POLY PREP AND OTHER RECENT EVENTS

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. Meryl Streep made her directorial debut there and all her children went to Poly Prep. I will see the school at the end of April when I will accompany Richard to his 50th reunion. I have encouraged him to go. I love reunions; love seeing people I knew so intimately for so many years, so many years ago.  I figure it will be the same for Richard and maybe I’ll learn something about him, as well, because I find it’s a way to learn about yourself, be reminded of who you were and perhaps some insight into who you’ve become…and who your fellow classmates have become. I find it is always surprising.

One of Richard’s classmates was Richard Rosenberg with whom he formed a doo wop singing group, first called The Legends and then The Escorts. I just about fainted when, awhile ago, I was bragging that I knew a song in Latin and began singing Gaudeamus Igitur when Richard then began singing along with me and then put on an old LP of The Escorts on which they sang a doo wop version of the Latin song!!! OMG! I may sing it with them at the reunion if we get any chance to rehearse.

The reunion was a big success, needless to say.

Next to Richard is the former Headmaster, Bill Williams, then another alum, Nick Schenck. In front of NIck is the current headmaster, David Harmon

Richard, me, Nick Schenck and Richard Rosenberg

Last night we had a little party with the amazingly special Catherine Keener, documentary filmmaker, Amy Berg, who made the extraordinarily powerful documentary, “Deliver Us From Evil,” about a pedophile Catholic priest, Samantha Mathis, who played my daughter in “33 Variations” on Broadway and who I adore, and producer Sandy Stern who is becoming a dear friend and, hopefully we will work together. Alas, I forgot to take any pictures!!
 
It was a really fun night and ended early cause I had to get up this morning and do a photo shoot with Matthew Rolston for the covers of my new DVDs. I so adore working with Matthew. He is kind, quick, talented and the photos really look good. It may seem strange to you that the DVDs won’t come out till next January and yet we’re doing all this now but it may be the only time I get to do it—so at least it’s out of the way. I’ve put more lighter highlights in my hair and I think It’s better. The all-dark brown got a little helmety.

What else? That’s about it. The pollen-filled L.A. Air that has got me feeling tired and ill has finally blown over and I’m back to normal. Tomorrow we go to New York where I will rehearse the narration of the “Grapes of Wrath” opera that is being performed one night only with symphony orchestra and chorale (and Christine Ebersole!!!!) at Carnegie Hall. I’m excited. So many people I love will be there: Eve Ensler, Pat Mitchell, Annette Tauper and her husband, Joe Allen (Richard’s college roommate), my daughter-in-law’s parents, Dee and Boswell Bent, Roger Freidman, Kenny Vance, Jean Doumanian, Stan Dragotti, Patricia Bosworth, Hilton Als, Nat Bickford, Leslie Stahl, Eva and Yoel Haller…and Catherine Keener!!! What fun it will be.

I will take photos of it all, including the 3 days of rehearsals between Saturday and Monday night.

See You Next Time.

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20 Comments

  1. Wow how amazing it must be for him to bring Jane Fonda to his High School reunion! I loved this blog I really felt like I was there myself. Once I become a Media Mogul I will gladly go to my High School reunions lol.

    Also facebook.com sometimes feels like a constant High School reunion sometimes.

    Thanks for writing! <3

  2. Loving your blog Jane! You’re life is so vibrant and exciting! It was sooooooo lovely and amazing to meet you in LA. (I’m the yoga gal from New York!) Looking forward to working with you on your DVD project! It’s really a dream come true for me. I’ve idolized you (along with the rest of the whole world) all my life. If we can dream it we can do it! You represent so much positivity to so many people. I’m truly blessed and incredibly inspired to know you. See you in the sunshine state! Tara Stiles

  3. Hi Ms. Fonda,

    As always I like reading your blog. I can relate to the revisiting the past to see what has come to pass with old friends. I haven’t been to a reunion (yet… but you’ve convinced me to go) but have recently reconnected with friends through Facebook. So enlightening… and I to them! LOL But like you and a lot of other famous people they see beyond my job and listen.

    I’m listening to you too. Stay well and keep writing!

    Iris

  4. Good luck with Grapes of Wrath! How fun.

    P.S. You look so much lighter and youthful with your highlights back! Love your haircut too.

  5. Jane, I like the added touches to the hair. I think it will look good on the DVD cover.

  6. Jane, the highlights are very nice. I wish I could see you perform the narration. Maybe it will be recorded and will be available sometime. I hope so. Take good care of you and don’t over do it.

