LIFE AS PARENTHESIS

Mar 21.11

I feel I am in the middle of a parenthesis. Part of it, I’m sure, is that I feel an emptiness inside me where Dr Katherine Brandt used to reside.… Click for more

A Festive Farewell to Los Angeles by Dick Pollack

Mar 12.11

excerpt from the blog “You’re Only Old Once” click for complete article

33 Variations, the play that brought Diane to Los Angeles in early January, ended its limited run on March 6 and there was, as is traditional after final curtains, a party.

… Click for more

IT TAKES A LONG TIME

Mar 10.11

I have gone through much of my Iife thinking that things are best, most enticing and exciting, when they are fresh and new.… Click for more

CLOSING NIGHT

Mar 08.11

It was bittersweet. We have had a glorious run and much fun. We became a sort of family, and the wonderful audiences some of whom came back to see it again and again—it can take several viewings cause there is so much to absorb.… Click for more

MARCH 1ST

Mar 03.11

I cannot believe that last night I went out with Wanda Sykes, her partner Laura, Mo Ostin and his sons and daughter-in-law and Robbie Robertson (The Band), and Richard, all of whom had just seen the play (Richard for the 3rd time!) And I forgot to take any pictures.… Click for more

ODDS AND ENDS

Feb 26.11

Just so my blog readers know, yesterday’s story about my friends Diana Dunn and Sue Sally is not finished. For some reason, the ending got left off.… Click for more

WORKING BACKWARDS

Feb 24.11

Feb 24th

Yesterday, We had a 10:45 am show for 2000 10th, 11th, 12th graders from public schools all over Los Angeles.… Click for more

MY GRANDSON SENT ME AN EMAIL TODAY!!

Feb 14.11

He is 11 years and he has never sent me an email. He lives in Atlanta and I now live in Los Angeles.… Click for more

OUR FIRST FOUR SHOW WEEKEND

Feb 13.11

It’s challenging to do two two-show days back to back. In New York we have 2 shows on Saturday and Wednesday but the Ahmanson is way downtown and I imagine it’s hard for people to get here mid-week for a matinee.… Click for more

PHOTOS FROM OPENING NIGHT

Feb 10.11

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 9: Actor Colin Farrell (L) and cast member Jane Fonda (R) pose backstage after the opening night performance of "33 Variations" at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

… Click for more

PHOTOS FROM MY DRESSING ROOM

Feb 01.11

The sofa in my dressing room I sleep on at dinner break with the Gees Bend quilt on it.

My dressing table

A very 60s beaded necklace that Catherine Keener gave me when we did “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding” this Summer.… Click for more

FIRST OFFICIAL PREVIEW WITH BIG AUDIENCE

Jan 31.11

Whew!!! They loved it! We got a standing O! Clare Elfman, Danny’s mother (Bridget Fonda’s mother-in-law) was there and writes an online review, really loved the play and said, “Los Angeles is hungry for really good theatre and this was really good theatre.”

I felt so much better tonight than last night.… Click for more

LAST SHOW BEFORE PREVIEWS

Jan 30.11

Our first run through with a small invited audience in Los Angeles. My Daughter-in-law took this of the audience waiting for the show to start.… Click for more

GETTING EXCITED

Jan 29.11

Things are falling into place. I’m feeling like a horse, chomping at the bit, waiting for the play to begin–which it is about to: Our 2nd full out tech run-through start to finish.… Click for more

FIRST FULL TECH RUN THROUGH WITHOUT STOPS

Jan 28.11

Weeeellll… We have been at it all day and are a little tired and the crew is new and have never done all the tech changes up to speed so there’ve been some glitches…like a light wasn’t where it needed to be, or a chair.… Click for more

BroadwayWorld.com: Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with 33 VARIATIONS

Jan 27.11

click here for complete article on Broadwayworld.com

Preview performances began this Sunday, January 30, for the five-time Tony nominated production of “33 Variations” with Jane Fonda at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.… Click for more

SECOND DAY OF TECH

Jan 26.11

Whew, tech rehearsing is slow and tiring. We stop and start and then do it all over again in little bits and pieces, especially the technically complicated transitions between scenes.… Click for more

WE’RE IN THE THEATRE!!

Jan 24.11

We started tech rehearsals at 1pm today in the Ahmanson Theatre. We are all so happy to finally be in here.… Click for more

LITTLE CHANGES/BIG DIFFERENCE

Jan 19.11

It blows me away how little changes both in the dialogue and in how we are playing certain moments is making a big difference.… Click for more

LOSING SARGENT SHRIVER

Jan 18.11

He was a great, generous, full- of- life man. I knew him when he was the U.S. Ambassador to France and I was living there and then, later, during some of the Special Olympic Games that his wife, Eunice organized.… Click for more

SECOND WEEK OF REHEARSALS

Jan 14.11

It has been a madhouse! Rehearsals for the play, award shows, rehearsals for awards shows, parties for nominees, family stuff. Whew!… Click for more

FIFTH DAY

Jan 08.11

We had a short but productive day rehearsing today. David Binder, who produced the show in New York, stopped by for awhile en route to Australia.… Click for more

DAY FOUR

Jan 07.11

Our three final cast members, Don Amendolia, Michael Winther and Diane Walsh, have arrived! The family is complete!

