Songs referenced by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novels and stories, and directly associated with his life make up the soundtrack of an inventive new theatrical revue conceived and co-created by the jazz writer Will Friedwald, co-created and directed by Sarna Lapine, with music direction by Jon Weber. "Tales from the Jazz Age: An F. Scott Fitzgerald Songbook" receives its world premiere in four nights from tonight, June 13 to 21 at the renowned Café Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, as part of its new Second Act Late-Night Series.
The revue stars
Emily Bergl (Desperate Housewives, Broadway's recent "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Comedy of Errors" currently at The Public) who returns to the Café Carlyle after her hit show last spring;
Matthew Saldivar (Broadway's "Peter and the Star Catcher," "The Wedding Singer," "Grease," "A Streetcar Named Desire"), and the alt-cabaret star
Molly Pope ("Our Hit Parade" at Joe's Pub, and "The Material World" at Dixon Place), who was a Time Out NY Top Ten Pick in 2012 and a Best of NY Village Voice choice in 2011.
Combining comedic and dramatic excerpts from the Fitzgerald canon with songs that he specifically references throughout his fiction, "Tales from the Jazz Age" is the first collaboration between Friedwald (The Wall Street Journal columnist is the author of eight books and the recipient of ten Grammy nominations) and Lapine (select Broadway assistant director credits include "Sondheim on Sondheim,"
Lincoln Center Theater's "South Pacific" and "The Light in the Piazza"). Weber, who leads a four-person combo and provides the arrangements, is the host of NPR's Piano Jazz with
Jon Weber. Described recently as "brilliant" by
Stephen Holden in The NY Times, Weber has collaborated with many prominent singers, including
KT Sullivan, Tony-winner
Christine Ebersole and the Grammy-winner
Kurt Elling.
Unlike the current cinematic confection by
Baz Luhrmann that grafts on a riot of anachronistic music in its evocation of one of the most music-rich periods in American history, "Tales from the Jazz Age," meticulously brings the music of the Gatsby era to life.
"Tales from the Jazz Age" draws from works across the entire output of Fitzgerald's career, including his five novels and approximately 170 short stories, the most famous of which appear in the 1922 collection "Tales of the Jazz Age," the book that gave its name to an era.
Some of the most memorable characters in all of American literature populate this show, from Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan ("The Great Gatsby"), to Monroe Stahr ("The Last Tycoon), and Dick Divers ("Tender is the Night"). The songs they sing are a vivid cross-section of the music that Fitzgerald listened to and loved -- songs that meant so much to him that he mentioned their titles and even quoted their lyrics.
"Tales for the Jazz Age: An
F. Scott Fitzgerald Songbook" plays the Café Carlyle in The Carlyle Hotel, 35 East 76th Street at Madison Avenue, on two consecutive Thursdays & Fridays, June 13, 14, 20 and 21, all at 10:45pm, as part of the Second Act Late-Night Series. The music charge is $25 on Thursdays, and $30 on Fridays, each with a $25 combined food and drink minimum. For reservations call 212/744-1600 or visit
www.thecarlyle.com
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
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