Fort Worth arts fans have a new reason to celebrate. Actor and jazz pianist Jeff Goldblum has been tapped to narrate “Exit Stage Right,” a five‑episode documentary series that chronicles the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Goldblum’s personal connection to the piano
Goldblum, known for his roles in Jurassic Park and the Broadway production of Wicked, grew up playing piano and continues to perform with his own ensemble, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. In a news release he said, “The work these young musicians put in, the discipline, the devotion, is just staggering. And then to watch them walk out on that stage with the whole world listening and take their shot at a real career? Thrilling. Truly inspiring stuff.”
What the series covers
“Exit Stage Right” follows 28 competitors from the opening draw through preliminaries, quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final round, where six pianists each performed two concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under conductor Marin Alsop. The series highlights the personal hardships of each competitor and compares their journeys to those of past Cliburn winners.
Featured pianists include Hong Kong’s gold‑medalist Aristo Sham, Russia’s Vitaly Starikov, American Carter Johnson, Angel Stanislav Wang, South Korea’s Chaeyoung Park, and China’s Yanjun Chen. The docuseries also includes commentary from Cliburn president and CEO Jacques Marquis, who said, “We are overjoyed to have Jeff Goldblum, a world‑renowned artist who shares our love for the piano, join us in telling these stories.”
Production details and future plans
The series is produced by the Van Cliburn Foundation in partnership with Framework Productions and directed by Steven Pierce. It is complete and currently seeking distribution. The Cliburn organization has a history of film production, having previously released twelve feature films about its competitions.
The 2025 competition attracted more than 20 million viewers worldwide through YouTube and a network of local and international television partners, underscoring the event’s global reach.
Looking ahead
Fort Worth will host the 18th iteration of the Van Cliburn Competition in May 2029, continuing the city’s tradition of supporting world‑class classical music. Local arts organizations and schools are already planning outreach programs to bring the competition’s legacy to younger audiences.
For readers who want a deeper dive into the 2025 competition, the Fort Worth Report’s extensive coverage remains available online.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
