Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is often remembered as the “crazy wife” of F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby. As one half of the Golden Couple of the 1920s, she was a dazzling icon of the Jazz Age and the inspiration behind many of Fitzgerald’s flapper heroines.
Though celebrated in her time, Zelda was far more than a glittering party girl or muse. She was a deeply creative and complex woman who struggled with schizophrenia for much of her life. She was also a devoted mother, an accomplished ballet dancer, a published writer, and a visual artist whose work was exhibited during her lifetime.
This original play pays tribute to Zelda as she truly was: a vibrant, misunderstood woman striving to define herself beyond the myths.
A Note from the Playwright, Rita Parisi
Why Zelda?
The idea for I Am Zelda began on a late night of research, when I found myself drawn not to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters, but to the woman behind them — Zelda Fitzgerald.
The more I read, the more I felt a connection with her wit, imagination, and restless creative spark, as if I were discovering a kindred spirit across time.
But something else kept tugging at me — a little voice insisting that the books and films didn't tell Zelda's whole story. I wanted to know more. So I looked deeper.
I read every biography, every letter, and Zelda’s own stories. I wrote and rewrote the play. I workshopped it for over a decade in front of audiences. I listened to my intuition and let artistic exploration guide me deeper into her world.
And now I present to you, I am Zelda, The Play — an intimate, human portrait of Zelda Fitzgerald, finally told on her terms and my own.
The idea for I Am Zelda began on a late night of research, when I found myself drawn not to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters, but to the woman behind them — Zelda Fitzgerald.
The more I read, the more I felt a connection with her wit, imagination, and restless creative spark, as if I were discovering a kindred spirit across time.
But something else kept tugging at me — a little voice insisting that the books and films didn't tell Zelda's whole story. I wanted to know more. So I looked deeper.
I read every biography, every letter, and Zelda’s own stories. I wrote and rewrote the play. I workshopped it for over a decade in front of audiences. I listened to my intuition and let artistic exploration guide me deeper into her world.
And now I present to you, I am Zelda, The Play — an intimate, human portrait of Zelda Fitzgerald, finally told on her terms and my own.
Upcoming Performances
Saturday December 27 at 7:30 pm
Actors Studio of Newburyport
Crossroads Plaza, 1 Merrill St #3, Salisbury, MA 01952
Tix going on Sale Soon at the Actors Studio of Newburyport MA
More performances to be announced in 2026.
Contact for Bookings, Press, or Performance Inquiries
