Index (and links to less active productions at bottom of the index page)  
Abe Lincoln in the 21st Century  |  Coming Together Coming Apart  |  To Kill a Mockingbird  |  The Dickens!  
Fred and Adele Astaire: The Last Dance  |  Mark Twain: Telling Tales  |  The Belle of Amherst  |  Fahrenheit 451 
Study in Scarlet  |  Joy Comes in the Morning

  Jazz Baby Joan

A new play by David Houston
based on his biography Jazz Baby (St. Martin’s Press) and other sources
 MELANIE LIPTON as JOAN CRAWFORD

It’s 1934.
In Hollywood, artistic and expensive films are being made; and great wealth and fame are available for a fabulous few – while outside the protective iron gates of the studios cries of the Great Depression have drowned out the giddy roars of the Twenties.  Nearly a decade ago, little Lucille LeSeur (aka Billie Cassin) arrived from Kansas City by way of New York to seek her fortune. MGM gradually turned her into Joan Crawford and now, in the early 30’s, has starred her in a string of hits. Rain and Grand Hotel are among them.  Joan is a success.  And valuable.  And powerful.  And she’s determined to let no one forget it.  But apparently Louis B. Mayer, everyone’s boss at MGM, has.  He insists she continue her "unrealistic" performance as a wild girl who grows up to be an obedient woman, in a new film that might have to be scrapped if Joan can’t get it right . . . or it might carry on with a different leading lady.  Miss Crawford faces a fate worse than oblivion: to be considered “box-office poison.”  Stubborn but aware that her future hangs in the balance, Joan defends her position by rewriting the script in her own image, basing it on her far-from-ideal childhood and her escape from it.  Mr. Mayer listens . . . and decides her future.

Contact

DAVID HOUSTON

(516) 293-2638 / DH@davidhouston.net
700 Fulton Street, M-1, Farmingdale, NY 11735

$300 fee includes actor, technician, small stage setting and travel;
facility is asked to supply an acting area at least 8' x 12', basic lighting,
and amplification if the auditorium is large

Available from May 1, 2005; Running time is about one hour

Scroll Down, or Jump with these Links

Bio: Melanie Lipton

Bio: David Houston

Background: Literary Entertainments

Scheduled Performances

Photo Gallery: Melanie Lipton as Joan Crawford

Photo Gallery: The Real Joan Crawford

Reviews and Comments

Sources

The Films of Joan Crawford

Bios, Program Notes

Melanie Lipton

Equally at home in drama, comedy and musicals, Melanie’s starring roles include Lilli in Kiss Me Kate, Tracy in High Society, Mary in Cyrano Dot Com (a world premiere), Maggie in The Man Who Came to Dinner, Johanna in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, Alexandra in The Little Foxes, Maria in The Sound of Music, Jenny in Threepenny Opera, and Lois Lane in a rare revival of the musical It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman.  She has performed in several of David Houston’s shows for schools and libraries, most notably her acclaimed performances as Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst and as Mrs. Fitzgerald in Great Scott and Zelda.  An educator with a background in music, voice, and theatre, Melanie spent two seasons as teacher and choreographer at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Center.

David Houston

David has appeared in leading roles in scores of plays and musicals, including Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ben in Death of a Salesman, Herr Shultz in Cabaret and Horace Giddens in The Little Foxes.  He is a published and produced writer (14 books, 3 screenplays, 5 stage plays), fiction and non-fiction.  His original plays, Lillie Alone, Great Scott and Zelda, Murder and Madness and Poe, Mark Twain Telling Tales, and The Dickens! have been seen at a number of Long Island libraries.  His Joan Crawford biography Jazz Baby (St. Martin's Press) has been optioned for movie production, as has his mystery Shadows on the Moon. 

