PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Enter the "Roaring Twenties" World of Frank Wildhorn's Zelda With Lauren Kennedy | Playbill

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Photos PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Enter the "Roaring Twenties" World of Frank Wildhorn's Zelda With Lauren Kennedy Musical theatre (and Playbill) favorite Lauren Kennedy is currently starring in the new Frank Wildhorn musical Zelda: An American Love Story, charting the lives of F. Scott Fitzgerald and wife, at Flat Rock Playhouse. Kennedy takes us deep behind the scenes and into the onstage and backstage world of the show.

By Matthew Blank

October 16, 2012

"I have been involved in this project for 9 years, the only person to ever play this amazing woman in this delicious story based on the power couple F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald," says Kennedy. "But, when the opportunity came up for me to do Zelda again (formerly known as Waiting For the Moon), I hesitated. My life is SO different now... I am the Artistic Director of a theatre and have an 8 yr old daughter, I am way more interested in nurturing other people these days than myself."

"But as these photos will show, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, mainly because of this outstanding group of actors, artists and theatre professionals. Hopefully you will get a glimpse of what has made this experience so special for all of us. Meet some new folks, take a peek at some old favorites... enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the folks who have made this extraordinary show even more spectacular!"

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Enter the "Roaring Twenties" World of Wildhorn's Zelda With Lauren Kennedy

Hey, it me. Looking crazy. — PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Enter the "Roaring Twenties" World of Wildhorn's Zelda With Lauren Kennedy

Musical theatre (and Playbill) favorite Lauren Kennedy is currently starring in the new Frank Wildhorn musical Zelda: An American Love Story, charting the lives of F. Scott Fitzgerald and wife, at Flat Rock Playhouse. Kennedy takes us deep behind the scenes and into the onstage and backstage world of the show. Read the Playbill.com story.
88 PHOTOS

Welcome to Flat Rock Playhouse! — Welcome to Flat Rock Playhouse!

Lauren Kennedy

Autumn is the absolute most divine time to be in Western North Carolina. — Autumn is the absolute most divine time to be in Western North Carolina.

Lauren Kennedy

I mean, come on... how picturesque is this?? — I mean, come on... how picturesque is this??

Lauren Kennedy

Ok... let’s meet Zelda and all the players! — Ok... let’s meet Zelda and all the players!

Lauren Kennedy

Love me some Eric Stretch. Gettin’ sassy at rehearsals — Love me some Eric Stretch. Gettin’ sassy at rehearsals

Lauren Kennedy

He clearly loves Kristin Piro.... — He clearly loves Kristin Piro....

Lauren Kennedy

Our amazing musical team, Michael Sebastian, our MD and Kim Scharberg the genius Orchestrator — Our amazing musical team, Michael Sebastian, our MD and Kim Scharberg the genius Orchestrator

Lauren Kennedy

Our fearless director Vincent Marini — Our fearless director Vincent Marini

Lauren Kennedy

Erin Mosher, my new BFF... also my understudy. I hope she gets to go on. She is crazy talented! — Erin Mosher, my new BFF... also my understudy. I hope she gets to go on. She is crazy talented!

Lauren Kennedy

Brenna Yeary looking as stunning as ever! — Brenna Yeary looking as stunning as ever!

Lauren Kennedy

Our choreographer Jennifer Jancuska, I am obsessed with her. — Our choreographer Jennifer Jancuska, I am obsessed with her.

Lauren Kennedy

Ladies and gentlemen, Robbie Roby and Lauren Linville! — Ladies and gentlemen, Robbie Roby and Lauren Linville!

Lauren Kennedy

Preston Dyer and Barbara Bradshaw — Preston Dyer and Barbara Bradshaw

Lauren Kennedy

The super classy Jena VanElslander — The super classy Jena VanElslander

Lauren Kennedy

Todd A. Walker... as "Lloyd: An American Love Story" — Todd A. Walker... as "Lloyd: An American Love Story"

Lauren Kennedy

Julius Anthony Rubio and Kristin Piro giving me drama! — Julius Anthony Rubio and Kristin Piro giving me drama!

Lauren Kennedy

And look it’s me, the photog! — And look it’s me, the photog!

Lauren Kennedy

The only way the photographer gets photographed in in the mirror. Wah Wah. — The only way the photographer gets photographed in in the mirror. Wah Wah.

Lauren Kennedy

My absolutely beautiful F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jarrod Emick. — My absolutely beautiful F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jarrod Emick.

Lauren Kennedy

And the absolutely wonderful Ben Dibble... — And the absolutely wonderful Ben Dibble...

