Had a fun time with Sally Field and my Atlanta friends, Helen and Laura. I enjoy the lasting ties I have made with people from Atlanta, which has been my home for only 18 years. Sally and I just soaked each other up-we always have so much catching up to do about our family lives (she is a very involved mother and grandmother) and our acting lives. I could see all over her face how happy she is for me that I am in a strong, hit show and that I am really happy doing this. She reminded me of those 15 years when I thought I’d left the business forever. “See, Jane! You really are an actor!!” For complex reasons, I feel very close to her even though we don’t see each other that often. But when we do, it gets intense real quick. Fun!

So, I said that today I’d write about my fellow actors. I have come to really love and appreciate actors from doing this play with these seasoned performers. They’re not in it for fame or money. It’s in their blood and bones. They are totally reliable, steadfast, loving, funny and sooooo talented. I know this is one of the things that drew my Dad to theatre.

I have the great pleasure of standing next to Don Amendolia every night before the show starts. Both of us are usually in our places in the wings before places are even called. I am dressed in a sharp contemporary suit and he, as a rising music publisher in the mid-1800s, is dressed in a snappy, velvet jacket and ruffled shirt. Two different centuries side by side about to appear on stage together. It is his character, Anton Diabelli, who wrote the original waltz that inspired Beethoven to write his 33 variations. For 200 years Diabelli’s waltz was considered mediocre and my character, the musicologist Dr Katherine Brandt, is obsessed to find out and write a monograph about why Beethoven did this at the end of his life when he was going deaf and was ill and writing his most famous, important works-the Ninth Symphony and the Mass-why devote 3 years to all those variations on a mediocre waltz.

Don’s home is in New Jersey but right now, for this run, he’s here in the city. He can sing (beautifully), dance and do many styles of acting. In this play he is wonderfully over-the-top as he pantomimes his frustrations to Beethoven who is going deaf. I am often in the wings waiting for an entrance, watching the scenes and Don always makes me laugh. On top of all that, Don is also a director.

But being able to stand next to him every night before the show starts is a real pleasure-and reassuring. He’s a glass-half-full kind of guy, a perfect antidote to my tendency to fret about how the house (audience) looks, etc. He seems to almost chomp at the bit so eager is he to get out on stage. “Oh, I’m going to have such a good time tonight!” Like me, he likes to know who’s in the audience and as I can’t see as well as he can and am always complaining that I can’t find a particular friend or celebrity, he gave me some opera glasses last night and I had a ball scanning the crowd. (This totally shocked Sally who doesn’t like knowing who is out there.)

Right before the house lights go down, we look across the stage and there, regular as clockwork, silhouetted against a blueish light, is Colin Hanks, waving overhead to us. Sometimes Samantha is there to. But always Colin. And right before we go on, Don and I whisper “En bocca del Luppo” to each other: “In the mouth of the wolf.” The opera’s equilvalent to “Break a leg. We haven’t missed this little routine once in the 2 months we’ve been performing.

At the top of the second act, I make an entrance from back stage center and walk slowly down to the footlights. I’m usually in my place early and so most of the other actors cross behind me to get into their positions. First Don with an upbeat comment about how great the audience is or what a fun time he’s having. I tell you, I kvell at the sheer joy he derives from his profession. It’s contagious. Then comes Colin, squeezing behind me (it’s a narrow space) who usually whispers, “See you in Bonn,” because in the second act that’s where he has come so he can be of help to my daughter (Samantha Mathis). Colin plays a male nurse. Last, comes Susan Kellerman who plays Gertie, the keeper of Beethoven’s archives in Bonn. She gently pats my shoulder as she passes and says “Give ‘em hell” or “You go girl.” (Usually in her character’s German accent)

There are some scenes that I’m not in but that I get to watch from off-stage while I wait to make an entrance. I try to get there early so I can watch most of the scene and see the different audience responses. It’s amazing how very different they can be and how that doesn’t necessarily predict what the curtain call will be like-on their feet cheering or more subdued. There are some scenes that make me laugh so hard I’m afraid the audience can hear me.

