ZELDA: An American Muse

Zelda, Scottie, and F. Scott Fitzgerald This production of Zelda
is dedicated to the
strong women who

have made a profound
impact in my life,
especially my

grandmothers. Lucille
Rickles and Audrey Sims

Whisenant.

Strong women; may we
know them, and may
we raise them.

Linze McRae

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald was born in Montgomery, Alabama on July 24, 1900. The daughter of a prominent judge,
Anthony Dickinson Sayre (1858–1931), who served on the Supreme Court of Alabama, and Minnie Buckner Machen
Sayre, she was the youngest of five children and lived a youthful life of privilege. As a teenager, Zelda was a talented
dancer and socialite who challenged the gender norms of her time

In 1918, she graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and soon after she met F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club
dance in Montgomery. He was captivated by Zelda’s audacious spirit and brash risqué demeanor, but due to his inferior
social standing, the debutante declined his initial marriage proposal in 1919. Later that same year, Zelda accepted F.
Scott’s marriage proposal after Scribner’s agreed to publish his book, This Side of Paradise. The couple married on April
3, 1920 in New York City—just one week after his first book hit the market. Due to the instant success of This Side of
Paradise, the duo became overnight celebrities and indulged in the exuberance of the Roaring Twenties.

On Valentine's Day in 1921, Zelda learned she was pregnant. On October 26, 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the couple
welcomed Frances "Scottie" Fitzgerald to their family. Soon after, the family moved to Long Island, New York, but faced
with financial ruin due to their excessive spending habits, the family moved to France in 1924 where F. Scott
composed The Great Gatsby and Zelda learned to paint. The family briefly returned to America and spent time in
Wilmington, Delaware, but ever-eager for a change of pace, in 1927, Zelda added ballet to her list of talents and when
they traveled back to Paris, she was invited to dance with the Royal Ballet of Italy in 1928—an offer she declined in lieu
of writing short stories.

Zelda was a muse to F. Scott and her characteristics are prominently featured in some of his most notable works
including This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and the Damned, The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night. F. Scott
even went so far as to steal verbatim excerpts from Zelda’s personal diary and incorporate them into his novels—a tactic
that began a downward spiral in their dysfunctional marriage.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, their over-the-top lifestyle of travel and indulgence collapsed and they were left
in financial ruin. In 1930, Zelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent her remaining years in and out of various
mental health clinics. The family was hit hard by The Great Depression and left penniless. In the end, Zelda’s marriage
to F. Scott was nothing more than a façade. F. Scott died from a heart attack at the age of 44 on December 21, 1940.

Final Years

Due to Zelda’s failing health, she was unable to attend her daughter’s wedding in 1943, but after the birth of her
grandson, Zelda was reinvigorated and began to paint again in the last years of her life in Montgomery at her family’s
homestead. Ultimately, however, her mental health began to fail and, on March 10, 1948, she died tragically in a fire at
Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. She is buried with her husband in Old Saint Mary's Catholic Church
Cemetery in Rockville, Maryland. She was working on her second unfinished novel, Caesar's Things, at the time of her
death.

Legacy

Despite her tumultuous marriage and difficulties with mental health issues, Zelda’s creativity was inspirational. Her
artistic endeavors include a semi-autobiographical novel, Save Me the Waltz, based on her troubled marriage, a play
entitled Scandalabra, as well as numerous magazine articles and short stories. A talented painter, her oil paintings are
now prominently featured in the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1992, Zelda was
inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. Although she served as a muse to her husband, it is clear that she
was also a creative force to be remembered.

Zelda & Friends
Picnic Girls
Parasol Girls

Dixie Dandelions
Hummingbirds

Bathing Beauties
Suffragettes

Square Dance
Belles of the Ball
Zelda’s Performance
Magnolia Blossoms

Biltmore Bellhops
Merry Maid Brigade
New York Socialites

Phonographs

Crazy In Love
Charleston Cuties

Waitresses
A Little Party Never Killed Nobody

Parisians
Paris School Girls
Cherry Blossoms

Poodle Girls
French Macaroons

Moon Blossoms

Can Can Dancers
Bollywood Entertainment

Ballet Class
Valse Triste

Scottie & Friends
Daisy Chains
Paper Dolls

Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart
can hold. – ZELDA

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald- Parker Jarecki

Daisy Buchannon of “The Great Gatsby”- Emily Snow
Cecilia of “The Last Tycoon”- Maggie Ayres