    Judi

  7. Are The Legends and Escorts somewhere on line for us to hear? I’d love to hear that Latin song! What fun it was to read about the common music thread you and Richard had!!…a little treasure money can’t buy and sounds like you have found a treasure for sure. Looking forward to photos of your rehearsal in NYC. It will feel like ‘being there’. Also glad to hear you have added highlights to new hair color. xx

  8. thanks again for sharing! sure you’ll have great time rehearsing “the grapes of wrath”! hope ,nice photos to come! frédérique dhenein

  9. After I read this last post, I was thinking : That Jane ,she is doing alright and having a good time of it. I just think , your having a interesting time out in the Jane Fondaland, your interaction with others bring you into a new light, your a people person, Jane I do like you as a person , good post

  10. Hi.

    Interesting seeing you blog about my high school. I have a special reunion year this year too (my 35th). Special reunions at Poly Prep are every five years. Unfortunately I don’t think I will make it up north from St. Petersburg this time. I’m coming up in May to hear a recital of a high school classmate’s (Glen Roven’s) concert music at Carnegie Hall and can’t make both events. You’ll enjoy your day there. It’s a perfect time of year, and it’s a beautiful campus. I’m sorry I won’t have the opportunity to shake your hand. Best wishes, John Bartone

  11. I still can’t get over the fact that Henry Fonda didn’t win an Oscar for “The Grapes of Wrath”. I mean, James Stewart was amazing in “The Philadelphia Story” but he should’ve won in 1939 for “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington”. In my opinion, Henry Fonda was absolutely perfect as Tom Joad & that Oscar should’ve gone to him.

  12. Love the blond highlights! Your hair looks great. Looking forward to your pictures of “Grapes of Wrath.” When my family moved to California, back in ’62, my mother had the “Grapes of Wrath” next to her on the car seat and would sit and read it at the picnic tables where we had lunch. We drove Route 66, and she wanted to read about the “Joads” as we went. I would study the cover carefully, and loved the art work. Her family had lived on and worked a share-croppers farm during the Depression, and she always related to that story.

  13. >>I knew a song in Latin and began singing Gaudeamus Igitur when Richard then began singing along with me and then put on an old LP of The Escorts on which they sang a doo wop version of the Latin song!!! OMG!<<

    Now, *that's* what I call *true Serendipity*!

    It's been *so wonderful* to see you out there, acting again, in love, and having such *genuine fun*!

    *Thank you* for taking the time via your great Blog to share your fascinating life and times with us all, Jane Fonda: You are incredible, simply *THE BEST*!!!

  14. Your hair looks great. Could you send some of those Santa Ana winds over here in Central Florida and blow our oak pollen out to sea. Thanks. Great photographs of a fun time.

  15. Thanks for sharing. Your hair looks great – again.

  16. Jane,you are doing so much in the interest of the people around the world but still things have not changed radically.Material well being is okay but inside the man still lurks violence,anger,hatred,prejudices,etc etc.So many wars we have witnessed and yet we have not learnt a lesson from these wars.Even bigger organisation like UNO seems to be ceremonial so far as ground reality of war and violence exist in various forms.If all humanbeings are basically sharing the same consciousness then why there are disparity?

  17. Dear Jane,

    My name is Hayden and I’m an 18-year-old freshman at Emerson College in Boston. I cannot tell you how much I admire your life and work, and how wonderful I think it is that you keep this blog!

    You are an icon in the truest sense of the word and your importance is completely timeless. Extraordinary lives like yours make me excited for everything the next 52 years hold for me. Thank you for being such a great lady.

    Fondly,

    Hayden

  18. All this sounds great, Jane! What fun! These pictures are wonderful! It was interesting reading about Richard’s school! I was pleased to read that he gave the lead gift to build the school theater! That says a lot about Richard! Would love to see the “Grapes of Wrath” opera! I know you’ll do a good job with the narration! Your hair looks great with the highlights! You are one BUSY lady!

    Take care!

  19. Are The Legends and Escorts somewhere on line for us to hear? I’d love to hear that Latin song! What fun it was to read about the common music thread you and Richard had!!…a little treasure money can’t buy and sounds like you have found a treasure for sure. Looking forward to photos of your rehearsal in NYC. It will feel like ‘being there’. Also glad to hear you have added highlights to new hair color. xx

  20. Are The Legends and Escorts somewhere on line for us to hear? I’d love to hear that Latin song! What fun it was to read about the common music thread you and Richard had!!…a little treasure money can’t buy and sounds like you have found a treasure for sure. Looking forward to photos of your rehearsal in NYC. It will feel like ‘being there’.

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