On a gorgeous spring afternoon, on via Ricasoli, a gaggle of starstruck tourists whisper among themselves. Their eyes pop as they exchange stunned looks: “Could it be? Really? Here?” In a city that is home to the world’s most extensive collection of art stands a towering, living, breathing figure, and the staring gaggle can hardly believe it. The whispers continue. “Could it really be? Jeff Goldblum? My god, I loved him in Jurassic Park. So much cooler than the dinosaurs. So funny! And Independence Day, and Thor Ragnarok!” One of the mothers chimes in. “You didn’t see him in The Big Chill. You need to.” An older brother is beside himself. “But The Fly. THE FLY! I’m going to ask him for a selfie. I mean, a selfie with The Fly!”
It’s all so fun to watch. What’s more fun is seeing how genial and warm Jeff Goldblum is, how generous and kind he is with his fans right there on the street in front of the Duomo, because yes, we’re talking about the Jeff Goldblum, star of stage and screen from the aforementioned major blockbusters as well as critical hits like The Grand Budapest Hotel, his TV work on Will & Grace, his National Geographic/Disney Plus romp, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, many more films and TV shows, or his stage appearances on Broadway and in London’s West End. Not to mention the current Netlifx mega-hit KAOS, which stars Jeff as Zeus in a turn of comedic genius. There is also his star turn as Oz in the upcoming Wicked the movie. Dressed as the fashion icon he has become, a perfect pairing of naughty/chic-jazz/cool, towering over the giddy tourists and Florentines alike, with a momentary break in all the excited chatter, someone manages to get in a question: “What are you doing here?”
The answer is an entertaining one and a remarkably wonderful thing for the whole city. Jeff is here to visit Teatro Niccolini, where on September 20 he will star in the theatre’s 376th season opening night gala, followed by a second performance the next day. Built in 1648, the Teatro Niccolini is Florence’s oldest theatre, the most beautiful of its kind and one of the oldest interior theatres in the world blessed with a perfect acoustic. The idea of having Jeff open the season emanated from the fact that the actor and musician loves Florence. He spends time here with his family when he is not working elsewhere around the world. More relevant, however, is the fact that Jeff is also an accomplished jazz pianist and musical entertainer with a worldwide following for his music, in addition to being beloved for the characters that he creates in the cinema, on stage and on television. Moreover, there is an intimacy with the artist and such a sheer joy being in his musical presence that as well as one might know Jeff from his screen work, the musical experience is a thrill.
Born just outside of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, to parents who were interested in showbusiness but whose father ended up as a chief of medicine at a local hospital, Jeff relocated to New York when he was 17 to study acting. He also pursued an interest in jazz, much of which he credits to his older brother’s influence who he lost to an illness when they were both young. With a Broadway debut in The Two Gentlemen of Verona when he was only 19, a film debut three years later in Charles Bronson’s Death Wish and a television debut one year after that in Columbo, Jeff Goldblum’s career as an actor is as storied as any actor working today. And yet, aside from the box office behemoths, one of Jeff’s greatest loves appears to be the piano and making music, and sharing his music with a live audience.
Thirty years ago, Jeff launched The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra with Jeff as lead pianist and entertainer. Together they have delighted audiences throughout the United States and all over the world playing contemporary arrangements of classic jazz and American standards. The group has released three albums, all on Decca Records, and has featured brilliant guest artists including Gregory Porter, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Fiona Apple, Freda Payne, Haley Reinhart, Imelda May and more. MSO continues to record with new music on the way.
Launching FirenzeOnStage.com’s first season of programming at Teatro Niccolini, this performance will feature Goldblum on piano, John Storie on guitar, Alex Frank on bass, Joe Bagg on organ, Scott Gilman and James King on sax, and Ryan Shaw on drums. The featured vocalist is Tawanda. As Jeff says, “Geez, I go totally crazy about sharing these groovy tunes but, I gotta tell ya, I get equally enchanted by the fascinating folks who turn up for the experience!” So, for the record, he might get a little chatty.
It all promises to be a tremendous set of evenings with a gala performance open to the public on Friday, September 20 and a general performance on Saturday, September 21. The gala will include pre-show and post-show food and drinks, a gathering of wonderful artists in Florence’s oldest theatre in Florence’s historic centre, music, joy, and a whole lot of stardust to celebrate the opening of a musical and theatrical season. Jeff and his gang all look forward to seeing you at Florence’s most exciting opening.