Josephine of “The Basil and Josephine Stories” –
Elyssa Simpson

Honoria of “Babylon Revisited”- Courtney Faulkner
Rosalind of “This Side of Paradise”- Olivia Tompkins

F. Scott Fitzgerald – Jarrod Cuthrell
Scottie Fitzgerald – Laci Grace Cotton
The 20’s Guys – Ashton James, Michael
Gulledge, Kason Moore, Cole Contris, Ben
Hester, Payton Russell, Jake Nolen, Joshua
Hyde, James Amberson, Bradley Sparks,
Tanner Coley, Ashby New, Jacob Frazier,
Brandon Barrontine, Barnes Stacey, Jacob
McFarling, Karter Roberts, Davis Ryan,

Garrett McEntire, Sterling Jenkins

Dance Artists
Ensemble

Rebecca Ayres, Emalie
Albert, Casey Rickles, Mary
Margaret McCartney, Anne
Roberts, Catherine Haynes,

Madison Nelson, Sara
Catheryne Freeman, Sydney
Barkley, Savannah Williams,

Annsleigh Hamm, Morgan
Strain, Kate Snead, Azalea

McRae

Choreography/Staging by McRae

Junior Dance Artists
Ensemble

Callie Robinson, Sarah
Clayton, Abby Claire
Morrison, Emma Kamran,
Emma Catherine Martin,
Maddi O’Barr, McCain Foster,
Kate Kiani, Lindsey Cotton,
Tobi Akisanya, Alyssa Floyd,
Ellie Parris, Riley Collier

Choreography by Thrasher

Gamma Level

Caroline Partridge, Samantha
Lacy, Emily McDaniel, Ellie
Parris, Stella Day, Ella Tudor,

Bella Wade, Isabella Colburn,
Carli Astin, Ella Howard

Choreography by Thrasher

Beta Level

Emma Floyd, Clare Goodwin, Kloe Justice,
Alena Karim, Ella Keene, Lauren Maroney,
Zoe Morgan, Joanna Rayburn, Sadie Riley,
Kaela Snead, Madelyn Strain, Kacey Watts

Choreography/Staging by McRae & Baird

Alpha Level

Annie Bales, Libby Freeman, Sarah
Guffey, Allison Haller, Anna Leigh
Hand, Betsy Howard, Georgia Jackson,
Gabby Kiani, Mallory Lacy, Romie

Means, Uche Osuji, Udo Osuji,
Margaret Stacy, Kylie Swinford, Claire

Upton, Molly Upton, Peyton Wade,
Ansley Wilborn, Rachael Wilson, Ellie

Gilliland, Mary Ann Rickles

Marlena Dupree, Avery Estes, Avery
Franklin, Jayda Gaddis, Claire Hand,
Bella Hill, Myla Jane McGinnis, Tessa

Riley, Ines Stevens, Naomi Taylor,
Anabella Thapa, Mari Carmen

Wendorf, Emily Wilborn

Choreography by Thrasher

Olivia Lane, Madison Griffin,
Heather Stafford, Sarah
McFarling, Samantha

Sarmiento, Autumn Barron

Choreography by Thrasher

Rynlee Benefield, Stella Boozer,
Anna Kate Casey, Brilee
Conaway, Alexis Croley,

Camryn Davenport, Reagan
Hood, Isabelle Lancaster,

Kinzley Brown, Miaya Myers,
Evangeline Nelson, Brylee
Roper, Allie Walden

Choreography by McFarling

Ama-Watts Alexander, Addi
Jane Amos, Shelby

Colegrove, Ellen Hill, MaryElla
Holsombeck, Khloe Johnson,
Madeline Miller, Ella Morris,

Virginia Wilson, Karsten
Campbell

Choreography by McFarling

Kamryn Carter, Amber Jacobs-
Muratta, Brylee Kilgore, Willow

Mays, Layla Mitchell, Addie
Peppers, Alice Phillips, Amanda
Smith, Pearson Smitherman, Chloe

Vogel

Choreography by McFarling

Kimberly Cornelius, Avery
Early, Laney Ewing, Hannah
Mayo, Zoie Menk, Ryleigh

Rains, Mary Alice Todd,
Alyssa Tumlin, Aleese Turner,

Myra Jean Ernest

Choreography by Thrasher

Janie Ayres, Hannah Brown,
Sayde Bryant, Emma Ford, Ella

Frost, Emerald Green, Zoe
Guthrie, Shannon Hayes, Ava
Nicholson, Miranda Peck, Melisa
Sanchez, Carleigh Lipscomb,