  Literary Entertainments

David Houston's series of Literary Entertainments provides small-scale theatrical productions on themes of history and great literature, for theatres, organizations, libraries and schools.  His company got its start in January 2001 when he portrayed Charles Dickens, circa 1867, at a New York theatre and gathered impressive reviews. Houston had also written the Dickens play from Dickens’s own public-reading material.  Later that year, he toured THE DICKENS! to several Long Island libraries—where interest in additional plays was expressed.  Houston—an accomplished writer (14 books, including JAZZ BABY and an award-winning science-fiction novel, GODS IN A VORTEX) and an actor well-known to Long Island theatre-goers—jumped at the opportunity.  He wrote, produced and directed GREAT SCOTT AND ZELDA, a one-act play, with Melanie Lipton and Steve Corbellini, which toured libraries during the 2002 "Long Island Reads" celebration of THE GREAT GATSBY.  Since then he has added to the repertoire: LILLIE ALONE, a one-woman tour-de-force starring Mary Ellin Kurtz as Lillie Langtry, backstage in 1900 as she prepares lies to tell an interviewer and presents monologues from her classic stage successes; MARK TWAIN TELLING TALES, in which Houston, as Twain, gives a lecture on humor and wit, derived from Twain essays and stories; MURDER AND MADNESS AND POE, starring Rick Heuthe as Edgar Allan Poe attempting to secure a lucrative lecture tour in 1848; and JAZZ BABY JOAN, based on Houston's Crawford biography JAZZ BABY (St. Martin's Press), in which while defending a crucial career choice in 1934, Joan Crawford (Melanie Lipton) relives her stormy childhood.  At the request of the Port Washington Library, Houston developed LET'S DO IT!, a two-character comedy with music in which Noel Coward (Houston) and Cole Porter (Heuthe) select and test material for Coward’s cabaret debut in Las Vegas, culminating in Coward's lyric for Porter's "Let's Do It."  In addition to his original plays, Houston's group has also presented Melanie Lipton in William Luce's THE BELLE OF AMHERST, and provided "dramatic readings in the form of radio drama" from the 2003 "Long Island Reads" study of HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS, with Houston and Lipton; and readings in the same style for the 2004 selection, SNOW IN AUGUST, with Houston and actor Matt Stashin interpreting men and boys from the Pete Hamill novel, and in 2005 Houston read from John Steinbeck's TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY.  Houston also provided readings from stories of ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER, celebrating his centennial year, and in 2005 presents screenings of Ayn Rand's WE THE LIVING, celebrating that author's centennial.

Scheduled Performances

Saturday, March 19, 2005, 2:00 p.m. Half Hollow Hills Public Library
Sunday, May 15, 2005, 2:00 p.m. Wantagh Public Library
Friday, July 15, 2005, 8:00 p.m. Port Washington Public Library
Saturday, July 16, 2005, 7:00 p.m., John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor
Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 2:00 p.m. Jericho Public Library
Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 2:30 p.m. Oceanside Public Library
Thursday, March 9, 2006, 1:30 p.m. Garden City Public Library
Monday, July 3, 2006, 8:00 p.m. Towers Country Club, Floral Park
Tuesday, September 26, 1:00 p.m. Manhasset Public Library

Photo Gallery: Melanie Lipton as Joan Crawford

All photos available, upon request, in black and white or color.
Photos copyright © 2005, David Houston

In performance at Garden City Public Library:

   

Photo Gallery: The Real Joan Crawford

References, Reviews, Comments

JAZZ BABY JOAN
MELANIE LIPTON as Joan Crawford

Barbara Minerd, Public Relations/Program Director, Garden City Public Library: "Another hit! There were a multitude of compliments from the audience. Thank you for bringing the professional talents of Melanie Lipton to our stage."  Phyllis Cox, PR/Program Coordinator, Jericho Public Library: "David, you and Melanie did it again!  Thanks for a great show." Michelle Young, Program Director, Oceanside Library: "Another great performance that kept the audience happy and riveted." Debbie Starker, LI editor reviewer, Deb's Web: "David Houston's latest offering, Jazz Baby Joan, starring Melanie Lipton as Joan Crawford (circa 1934) is a gem.  In little vignettes that "Joan" creates to tell her story, we get great insight into one of the screen's superstar icons. David has created yet another wonderful piece perfectly suited to libraries, i.e., both educational and entertaining, and Melanie has brought the character to life without trying to do an impersonation of the great star. I heartily recommend that you see it."  Steve Weinblat, LI teacher and actor: "The script and performance were both wonderful." Jessica Ley, Program Coordinator, Port Washington Public Library: "Melanie Lipton is a treasure!  Her Jazz Baby Joan is a tour de force, worthy of Broadway.  Excellent script, performance, setting and audience response."  Sally Dubrow, actress, community resident, Half Hollow Hills Library (Dix Hills): "The performance was excellent.  It held everyone's attention and left the audience wanting more. We need more programs of this type."  Joy Tepedino, music professional, audience at Wantagh Public Library: "I found the play very moving.  We all have opinions about Joan Crawford from things we've heard, read and seen; and to get an intimate look into a childhood that formed a person of such conflicting morals was very enlightening.  At times she's the Joan we've come to dislike, and at times so pitiful it breaks your heart.  Thank you and your wonderful leading lady for a poignant afternoon."

THE BELLE OF AMHERST
MELANIE LIPTON as Emily Dickinson
(By Special Arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.)

