The Voice
All about Ziegfeld! Our New Show and Introduction to The Man and His Work
Why Ziegfeld? He never gave up. His confidence, perseverance, and refusal to allow difficulties or roadblocks to sideline his mission to create outstanding successful productions was one of his gifts. This is just what we need in addressing the need to remain determined to find new, accessible, and affordable methods to diagnose lung cancer early so that we can treat it and save lives. I asked my husband once what one adjective he would use to describe me. He said, “Determination.” So, I had to go ahead and write a musical theater piece with my writing partner, John Lamb. I brought in my friend, Seth Rubin, an amazing sax player and composer. We worked on the tunes to go with the lyrics John and I wrote. Seth wrote the last song of the show for that version; then he died two weeks later of lung cancer. Our show, Ziegfeld! is a testimony of the need to stay determined and persevere.
I am grateful that my new composing partner, Taylor Kirkwood, worked with me to be able to have an updated version of the show and have a table read in March2026. Most recently, we had our first workshop version with a live audience in August 2026. I am happy to report that so many people said they loved it! Having a talk-back with the audience and 14 actors, we received some suggestions to elevate the next performance which is planned for March 2027, hoping then it will go into full production.
Here is some of my research on Florenz Ziegfeld that might interest you. Our show is fictional but includes many characters who were real performers who were featured in Ziegfeld’s shows. Watch our website for updated information.
What to know about Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. Ethan Mordden said, “The man who invented show business.” On his business cards, it said, “Impresario extraordinaire.” Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. transformed American entertainment by turning theatrical revue into an art form. His legacy rests not only on his legendary spectacles, but also on his high-profile relationships with two extraordinary women who helped shape his life and career.
The Visionary: The Ziegfeld Follies Beginning in 1907, the Ziegfeld Follies redefined Broadway. At the suggestion of his first wife, Anna Held, he was inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris. Ziegfeld combined extravagant sets, elaborate costumes, and top-tier talent—including stars like Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, and W.C. Fields. Famous for his slogan “Glorifying the American Girl,” Ziegfeld elevated chorus dancers into icons of elegance and style, setting the gold standard for American musical theater production.
The Facilitator: Anna Held Polish-born and star of the stage in France, Anna Held was Ziegfeld’s common-law wife, creative partner, and first grand star. Ziegfeld had an innate flair for publicity stunts. He famously created rumors that Anna regularly bathed in 40 gallons of milk to keep her flawless complexion. Women nationwide began trying milk baths themselves to try to achieve her complexion. Anna was the true mastermind behind the Follies. She suggested bringing European-style revues to America, handing Ziegfeld the concept that Ziegfeld built into his empire. Though their tempestuous relationship ended in 1913, her artistic influence permanently reshaped his career.
The Mainstay: Billie Burke In 1914, Ziegfeld married stage and screen actress Billie Burke (later famous as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz). Burke was a Broadway star in her own right. She had celebrity, wealth and fortitude. She brought warmth, sophistication, and stability to Ziegfeld’s volatile world. She stood by him through financial triumphs and disaster, including the 1929 stock market crash. Following Ziegfeld’s death in 1932, Burke spent years managing his substantial debts while continuing her own successful acting career, safeguarding his theatrical legacy.
Ziegfeld’s Legacy: Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. transformed American theater by bridging opulent revue and serious musical drama. Beginning in 1907, his annual Ziegfeld Follies set the gold standard for Broadway entertainment, blending lavish staging and music from legendary composers to “glorify the American girl.” Ziegfeld spared no expense on production quality. Ziegfeld hired Joseph Urban to create extravagant sets in 1915. They worked together and Urban designed over 50 productions for Ziegfeld, including the landmark 1927 Show Boat. He also designed the physical Ziegfeld Theatre at 54th Street and Sixth Avenue, creating an egg-shaped auditorium specifically tailored for optimal sightlines, acoustic clarity, and grand spectacle. Urban transformed the Ziegfeld Follies from a typical vaudeville-style revue into an immersive, Art Deco dreamscape. Ziegfeld spared no expense where costumes for his chorus were concerned. He once defended costly hidden details by declaring, “Irish linen does something to their walk—remember, they are Ziegfeld Girls!” Ziegfeld’s most lasting legacy lies in producing the 1927 landmark Show Boat. With a score by Jerome Kern and book/lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, the show confronted systemic racism and miscegenation, pioneering the modern book musical. On opening night, the solemn ending left the audience in stunned silence. Though Ziegfeld initially panicked, ecstatic reviews and block-long lines followed the next morning. From visual grandeur to social realism, Ziegfeld redefined the ambition of the American stage.
References & Recommended Reading
• Block, G. (1997). Enchanted Evenings: The Golden Age of the American Musical Theatre. Oxford University Press.
• Ferber, E. (1939). A Peculiar Treasure. Doubleday, Doran & Co.
• Kenrick, J. (2010). Musical Theatre: A History. Continuum.