parts, 60 minutes each)
Annotation: Dramatizations by Michelle M. Faith and Yuri Rasovsky of Scott Fitzgerald's short stories accompanied by documentaries about the author's life and times.
This radioplay is survived in Paley Archive.
1. The Death Of Heroism: Emotional Bankruptcy, Paley Center Description, Part 1
2. The Spoiled Priest: Absolution, Paley Center Description, Part 2
3. He Called It The Jazz Age: The Offshore Pirate, Paley Center Description, Part 3
4. The Golden Boom: Winter Dreams, Paley Center Description, Part 4
5. Lost And Lucky: One Trip Abroad, Paley Center Description, Part 5
6. The End Of An Era: Family In The Wind, Paley Center Description, Part 6
7. The Most Famous Forgotten Writer In America: Financing Finnegan, Paley Center Description, Part 7
8. The Last Of The Novelists: The Lost Decade, Paley Center Description, Part 8
1975: Private Affairs: A Dream Of Living
(biographical play, BBC, UK)
Play.
Starred David Hemmings as Fitzgerald.
The performance was filmed and released on DVD "Midnight in Manhatten".
1973: Scott & Zelda
(biographical play, Theatre De Lys, NY, USA)
Play by Paul Hunter.
Production: unknown.
This play was published in Russian translation as «Интервью с Ф. Скоттом Фицджеральдом» in Teatr magazine 1980, № 1.
1958: Three Hours Between Planes
(play and TV-adaptation)
A play in one act, by Elihu Winer.
Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Production: unknown.
Play published New York: Samuel French Inc., 1958
Episode 9 of Season 3 (Three Hours Between Planes) of "Lux Video Theatre" TV-show, aired on Oct. 27, 1952, is based on this play. Cast: Lilli Palmer as Nancy, Joseph Anthony as Donald.
1956: The Young and Beautiful
(play and TV-adaptation)
A play in three acts, by Sally Benson.
Based on the Saturday Evening Post Josephine short stories.
Play published: New York: Samuel French Inc., 1956
Production: Williamstown Theatre Foundaion, Inc. July 3 - July 7, 1956 (see here some photos).
Episode 14 of Season 8 (The Young and the Beautiful) of "Robert Montgomery Presents" TV-show, aired on Dec. 10, 1956, is based on this play. Cast: Lee Remick as Josephine.
1955: F. Scott Fitzgerald
(biography radio-program, NBC, USA)
#22 in series "Biography in Sound".
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section (June 28, 1955 broadcast).
1949: This Side Of Paradise
(radio-drama, NBC University theatre, USA)
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section (July 30, 1949 broadcast).
1949: Babylon Revisited
(radio-drama, NBC University theatre, USA)
Broadcasted in 1949.
1949: The Last Tycoon
(radio-drama, Studio One, USA)
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section (May 18, 1948 broadcast).
1947 and 1948: The Diamond As Big As The Ritz
(radio-drama, CBS (Escape), USA)
Listen to the play in Audiofiles section (July 21, 1947 and August 29, 1948 broadcasts).
1947: The Last Tycoon
(radio-drama, CBC Scenario Productions, USA)
CBC (Stage Series), adapted by Hugh Kemp.
Starring: Lloyd Bochner, Dianne Foster, John Drainie and others.
Produced and Directed by Andrew Allan.
Original Music Composed by Lucio Agostini.
1926: The Great Gatsby
(play adaptation)
The play by Owen Davis.
Cast: Jay Gatsby - James Rennie.
Production: “Ambassador” Theatre, NY, USA (ran for 112 performances in 1926).
There exists an unpublished typescript; it is at the Library of Congress, USA.
The 1926 The Great Gatsby movie was based on this production.
Information on Russian theaters.