Michelle Young, Program Director, Oceanside Public Library,: “I was impressed by Melanie Lipton’s ability to keep the audience mesmerized.  It’s a beautiful play about a beautiful person.” Phyllis Cox, Program Coordinator, Jericho Library: “Melanie Lipton was incredible as Emily Dickinson.  The production was superb.  The audience thanked me as they left.”  Susan Lenaghan, Program Director, Syosset Public Library: “Melanie played an excellent Emily.  The audience enjoyed her performance immensely.  One audience member was moved to tears.”  North Shore Public Library, Marcia Johnson: "Melanie Lipton does a splendid job of bringing Emily Dickinson to life.  The script deftly weaves monologue with Miss Dickinson’s poetry, and the actress’s skill made the distinctions clear."  John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, Patricia Brandt: "Excellent audience response.  As they were leaving I heard: 'Wonderful,' 'Terrific show,' 'Great Show,' 'Very strong writing,'  I recommend the program."  Port Washington Public Library, Jessica Ley: “Melanie Lipton’s Belle was simply beautiful.  I laughed and I cried; I’ve never seen the play better performed – and that includes the original with Julie Harris!  Our audience brought Melanie back for three curtain calls!”

GREAT SCOTT, AND ZELDA
MELANIE LIPTON as Zelda and STEVE CORBELLINI as F. Scott Fitzgerald

Plainview Old Bethpage Public Library, Aviva Crown, Cultural Program Specialist: "The enchanting 'Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald' performed beautifully in the very literary, very theatrical play. Our audience was mesmerized, so intent were they on catching every word." At Brentwood Public Library, Joy Tepedino, music professional: “The dialog was so well written you actually felt that you were taking a glimpse into Scott and Zelda’s private conversations.  I’ve always been a Gatsby fan, and I feel closer to its creator after having seen this.” Debbie Starker, in "Deb's Web" Internet Theatre Newsletter: "Steve Corbellini and Melanie Lipton are perfect as the Fitzgeralds.  David Houston has done a masterful job of researching, writing, directing, choosing costumes, set pieces & music, etc.” The Mineola American: "The main event was the live one-act play ‘Great Scott, and Zelda,’ which dramatized a day in the life of Fitzgerald and his wife.  Everyone who attended had a wonderful evening at the library"

Sources for JAZZ BABY JOAN

Houston, David.  Jazz Baby, New York, St. Martin's Press, 1984
Additional Sources:
Crawford, Joan.  My Way of Life. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1971
Newquist, Roy.  Conversations with Joan Crawford, Secaucus, NY, Citadel Press, 1980
Quirk, Lawrence, and William Schoell.  Joan Crawford, the Essential Biography,
Lexington, University Press of Kentucky, 2002
Quirk, Lawrence.  The Films of Joan Crawford, New York, Citadel Press, 1968
Thomas, Bob.  Joan Crawford.  New York, Simon and Schuster, 1978

The Films of Joan Crawford  

  1. We're Going to Scare You to Death (1975) .... Joan Fairchild

  2. Beyond the Water's Edge (1972) (TV) .... Allison Hayes

  3. Trog (1970) .... Dr. Brockton

  4. Berserk! (1968) .... Monica Rivers

  5. Karate Killers, The (1967) .... Amanda True (1967)

  6. I Saw What You Did (1965) .... Amy Nelson

  7. Della (1964) .... Della Chappell (1964)

  8. Strait-Jacket (1964) .... Lucy Harbin

  9. Caretakers, The (1963) .... Lucretia Terry (1963)

  10. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) .... Blanche Hudson

  11. Best of Everything, The (1959) .... Amanda Farrow

  12. Woman on the Run (1959) (TV) .... Susan Conrad

  13. Story of Esther Costello, The (1957) .... Margaret Landi (1957)

  14. Autumn Leaves (1956) .... Millicent Wetherby

  15. Queen Bee (1955) .... Eva Phillips

  16. Female on the Beach (1955) .... Lynn Markham

  17. Johnny Guitar (1954) .... Vienna

  18. Torch Song (1953) .... Jenny Stewart

  19. Sudden Fear (1952) .... Myra Hudson

  20. This Woman Is Dangerous (1952) .... Beth Austin

  21. Goodbye, My Fancy (1951) .... Agatha Reed

  22. Harriet Craig (1950) .... Harriet Craig

  23. Damned Don't Cry, The (1950) .... Ethel Whitehead/Lorna Hansen Forbes

  24. Flamingo Road (1949) .... Lane Bellamy

  25. Daisy Kenyon (1947) .... Daisy Kenyon

  26. Possessed (1947) .... Louise Howell Graham

  27. Humoresque (1946) .... Helen Wright

  28. Mildred Pierce (1945) .... Mildred Pierce Beragon

  29. Above Suspicion (1943) .... Frances Myles

  30. Reunion in France (1942) .... Michelle de la Becque

  31. They All Kissed the Bride (1942) .... Margaret Drew

  32. When Ladies Meet (1941) .... Mary 'Minnie' Howard

  33. Woman's Face, A (1941) .... Anna Holm, aka Ingrid Paulson

  34. Susan and God (1940) .... Susan Trexel (1940) (UK)

  35. Strange Cargo (1940) .... Julie

  36. Women, The (1939) .... Crystal Allen

  37. Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) .... Mary McKay, aka Sandra Lee