Like when Samantha and Colin bump into each other early in the play while they’re waiting to get their computers repairs. Or the scene in the second act when Susan tells Samantha she wants to find me a male prostitute, “I think he should be a Turkish man, zey are very gut with women. Zay take zere time.”

That’s all for now. I’m going to nap with Tulea. Oh yes, turns out I lent “Man on Wire” to Don and he forgot to return it so today the kids and I watched “Himalayas”, an award winning movie that showed the terrain I will trekking through in a year and a half. I dropped the kids back off with their mother who is in a media training session at the Women’s Media Center. When we left, my apartment looked like a cyclone hit it due to the grandkid’s fondness for making forts using every pillow, bolster and blanket in the place. “Man on Wire” will have to wait till Sunday.

See you next time

So glad we have 2 shows (did I already say that earlier?) It means I don’t have to think about what to do.

Robin Laughlin saw the show at matinee and came backstage. She has supposed to come for the opening but got sick. I’ve known Robin for a long time. My step daughter, Nathalie, introduced us years ago when I was looking for a place to move to since I had decided to quite the movie business and become a fulltime activist. Nathalie suggested Santa Fe and I said, “But can you introduce me one person who could be a close friend? I am too old to make all new friends.” Robin was who she introduced me to. She’s my only woman friends who can out-fish and out-hunt me. She reminded me of the days when I would tell her, despite her protestations, that I would never act again. “But then came ‘Monster-in-Law,’ and then ‘Georgia Rule,’” Robin said, “And now this! I am so happy and excited to see you performing up there on the stage.” There’s so much else I could say about Robin but gotta get ready for curtain time. She’s one person I feel close enough to to actually ask her to tell me what moments she was most moved by. OH! I almost forgot to tell you this about Robin: There is a scene in the first act where I am supposed to take my shirt off and be topless. I didn’t think this was right for me to do and I discussed it with Robin during the Christmas holiday. “You should get one of those transparent camisole tops,” she said.”That way you are partly revealed but there’s still something between you and the audience.” She actually bought me a bunch of them and Moises, when he saw the effect, gave me a thumbs up. “It’s more about vulnerability than nudity,” he said. That’s what he’s got thanks to Robin.

Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler attend the after party for opening night of "33 Variations" at Buddakan on March 9, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

The curtain call–from left to right–Samantha, Mathis, me, Moises, Zach Grenier and Colin Hanks.

On the red carpet with Moises Kaufman (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

By the way, last night Troy, Simone and I went to the opening of Colin’s new film “The Great Buck Howard,” also starring an amazing John Malkovich as Buck Howard. A very sweet, touching film that has been Colin’s baby since he took it to Sundance.

More later for Today’s blog. Feeling rested and great. Anxious to get to the theatre for the first of our two shows. Bob Redford is coming back after this evening’s show. Much excitement…especially for me.

Life is good. Later, I’ll tell you about a new goal in my life—thanks to an invitation from Joan Hallifax Roshi yesterday.

It was a really good show though I have to confess I kept thinking throughout “does Bob (Redford) like classical music? Will he like this? I sort of figured he would cause he’s black Irish so issues of life and death and such resonate. Also, the play actually workshopped at Sundance. Moises was on the board.

So Bob came back after. I won’t have photos till tomorrow but, gotta tell you, he looked fantastic!!! Really good. And his daughter Amy was with him. She did a play with my son awhile back. We had a good talk. And hugged a lot. And it was so important for me–seeing him and telling him what it feels like–now–to be doing this play. We have so much shared history. He told me he was proud of me. I could tell he meant it and that meant so much.
Tom Hanks came again and I will have that photo with him tomorrow too.

Then Kristina Kiehl and her sister-in-law came backstage as did documentary filmmaker (oscar winner) Barbara Kopple and we polished off some good red wine and hung out till the doorman said he was about to lock up. Hey, after opening night and a two-show day, I needed to unwind with friends.