Lauren Kennedy

Truly the most astounding cast I have ever worked with. So full of joy and integrity. — Truly the most astounding cast I have ever worked with. So full of joy and integrity.

Lauren Kennedy

Nikol Wolf and Liz Rancanelli — Nikol Wolf and Liz Rancanelli

Lauren Kennedy

Thrilling visuals in the show... Jarrod teching “I’ve Got To Say” — Thrilling visuals in the show... Jarrod teching “I’ve Got To Say”

Lauren Kennedy

Now he is thinking I am nuts cause I won’t put the camera down. — Now he is thinking I am nuts cause I won’t put the camera down.

Lauren Kennedy

Bill Munoz, our amazing PSM tackling an incredibly complicated show flow so smoothly — Bill Munoz, our amazing PSM tackling an incredibly complicated show flow so smoothly

Lauren Kennedy

Hey, it me. Looking crazy. — Hey, it me. Looking crazy.

Lauren Kennedy

Our very own Jack Murphy, book writer and lyricist extraordinaire. — Our very own Jack Murphy, book writer and lyricist extraordinaire.

Lauren Kennedy

Tech tables galore! — Tech tables galore!

Lauren Kennedy

Vincent giving me notes... you can’t really see, but he is standing 1 foot from me, but still using the god mic. — Vincent giving me notes... you can’t really see, but he is standing 1 foot from me, but still using the god mic.

Lauren Kennedy

Oh Eric Stretch, giving me some boy band fame...NO AUTHORITY... — Oh Eric Stretch, giving me some boy band fame...NO AUTHORITY...

Lauren Kennedy

Kristin Piro is the Lady In Red — Kristin Piro is the Lady In Red

Lauren Kennedy

So much awesomeness in one photo... Todd A. Walker and Robbie Roby — So much awesomeness in one photo... Todd A. Walker and Robbie Roby

Lauren Kennedy

Liz Rancanelli stylin’! — Liz Rancanelli stylin’!

Lauren Kennedy

Two adorable flappers... Jena VanElslander and Lauren Linville — Two adorable flappers... Jena VanElslander and Lauren Linville

Lauren Kennedy

Hot Off The Presses!!! — Hot Off The Presses!!!

Lauren Kennedy

My favorite picture of all time. I mean, is this not the most gorgeous cast ever??? — My favorite picture of all time. I mean, is this not the most gorgeous cast ever???

Lauren Kennedy

Shhh, don’t tell, but I have been taking pictures from the wings. — Shhh, don’t tell, but I have been taking pictures from the wings.

Lauren Kennedy

Jen Jancuska on the god mic but being so lovely. Have I mentioned I am obsessed with her??? — Jen Jancuska on the god mic but being so lovely. Have I mentioned I am obsessed with her???

Lauren Kennedy

Werk Kristin... — Werk Kristin...

Lauren Kennedy

The beautiful Roddy Kennedy, inside and out! We may just be related. — The beautiful Roddy Kennedy, inside and out! We may just be related.

Lauren Kennedy

Scott Cote killing the critics song.... — Scott Cote killing the critics song....

Lauren Kennedy

Roddy looks like a demonic Harry Potter — Roddy looks like a demonic Harry Potter

Lauren Kennedy

And look, it is Clark Kent. Oh wait, no, that is just Charlie Brady. — And look, it is Clark Kent. Oh wait, no, that is just Charlie Brady.

Lauren Kennedy

Some of our amazing crew... — Some of our amazing crew...

Lauren Kennedy

Next Slide

Vincent looking like Dr. Jekyll — Vincent looking like Dr. Jekyll

Lauren Kennedy

Yay... the crew! Love these ladies! — Yay... the crew! Love these ladies!

Lauren Kennedy

Erin strikes a pose. — Erin strikes a pose.

Lauren Kennedy

George Martinat, my dresser, giving me his best Senior Picture moment! — George Martinat, my dresser, giving me his best Senior Picture moment!

Lauren Kennedy

The tapping boys! God I love back lighting. — The tapping boys! God I love back lighting.

Lauren Kennedy

The girls working it out! — The girls working it out!

Lauren Kennedy

A nice moment between two friends. — A nice moment between two friends.

Lauren Kennedy

Best cast ever!!! — Best cast ever!!!

Lauren Kennedy

Vin taking it all in — Vin taking it all in

Lauren Kennedy

Lloyd at it again... — Lloyd at it again...

Lauren Kennedy

Belting to the rafters during the Sitzprobe... well, it’s not that impressive, the rafters are really low as you can see. — Belting to the rafters during the Sitzprobe... well, it’s not that impressive, the rafters are really low as you can see.

