DAY FOUR

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. Don has been on tour all year as the Wizard of Oz in “Wicked” and Diane is the classical pianist who plays the 33 Variations during the play. It is one of the special things about this play–having her accompany us–as we perform.

Don's back!!!!

Michael Winther covers for Beethoven and is a talented singer. It was he who, in Spring of ’09, wrote the skit for our play to perform at the Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet contest. We won best skit, best bonnet and the prize for raising the most money.

That's Michael Winther talking with our music director. Diane Walsh at the piano

We walked across the street this afternoon to the Ahmanson so we could experience that stage. It’s a bigger theatre than the Eugene O’Neil where we were in NY. We’ll be performing for around 400 to 500 more people every night. That will be an interesting challenge.

It was a good rehearsal day, helped by my having run lines for 2 hours yesterday. I pretty much did my scenes today without holding the script which helped me feel myself getting back into Katherine (my character’s) skin.

I am on a gurney when I sing the Kyrie. Tulea isn't usually there though!

Sam and me.

Then, for the final 2 hours we rehearsed singing the kyrie all together. It still moves me deeply.

Here we all are practicing the Kyrie

I’d like to go home and run lines some more tonight then fall into bed but, instead, we’ll stop by a pre-birthday party dinner for Rod Taylor . . . hey, somebody’s gotta do it!! I can still get in my 8 hours. Can’t function on less.


For “33 Variations” info and tickets: http://www.centertheatregroup.org/33

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6 Comments
  1. Hello Jane ,
    That is another thing about 33 variations, the music. The ideas, character and story are one with the play, but it is about music in the end.
    Music is and has been a social or part of our culture, even Anti-Social Music is Social.
    Been in deep studies about my research on Sir Roger Casement and the Congo brings me back to Francis Ford Coppola Apocalypse Now and the music for the film- The Doors. Of course the story was based on “Heart of Darkness” was a novella written by Joseph Conrad. Before its 1902 publication, it appeared as a three-part series (1899). The horrors that Casement found in the Congo is still part of the social issues in that country today.
    I have been seeing the film script I wrote with you in mind ,more and more as a dark comedy and with comedy and darkness there can be truth told that otherwise people would not be able to see in or understand , as maybe as 33 variations does. Anyways sounds like things are good with you.

  2. Rod Taylor!!! Loved Sunday in New York, I think you kind of dissed it once, but you and Rod had great screen chemistry.

  3. My admiration is long and deep, Ms. Fonda!! AS your peer, I am in awe of your dedication to marching to the rhythm of your heart (with with I identify – not always an eay parade)!

    Jane, your continued stretching of your talents and aspirations is beyond inspirational (I write as a person who’s surmounted significant challenges – in the midst of yet another – only one?? – not given to drivvel), it is a unique perspective to view someone with such depth of character and dedication, yet who never denies her humanity…(the picture of you on a gurney when you sing the Kyrie, with Tulea who isn’t usually there though, is adorable)!

    I wish you every success & a surrounding of positive energy!

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