Beaver Reflections:
I loved beaver every single year I was there. It was just so friendly and collaborative. I came to Beaver when I was in 3rd grade and there were a couple of us who went right through to graduation together. It was an all-girl school at the time. We would have a little play every year, and I was in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade when I played Long John Silver from Treasure Island. I really hammed it up and said to myself, “This is what I want to do! I’m going to be an actress!” because I got so many laughs. Ms. Smith, the theater teacher, turned to me one day when I was in 8th grade and said, “Jane, you know, I think you may be able to make a career as an actress.” I had never told anybody that’s what I wanted to do, so she kind of gave me permission to explore it.
What is #happeningnow in your life:
I’ve done over 75 movies and TV movies, and over 100 plays. I was in a play that was scheduled to close on March 1st, 2020. It was the last show on Broadway to close and not be shut down because of Covid. Within two weeks everything was shut down. Right now, I am in my home in rural Nova Scotia surrounded by ponds, beaches, rocks, ocean, bays. I’m walking my trails daily. About two weeks ago I did my first online theater, a Zoom/Youtube show for Manhattan Class Company, MCC Theater, about the widows of 9-11. I wanted to try it because it was a new genre. There were four of us in the cast so you can imagine we were four little cubicles and the director said, “When you’re speaking don’t turn to another cubicle. Speak right to the camera.” It was really powerful. I was surprised at how well it came off. I think there’s going to be more of those. Later this afternoon, we are having a Zoom reunion of my graduating class at Beaver.
“I’m a big fan of your generation. Your generation just gets it. You get it right in the gut! We do not even have to sell you all on keeping the planet whole and safe for your generation and your kids. You all are a very savvy generation. Once we get past this scourge, you are going to be gangbusters.”
– Jane Alexander ’57
Advice to Beaver Students:
My advice is to go with your gut, what you think is right because we need a whole new look at the world.