Addison Geiger

Choreography by Baird

Ava Anderson, Isabella Childress,
Claire Cross, Malorie Davenport,
Ava Frachiseur, Mary Carleton
Gilbert, Kara Holdbrooks, Brooke

Jackson, Eve McRae, Lilly
Ostendorf, Ruby Kate Parris,
McKenzie Staton, Miranda Strain,

Coley Webb

Choreography by Baird

Tallie Beckett, Ella Edwards,
Channing Estes, Josalyn Jones, Amily
Grace Kendall, Harper Knowles, Nila

Rameshkumar, Kambrie Womack

Choreography by McFarling

Janie Ayres, Harper Beaird, Sayde Bryant,
Grace Cotton, Marlena Dupree, Laney
Ewing, Emerald Green, Shannon Hayes,
Gracey Lankford, Cate Larkin, Eve
McRae, Ava Nicholson, Melisa Sanchez,
Samantha Sarmiento, Emily Wilborn

Choreography by McRae

Emery Cameron, Alexa Cosper,
Raileigh Hardin, Marley Hughes,
Lillie Justice, Darshana Lama, Avah

Millican, Mia Talbot, Alice
Whisenant, Memory Kay,
Temperance Shaddix, Allyson
Hernandez, Annelise Duckworth

Choreography by Thrasher

Emma Jane Batista, Jorja Brewer,
Abigail Ford, Jillian Greene, Lucy
Brynn Griggs, Piper Means, Olivia

Parker, Molly Reynolds

Choreography by Baird

Harper Beaird, Bailee Kimbril,
Gracey Lankford, Alexa Morgan,

Maddie Morgan, Avery Parker,
Jessica Roberg, Lorelei Sims,

Madison Stover, Lauryn Swinford,
Lilly Troncale, Ainsley Wade,
Kiersten White, Baylor Wilborn

Choreography by Thrasher

Zoe Basinger, Henley Carney, Piper Faulkner,
Marie Giles, Brenley Gilley, Nora Hamilton,
Aubrie Holderfield, Olivia Lipscomb, Ruth

Minton, Addison Read, Madisyn Smith,
EmmaLynn Summerford, Ann Elizabeth
Vaughn, Natalie Wagner, Claire Wilson, Lauren

Wilson, Calleigh Wood, Jamey Kelley

Choreography by McFarling

Choreogrtaphy by McFarling

Berit Blevins, Emma Browning, Harper
Fleming, Smith Gilmer, Amelia Green,
Mae Greer, Julia Haller, Mary Elizabeth
Hyatt, Maggie McGinnis, Brynlee Skaggs,
Laney Claire Wigley, Alexis Wilson,
Evelyn Wilson, Mary Catherine Yother

Choreography by McFarling

Addison Bedwell, Lila Bryant,
Kira Estes, Izabella

Greenwood, Maleigha Lara,
Briley McDuffie, Brooklyn

Rogers, Sydney Shaw, Ashlyn
Thomas

Choreography by Thrasher

Ava Marie Davis, Katherine
DeGaetano, Caroline Frederick,
Laney Fuhrman, Abby Lee, Ella
Loyd, Nia Maye, Nima Maye, Mia
Peck, Samiya Smith, Isla Maeve

Stevens, Tessa Trammell, Lyla
Weaver, Keller Wilson

Choreography by McFarling

Choreography by McFarling

Leigh Barber, Karma Blevins, Ruby
Glenn, Dannie Rae Harbison, Wren

Harrington, Ellison Hester, Ellvie
Smith, Mary Frances Walker, Dylan

Barber

Choreography by McFarling

Ava Anderson, Harper Beaird, Malorie Davenport, Janie Ayres, Hannah Brown, Grace Cotton, Ella
Mary Carleton Gilbert, Brooke Jackson, Gracey Dupree, Alyssa Elliott, Myra Jean Ernest, Emma Ford,
Lankford, Ruby Kate Parris, Lorelei Sims, Mckenzie Ella Frost, Emerald Green, Zoe Guthrie, Shannon Hayes,
Staton, Madison Stover, Lauryn Swinford, Ainsley Cate Larkin, Emory Loconto, Ava Nicholson, Olivia
Wade, Coley Webb, Kiersten White, Eve McRae, Roberg, Melisa Sanchez, Elle Sims, Mary Alice Todd,
Bailee Kimbril
Alyssa Tumlin, Carleigh Lipscomb
Choreography by Baird
Choreography by Baird

