Posted: 7/8/15 at 8:54am
Say it isn't so, Jan!
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/5-Time-Tony-Nominee-Jan-Maxwell-Reveals-Im-Retiring-From-Theater-20150708
Posted: 7/8/15 at 8:56am
Considering? It sounds like she's made her choice.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:03am
Too bad. She'll probably make more money, work less time, but play far less interesting roles.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:03am
This is really saddening... Jan is one of my favorite stage actresses and such a kind, talented individual. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors, of course, and I hope she reconsiders her decision if a good stage role comes her way.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:12am
No joke about her "Tony bag" yet?
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:31am
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:55am
Well this is sad news to wake up to! She was an ideal Phyllis Rogers Stone...I too hope she'll return one day, but in the meantime, I hope her next venture treats her well!
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:08am
This is really sad, I've loved her in every single thing i've seen her in. She definitely hasn't got the recognition she deserves. And to think...she would have made a brilliant Miranda Priestly should The Devil Wears Prada happen. Best of luck to Jan, we will miss her!
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:10am
I enjoyed her Phyllis, but thought that the performance was diminished by the fact that she didn't seem to enjoy dancing very much, and by the overwrought delivery of "Could I Leave You?" The whole point to Phyllis is that she's turned herself into an ice queen and can't let go emotionally anymore. If she does let herself go and rages like a harpy, it sort of gets rid of her entire problem. I blame hacky Eric Schaeffer for that misstep, though, not the always terrific Ms. Maxwell.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:17am
^This!! Not a fan of Eric Schaeffer's, and the choreography (Warren Carlyle, whom I usually like) she was saddled with in Act 2 didn't do any one any favors! Not sure if it was changed for Broadway, but I certainly hated the number when it was done in DC.
Updated On: 7/8/15 at 10:17 AM
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:20am
I feel like she's in such an odd and interesting position for an actor, though. She's ALWAYS wonderful, but you cannot sell a show on her name alone. She can obviously go from musicals to straight plays, but she probably could not have a secondary career doing concerts or cabaret (which is where I assume someone like Patti LuPone probably makes most of their money).
With the economy of Broadway now, and especially the way plays are cast, Maxwell has a tough time getting roles because she's not famous. It's hard enough as a woman once you've reached 50ish, but it's even harder for non-famous actresses. And that's such a shame.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:22am
I guess it is sort of final. But I'm hoping that perhaps she changes her mind someday...
Posted: 7/8/15 at 10:33am
These decisions are never set in stone. Alec Baldwin (speaking of Maxwell...) basically said he was retiring two years ago, after he made those homophobic comments and got called out on it -- yet he doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
That said, Maxwell isn't one to mince words. If she says she's retiring from theater, I'd take her at her word -- at least for the time being.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 11:27am
I've always admired Maxwell for going where the work is best for her, mainly Off-Broadway since her appearance in Follies, but it's depressing that those shows get little to no attention. With the exception of City of Conversation, she's done a number of Off-Broadway shows with little fanfare. Case in point, I hadn't even heard that she was doing Scenes from an Execution until she announced her retirement from theater. And how about The Castle from last season?
Posted: 7/8/15 at 11:30am
She's probably too old, but she is my ideal Mame. Warm while still being tough, elegant, regal, sassy without being a bitch, etc etc.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 11:39am
Since she's been nominated five times and never won before, I wonder if the American Theatre Wing would be kind enough to someday give Jan Maxwell a special Tony Award.
The Academy was kind enough to give Deborah Kerr an Honorary Oscar since she never actually won after having been nominated six times.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 11:46am
She was breathtaking in THE CASTLE. Definitely one of those actresses who make it all look easy.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:05pm
Good luck to her! I'm sure she will be terrific in whatever she does.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:19pm
I wish her well, but it sounds like more a vent of frustration than anything else.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:21pm
I totally agree with givesmevoice's points. Also of note- I just read her exact words regarding her decision, and I found this interesting: "I've been disappointed in the kind of theatre that you can make a living doing." It would seem by this statement that she shares many of our statements regarding the artistic bankruptcy of the modern "Broadway theme park."
Posted: 7/8/15 at 3:39pm
Jan Maxwell has the distinction Cherry Jones once had. The greatest theatre actress on the boards at the moment. Cherry had a breakout role ("The Heiress") which Jan never had. That is the only difference.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 4:20pm
Jan Maxwell has never been anything short of brilliant in anything I've seen her in. She's truly one of the best stage actresses I've ever gotten to watch. She moved seamlessly from drama to comedy, and plays to musicals.
I knew she was a special talent when I saw her in the otherwise forgettable Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. She was the only one on that stage that made me forget about the flying car, and created a character.
She really should have multiple Tonys by this point. I hope she gets offered a great role at some point that makes her change her mind.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 6:30pm
She'll be back. Actors say this all the time. She's just tired and is nervous about turning 60. What else is she gonna do at this point?
Posted: 7/8/15 at 7:11pm
If that is indeed what's going through Maxwell's mind, it saddens me all the more...it's a main reason why I almost always include a role for a 50+ woman when I write. Whether they're "good" roles is subjective, of course...but I find that demographic very fun to work with for characters, and I wish more modern shows could do it too.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 7:23pm
A year ago, her performance in City of Conversation was one of my favorites of the season, indeed of many seasons (and read the script, and see what magic she brought to the role; her contribution was immeasurable and mysterious. A clip from it remains at the NY Times site). I have seen just about everything she's done in NY, even "Mr. Sloane," for which she wasn't ideally cast, yet still managed to score against an aggrieved and volatile co-star. Her Follies and Royal Family performances were stellar in every way, I saw her Phyllis in DC and on B'way. Maybe she feels she's simply checked the boxes she wanted to check in this art form. Perhaps she'll teach, direct. She will remain an accomplished artist for life.
