Jan Maxwell Was a Star Made for the Stage

Remembering an all-time favorite Ben Brantley quote (warm and clever, but most of all warm), about when Jan Maxwell was nominated for two Tonys in 2010: “I hope she wears a really terrific dress to the Golden Globes – I mean, the Tonys. Psst, Ms. Maxwell, I know somebody who works at Chanel.” Link to that 2010 article: https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/a-fairly-intelligent-list-...

Yes, Jan Maxwell was a terrific actress and she will be sorely missed. But Mr. Brantley misspoke about five actresses who were nominated in each Tony category. There were three actresses (Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald and Jan) and two actors (Boyd Gaines and Raul Esparza).

Jan Maxwell is hands down my favorite actor. I became aware of Ms. Maxwell in Coram Boy and followed her all the way through her farewell stage performance in Scenes from an Execution at the Potomac Theater Project. I was privileged to see all three of the Barker plays with PTP. What is most remarkable is that, being seated literally inches away from Ms. Maxwell while she performed onstage at the Atlantic II, I never once saw her break character. She was never less than fiercely in the moment. Her acting in Kopit's Wings was revelatory. My mother went through a stroke and Ms. Maxwell captured the experience with a clarity both heartbreaking and accurate. I cried throughout the play. It was because of Jan Maxwell I saw Follies three times. Once in DC, early in the New York run and I caught the final New York performance before it moved to L.A, when she cartwheeled into the wings after Jessie and Lucy. I have had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Maxwell several times and she was always so approachable and gracious. I felt empty when she announced her retirement, I cannot describe the sense of loss I feel now. Jan Maxwell was a Theater Great. She will be missed.

This has been a rough few weeks for New York actors. I just attended a memorial service last night for the great Louis Zorich at LaMama and was floored to learn of the passing of Jan Maxwell and Reg E Cathy over the last few days, all of whom I have worked with through the years. The one common characteristic each of these wonderful actors shared, besides talent and professionalism was their generosity of spirit both on and off stage. Jan, especially was blessed with this trait. You know, it’s not the hits that show off a person‘s character but those clunkers we find ourselves in. A few years back I was in one of those supreme clunkers with Jan. It was supposed to be a sure fire bet, a play about a company of actors stuck behind Nazi lines during World War II. The play was about the resilience of the actors spirit, how when life deals you lemons you make a margarita but alas the production was plagued by a host of problems. We went through several cast changes and the company became more and more disheartened. The reviews came out and we were slaughtered, big time. Jan, the female lead then basically hoisted that production on her shoulders and carried it through to the finish line, all with supreme aplomb, perfect timing, beauty, grace and a wicked sense of humor. And she always landed her laughs. Brava Diva.

Maxwell will be missed. A true talent. It's McDonald, not MacDonald.

Having seen Jan Maxwell in but two of her roles, Follies in DC and City of Conversation, I can still say, she was one of the greatest live theatre actresses I have had the pleasure to see. Follies is one of my favorite shows, and there are few. Maxwell's Phyllis was perfect. Note also, she was a successful wife and mother as well. I think of how she must have suffered with cancer, with the constant worry. It is for lives cut short, as Miss Maxwell's was, that I contribute to MSK Cancer Center as best I can.

I rarely cry "Bravo," but I did in the middle of "Follies" when Jan Maxwell finished "Could I Leave You" which she sang with blazing, frightening fire. Then there was "Lend Me a Tenor" and "The Royal Family" and the under-rated "City of Conversation." Audiences should have lined up to see her. She was a phenomenal actress, funny and penetrating, intelligent and emotional, versatile and endearing. It is painful to lose her.

I was making one of my occasional trips to NY and had the chance to see her in "Lend Me a Tenor." She was excellent and so beautiful. If I lived in New York, I would have been front row center at everything she ever did.

It was Easter Sunday and Jan Maxwell was starring in MY OLD LADY at the Promenade Theater. Before the matinee, she brought apple pies for the cast, crew, and front of house staff to enjoy. I will always remember Jan Maxwell as a great actress and thoughtful human being.