Libby Freeman, Clare Goodwin, Allison Haller, Anna Sarah Clayton, Riley Collier, Lindsey Cotton, Alyssa
Leigh Hand, Betsy Howard, Georgia Jackson, Alena Floyd, Tobi Akisanya, McCain Foster, Emma Kamran,
Karim, Gabby Kiani, Mallory Lacy, Lauren Maroney,
Romie Means, Zoe Morgan, Uche Osuji, Udo Osuji, Kate Kiani, Emma Catherine Martin, Abby Claire
Joanna Rayburn, Sadie Riley, Kaela Snead, Madelyn Morrison, Maddi O’Barr, Callie Robinson, Stella Day,
Strain, Kylie Swinford, Kacey Watts, Rachael Wilson Ella Howard, Samantha Lacy, Ella Tudor, Bella Wade,
Caroline Partridge, Emily McDaniel, Carli Astin, Ellie
Choreography by Baird
Parris

Choreography by McRae

Sable Beaird, Andie Clayton
Parrish, Mina Isbell, Kaelynn
Kinard, MinLan Parris, Neely Parris,

Sophie Gibbs

Choreography by McFarling

Bentlie Blevins, Jade Collins,
Annelise Duckworth, Ava Farley, Iris
Ann Isbell, Deazjanae Jones, Ruby

Jones, Olivia Kennedy, Caroline
Lee, Madilyn Lumpkin, Sarah Sims,
Addison Taylor, Cora Lea Wallace,

Monica Wells, Eve McRae
Choreography by Baird

Scottie Fitzgerald, daughter of Zelda–
Grace Cotton

Kimberly Cornelius, Ella Dupree, Alyssa Elliott,
Julie Holland, Bella Jackson, Cate Larkin,
Madilyn Lockridge, Emory Loconto, Baylee
Powell, Olivia Roberg, Brooklyn Bateman,

Elle Sims, Anaya Stevens, Elizabeth Wilborn,
Mary Reagan Higgonbotham, Anna Claire

Weeks, Myra Jean Ernest
Choreography by Thrasher

Written by
Linze Rickles McRae, ARAD
Costume Design, Seamstress, & Construction by

Linze Rickles McRae
Downtown Dancewear & Design Company
Rehearsal Coaches, Assistant Seamstresses,

& Variation Staging/Choreography
Laura Thrasher
Krystin Baird

Childrens’ Coordinator Cammie McFarling
Set Managers Ginger Snow & Cathy Freeman
Set Construction Jeremy Acray, Ryan McRae, Linze McRae,

&
Jason McFarling
Set Operators Ryan McRae & Jason McFarling
Videography Gallardo Productions
Official Photography by
Something Beautiful Studio & Design

Special thanks to the parents of DDC, especially our volunteers and avid
supporters. DDC also thanks the Board of Directors of the Mary G. Hardin
Center for Cultural Arts for their support. A special congratulations to our
graduating seniors: Parker Jarecki, Olivia Tompkins, Courtney Faulkner, and

Savanna Williams.



‘I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity and her flaming self-respect,
and it’s these things I would believe in even if the whole world indulged

in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all that she should be.’
F Scott Fitzgerald

The Downtown Dance Conservatory, planted in the heart of historic downtown Gadsden,
Alabama, offers quality classical and contemporary dance education for the primary to pre-

professional level dancer
Located in the historical Kyle Building of the Hardin Center, the facility houses three well-equipped
studios with an eclectic atmosphere for dancers to learn and develop their skills. With a seasonal
enrollment of 500 students training on a weekly basis, the Conservatory’s influence also spans to reach
thousands each year with programs such as Downtown Dance Artists’ Ensemble, annual charity efforts,
community workshop series, and other various collaborations and exhibitions. Artistic Director, Linze
McRae, holds the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies of the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating in

London, England. The DDC has presented acclaimed tours, performing both nationally &
internationally. The Downtown Dance Conservatory is in association with the internationally
recognized Royal Academy of Dance, The Alabama Dance Council, and is a full member of the National
Guild of Community Schools for the Arts through the Gadsden Community School for the Arts.

501 Broad Street
Gadsden, AL 35901
www.culturalarts.org [email protected]
www.facebook.com/downtowndanceconservatory
Follow us on Instagram @downtowndancegadsden