Tomorrow I start up with Pilates again after 2 weeks. I know I will be sore. I want to be sore. It’s been too long. But there was no time. Now I am back with a regular schedule again.

I’ll send photos tomorrow.

See you next time

There were 21 of us gathered in photographer Mark Seliger’s studio complex, a fixed up warehouse way down at the bottom of Manhattan. Just to mention the people I knew there: John Glover, Matthew Broderick, Geoffrey Rush, Susan Sarandon (totally gorgeous), Joan Allen, Jeremy Irons, Marsha Mason, Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden. Representing “33 Variations” with me were Colin Hanks and Samantha Mathis. David Hyde Pierce, like me, felt awestruck by the roomful of talent. He is so nice. I seem to only meet up with him backstage at events but it’s always a pleasure.

Especially nice for me was to be able to reconnect with Jeff Daniels. I got to know him when I visited the location of Ted Turner’s TV epic “Gettysburg” many years ago in which he was brilliant. He is an extraordinarily talented, intelligent and multi-faceted actor. He’s in rehearsal for “God of Carnage” with James Gandolfini (also there), Marcia Gay, and Hope Davis (also there). I told him “bravo” for his work promoting Michigan as a place to invest in. Maybe you’ve seen his commercials on TV.

I hadn’t seen John Glover since I turned over a table on him in a scene in “Julia.” He played Meryl Streep’s brother. He’s rehearsing for “Waiting for Godot.”

Being in that room with all those talented actors made me very proud of our profession. And what was most interesting both to me and to Samantha was how scared they all are about the process. That’s how I felt 6 weeks ago. It’s kind of great being the ‘old-timer’ on the block. We’ve been in rehearsal longest and will open soonest so I’m over the hump of feeling like I want to crawl into a dark hole.

I didn’t get a chance to talk to Geoffrey Rush but Colin did. Like me, Colin doubted that Geoffrey is nervous but he did tell Colin how much he loves what he feels is the unique Broadway community—even if we don’t all know each other, we feel bonded through the work. There was a real sense of community in the room today. I am proud to be part of it. And grateful.

As you may sense, I am starting to feel better. Whew! When I got to the theatre after the photo shoot, we got notes from Moises as well as what may well be our last script changes. I am very, very pleased with all the changes he has made in the last few days. They’ve simplified and clarified. Now to marinate in them long enough to make them part of my DNA before the critics start to come next week.

See you next time.

I took some meds last night that kept me awake till 7am today!!! Still, the matinee went well and was 17 minutes shorter than the first public preview we did 2 ½ weeks ago.

Lolly Espy and her husband saw the show and came back after. Lolly and I went to the wonderful Emma Willard boarding school during our high school years. She was a drop dead gorgeous southern belle who turned out to be as sweet as a magnolia blossom…not what one comes to expect from drop dead gorgeous people. She has remained that way, inside and out. I’m glad we’ve maintain contact.

Holly Near also came back. Holly is the singer/song writer who I first met while auditioning her to do the FTA Show in 1971. She then came on the two 3-month-long national antiwar tours that my then-husband, Tom Hayden, and I did in 1972 and 73. Following that, she created her own record label, Redwood Records, and continues to be a force on many levels. She’s about to start a tour so, fearful of catching what I’ve got, we couldn’t hug. Both Holly and Lolly seemed to love the show.

We have 2 more days before we “Lock” it up—stop making script changes and sink into familiarity and comfort for next week when the critics start to come. I thought I’d be getting nervous at this looming prospect but I’m not. I feel confident in the play, in the cast and -for the most part–in my performance.

Again, how I wish Dad was here to see it.

Tomorrow, Colin Hanks, Samantha Mathis and I are doing a shoot for Vanity Fair with a bunch of other actors who will open on Broadway this season. Hopefully, I’ll get to see Susan Sarandon (some time I’ll get around to telling you about the 14 hours we spent together, stranded in the airport of Abu Dhabi. Not fun) among other friends. I think I will Twitter about it while it’s happening. Wonder if the actors from “9 to 5: The Musical” will be there?