  38. Shining Hour, The (1938) .... Olivia Riley

  39. Mannequin (1937) .... Jessica 'Jessie' Cassidy Miller

  40. Bride Wore Red, The (1937) .... Anni Pavlovitch, aka Anne Vivaldi

  41. Last of Mrs. Cheyney, The (1937) .... Mrs. Fay Cheyney

  42. Love on the Run (1936) .... Sally Parker

  43. Gorgeous Hussy, The (1936) .... Margaret 'Peggy' O'Neal Eaton

  44. I Live My Life (1935) .... Kay Bentley, aka Ann Morrison

  45. No More Ladies (1935) .... Marcia Townsend Warren

  46. Forsaking All Others (1934) .... Mary Clay

  47. Chained (1934) .... Diane Lovering, also called 'Dinah'

  48. Sadie McKee (1934) .... Sadie McKee Brennan

  49. Dancing Lady (1933) .... Janie 'Duchess' Barlow

  50. Today We Live (1933) .... Diana 'Ann' Boyce-Smith

  51. Rain (1932) .... Sadie Thompson

  52. Letty Lynton (1932) .... Letty Lynton

  53. Grand Hotel (1932) .... Flaemmchen

  54. Wir schalten um auf Hollywood (1931)

  55. Possessed (1931) .... Marian Martin, aka Mrs. Moreland

  56. This Modern Age (1931) .... Valentine 'Val' Winters

  57. Laughing Sinners (1931) .... Ivy 'Bunny' Stevens (1931)

  58. Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) .... Bonnie 'Bon' Jordan, aka Mary Smith

  59. Great Day (1930)

  60. Paid (1930) .... Mary Turner (1930)

  61. Our Blushing Brides (1930) .... Geraldine 'Gerry' March

  62. Montana Moon (1930) .... Joan 'Montana' Prescott

  63. Untamed (1929) .... Alice 'Bingo' Dowling

  64. Our Modern Maidens (1929) .... Billie Brown

  65. Duke Steps Out, The (1929) .... Susie

  66. Tide of Empire (1928) .... Josephita Guerrero

  67. Dream of Love (1928) .... Adrienne Lecouvreur

  68. Our Dancing Daughters (1928) .... Diana 'Di' Medford

  69. Four Walls (1928) .... Frieda

  70. Across to Singapore (1928) .... Priscilla Crowninshield

  71. Rose-Marie (1928) .... Rose-Marie

  72. Law of the Range, The (1928) .... Betty Dallas

  73. West Point (1928) .... Betty Channing

  74. Spring Fever (1927) .... Allie Monte

  75. Twelve Miles Out (1927) .... Jane

  76. Unknown, The (1927) .... Nanon Zanzi

  77. Understanding Heart, The (1927) .... Monica Dale

  78. Taxi Dancer, The (1927) .... Joslyn Poe

  79. Winners of the Wilderness (1927) .... René Contrecoeur

  80. Paris (1926) .... The Girl

  81. Boob, The (1926) .... Jane, a Revenue Agent (1926)

  82. Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926/I) .... Betty Burton

  83. Sally, Irene and Mary (1925) .... Irene

  84. Only Thing, The (1925) (uncredited) .... Party Guest (1925)

  85. Old Clothes (1925) .... Mary Riley

  86. Midshipman, The (1925) (uncredited) .... Extra

  87. Circle, The (1925) (uncredited) .... Young Lady Catherine

  88. Merry Widow, The (1925) (uncredited) .... Extra

  89. Slave of Fashion, A (1925) (uncredited) .... Mannequin

  90. Pretty Ladies (1925) (as Lucille Le Sueur) .... Bobby, a showgirl

  91. Proud Flesh (1925) (uncredited) .... Bit Part

  92. Lady of the Night (1925) (uncredited) .... Double for Norma Shearer

Home  |  Let's Do It!  |  Great Scott, and Zelda  |  The Belle of Amherst  |  3 Stories of IB Singer
 Murder Madness and Poe  |  On-Stage Photo Gallery  |  Theatrical Resume  |  The Dickens!  |  Fahrenheit 451  |  Jazz Baby Joan
Walt Whitman, To Begin With  |  Mark Twain: Telling Tales  |  Study in Scarlet  |  The Ghost of Dorothy Parker
The Color of Water  |  Fred and Adele Astaire: The Last Dance  |  Laughter in the 19th Century  |  Joy Comes in the Morning

 

Copyright © 2004, David Houston