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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, 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

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

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

video courtesy of Broadway.com… Click for more

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

The Skit

The Award Win For Best Bonnet and Win For Best Presentation

The Award Win for Best Fundraising

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—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

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

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

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

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

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