That’s it. I’m writing this between performances and have to start getting ready. I hate to feel rushed so am always here and getting ready before anyone else. If anything special happens before tomorrow I’ll twitter about it.

See you next time.

You might wonder why, at age 71, I am launching my first blog. Well, good friends of mine (Rosie and Lily) have been avid bloggers for a long time and I’ve noticed that what they offer is interesting and provoking. Provoking is good—provoking ideas, thoughts, laughs, compassion and just plain fun. I like to provoke. I have interesting friends, an amazingly diverse and interesting life and family, great photos. There’s a lot to get into on a blog.

So—I had breakfast in Atlanta in the beginning of January with my friend, Matt Arnett. Matt really wanted me to meet a friend of his whose kids go to the same school as my grandchildren because he thought this tech-savy friend might be able to help my Georgia-based Non-profit, The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention improve its website. (More about that another time). Actually, we never even got around to G-CAPP because I got so inspired to start my own blog. Matt, James (that’s his name—James Andrews) and James’s wife Sherrelle Kirkland-Andrews, pointed out to me that there’s such malarkey floating around the net about me. Why not begin to tell my own story, my thoughts, and activities (past, present and future) rather than letting others—sometimes hostile others—try to put out their own spin on me. That’s part of it. But the idea also occurred to me that I was about to launch into a new adventure in this third act of mine and that it might be interesting to bring people along with me.

The adventure is that I am returning to Broadway for the first time in 45 years. Why not try, with this blog, to convey what it’s like… day by day…the excitement, scariness, the highs and lows.

So, although I’ve just gone online today, I have, in fact, been blogging for three weeks now and you can follow all the posts from the beginning by clicking here.

Today, during lunch break, I took my dog, Tulea, for a walk and it really hit me how much I miss my dad. When he returned from his stint in the Navy after WWII he went straight to Broadway to star in “Mr. Roberts.” He played that role every day for four years, never missing a performance! It was not customary in those days—the 40s and 50s—for movie stars to go back and forth from Hollywood to Broadway. But theatre was Dad’s great love. My brother and I grew up knowing and respecting this about him. He loved the immediacy of playing before a live audience. The instant feedback. He was meticulous, always doing exactly the same things, the same moves, the same inflections, every night. I have heard this from so many of his fellow actors.

Now that I am doing theater again after a huge absence, I can’t help but wish he was still here with me–to see. Not that he would give me advice. That wasn’t his style. But I wish he knew that I’ve come back to his place of love.

There have been days during these weeks of rehearsals when I seem incapable of doing the same thing over and over…even twice, never mind for 4 years! I wonder how he was able to do it. I want to please him…still. Do we ever get over this need to please the parent we were closest to?

* * * * * * * *

Moises Kaufman, the writer and director, has us doing run throughs more frequently now and it helps so much to experience the sweep of the play. We begin tech rehearsals in the actual theatre—the Eugene O’Neill–next week (gulp!) so we are starting to fine tune and lock in the blocking.

I love watching the other actors in their scenes. So funny, so touching, so outrageous! I like how we are melding together as a unit, all watching out for each other. Colin (Hanks) has had a cold for several days and last night he had to fly to Las Vegas to perform a scene he did with the actors in the TV series “Mad Men.” We’re all worried about him and he left with all of us bombarding him with special remedies for stopping colds.

I couldn’t resist taking this picture of Don Amendolia who plays Diabelli, the music publisher whose small waltz is the inspiration for Beethoven’s great opus, 33 Variations. That’s him behind the paper, sleeping with Tulea during a break.

Susan Kellerman, who plays the librarian in charge of the Beethoven archive, is insisting that I grant them all visiting rights with Tulea when the play is over. “Over”! What a concept.

Tomorrow I have an early costume fitting so I’m off to bed.

See you next time.