Lauren Kennedy

Standing guard... — Standing guard...

Lauren Kennedy

Or Sassy guard. — Or Sassy guard.

Lauren Kennedy

Hollywood. — Hollywood.

Lauren Kennedy

Jarrod is “Losing the Light” — Jarrod is “Losing the Light”

Lauren Kennedy

The players — The players

Lauren Kennedy

No words. — No words.

Lauren Kennedy

Julius and Nova... — Julius and Nova...

Lauren Kennedy

Amazing! — Amazing!

Lauren Kennedy

Action shot! — Action shot!

Lauren Kennedy

Hollywood is happy endings. — Hollywood is happy endings.

Lauren Kennedy

Girls Gone Wild. — Girls Gone Wild.

Lauren Kennedy

Life Upon A Wicked Stage... love the backstage perspective of a show! — Life Upon A Wicked Stage... love the backstage perspective of a show!

Lauren Kennedy

Opening night PARTAY with my lady crush Jena VanElslander — Opening night PARTAY with my lady crush Jena VanElslander

Lauren Kennedy

And my gorgeous Mama/ Nurse Barbara Bradshaw — And my gorgeous Mama/ Nurse Barbara Bradshaw

Lauren Kennedy

Scott Cote, Liz Rancanelli, Kristin Piro, Stephanie Klemons and Charlie Brady — Scott Cote, Liz Rancanelli, Kristin Piro, Stephanie Klemons and Charlie Brady

Lauren Kennedy

Barbara showing off the dog tags Todd gave us — Barbara showing off the dog tags Todd gave us

Lauren Kennedy

The writer who inspires me. — The writer who inspires me.

Lauren Kennedy

And while you are working in Flat Rock, you HAVE to have your headshots done by Scott Treadway. — And while you are working in Flat Rock, you HAVE to have your headshots done by Scott Treadway.

Lauren Kennedy

Erin and Billy having a moment! — Erin and Billy having a moment!

Lauren Kennedy

Getting ready for the show... Pin curl it up Liz! — Getting ready for the show... Pin curl it up Liz!

Lauren Kennedy

George entertaining us backstage! — George entertaining us backstage!

Lauren Kennedy

He is afraid of me... — He is afraid of me...

Lauren Kennedy

Preston and Erin sitting in a tree... — Preston and Erin sitting in a tree...

Lauren Kennedy

Good music — Good music

Lauren Kennedy

Good company — Good company

Lauren Kennedy

Good wine.... ends every night! — Good wine.... ends every night!

Lauren Kennedy

And when we are feeling sassy we bonfire. — And when we are feeling sassy we bonfire.

Lauren Kennedy

Jena is the s’mores diva! — Jena is the s’mores diva!

Lauren Kennedy

I. Made. Fire. — I. Made. Fire.

Lauren Kennedy

And if we are extra sassy, we will have a White Trash Party...Liz took it very literally. — And if we are extra sassy, we will have a White Trash Party...Liz took it very literally.

Lauren Kennedy

Julius... the host with the most! — Julius... the host with the most!

Lauren Kennedy

Our genius crew blows off some steam! — Our genius crew blows off some steam!

Lauren Kennedy

As does this ridiculously amazing cast! Thanks for playing along. If you find yourself in the area, come see us through Oct. 28! — As does this ridiculously amazing cast! Thanks for playing along. If you find yourself in the area, come see us through Oct. 28!

Lauren Kennedy

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Directed by Vincent Marini with original choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and additional choreography by by Jennifer Jancuska and Stephanie Klemons, the production will continue through Oct. 28.

The cast is headed by Kennedy as Zelda Fitzgerald and Tony winner Jarrod Emick as F. Scott Fitzgerald. They are joined on stage by Nova Bergeron, Barbara Bradshaw, Charles Brady, Scott Cote, Ben Dibble, Preston Dyar, Roderick Kennedy, Lauren Linville, Erin Mosher, Kristin Piro, Elizabeth Racanelli, Robbie Roby, Julius Anthony Rubio, Eric Stretch, Jena VanElslander, Todd A. Walker, Nikol Wolf and Brenna Yeary.

Wildhorn is the composer of the music for Zelda: An American Love Story, which also features book and lyrics by Jack Murphy, story by Murphy and Vincent Marini, arrangements by Ron Melrose and orchestrations by Kim Scharnberg.

Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the brand-new "jazz age" musical, press notes state, is "loosely based on novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda. Zelda tells the story of the two lovers’ rise, their fall, and their almost divine desire to rise once more."

For ticket information, visit flatrockplayhouse.org or contact the Playhouse box office at (828) 693-0731; toll free at (866) 732-8008.