Don plays Diabelli, the famous music publisher in Vienna in the mid 1800s, who wrote the original waltz that inspired Beethovan to compose the 33 Variations.… Click for more

DAY THREE OF REHEARSAL

Jan 06.11

It was a good day. Some breakthroughs.

During a walk with Tulea I couldn’t resist photographing some roots. I love interesting roots.… Click for more

2ND DAY

Jan 05.11

It is nice having 2 new cast members–adds unexpected relish.

We got onto our feet today. I remember the blocking (where we are supposed to go within the scenes) but I am surprised by the extent to which I have to work at relearning the lines.… Click for more

FIRST DAY OF REHEARSAL—AGAIN!!!

Jan 05.11

We did a full read through. As our writer/director said, “it was like visiting an old friend.” Our very fun challenge is to make it a new friend, to discover shades and details and depths we didn’t see the first time around.… Click for more

NEW YEARS IN BERKELEY

Jan 02.11

Richard, and I went to Berkeley Jan 31st with my long-time friend, Jodie Evans to celebrate New Year’s Eve and Jan 1st at the great restaurant, Chez Panisse.… Click for more

Jane Fonda to bring Broadway production of ’33 Variations’ to L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre

Aug 06.10

Jane Fonda, who returned to Broadway last year after a 46-year absence and earned a Tony nomination for her performance in “33 Variations,” will reprise the role at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles next year.… Click for more

POLY PREP AND OTHER RECENT EVENTS

Mar 18.10

Three days ago Richard hosted a reception for his high school alma mater, Brooklyn’s prestigious Poly Prep school. He was there from 5th grade till college (He then went to the University of Michigan.) He loved his prep school and awhile back gave the lead gift to build the Richard Perry Theatre, a state of the art theatre on campus.… Click for more

Broadway.com Audience Awards 2009

Jun 23.09

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I won the Broadway.com Best Actress award last May for my performance in “33 Variations”

video courtesy of Broadway.com… Click for more

MORE ON THE TONYS

May 06.09

I just spent 2 hours in a mid town hotel with all the other Tony nominees doing press. I got a chance to see Marcia Gay Harden and Hope Davis and thank them in person for the flowers they sent me.… Click for more

Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet Competition

Apr 29.09

The Skit

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The Award Win For Best Bonnet and Win For Best Presentation

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The Award Win for Best Fundraising

TRIFECTA!!!

Apr 28.09

That’s what they call a triple winner and that is what “33 Variations” did today at the big Broadway Cares finale held at the huge Minskoff Theatre.… Click for more

BREAK A LEG

Mar 17.09

BREAK A LEG—some proposed meanings of this theatrical expression of
“Good Luck.

My assistant, Rachel Brenna, interviewed the cast about their knowledge
of the origins of this expression-Break a Leg.… Click for more

The ‘Morning’ After

Mar 10.09

March 10th

I put ‘morning’ in quotes cause it’s 3:30p. I got up at noon to walk Tulea for her 4th birthday but I’m going back to bed as soon as I write this.… Click for more

God’s Mercy

Mar 01.09

I am blogging on my blackberry. I’m home after the performance (and too much wine!) and an extraordinary hour after the show backstage with Gloria Steinem (her 2nd time seeing it.… Click for more

Roomful Of Talent

Feb 26.09

There were 21 of us gathered in photographer Mark Seliger’s studio complex, a fixed up warehouse way down at the bottom of Manhattan.… Click for more

Flummoxed

Feb 24.09

Oh wow, my sinuses are killing me. Oddly, when I am on stage I don’t feel it although I just screwed up a line and I think the audience knows I’m sick., Tovah Feldshuh is out there tonight.… Click for more

Valentine’s Day

Feb 15.09

This is our first 2-show day. I’m kinda tired so I will take my nap soon before the evening show. Last night my dear friends from the past–Laurel Lyle and David Hodges saw the show and came back stage.  David was the director of the Laurel Springs Children’s Camp that my husband, Tom Hayden, and I ran in California for 15 years.… Click for more

Film, Television & Theater

  • "At age 50, I broke all the career rules and left acting for 15 years. Ten of those years I was married to Ted Turner and after that I spent 5 years writing my memoirs and traveling the world on behalf of women and girls. Needless to say, returning to my profession late in life has been an interesting, exciting and unusual experience! "Monster-in-Law" was my first film after this hiatus and was one of my most fun professional experiences after "9 to 5"! During my 15 year absence, I gained confidence and, as a result, I feel that my acting is better, more nuanced and relaxed than ever."