A one-night-only performance where no one plays a role. They just tell the truth.
At 87, Jane Fonda is not here to promote a movie or relive past glory. She’s here to speak. And for one night only, under the lights of Symphony Space in New York City, she will use her voice not as an actress—but as a witness.
This Is Not a Play. It’s a Declaration.
On October 6, 2025, Jane Fonda will take the stage alongside a group of acclaimed artists—Mark Ruffalo, Lena Waithe, Alex Edelman, and others—in a powerful theatrical experience titled This Is Crazy! (V).
Now in its fifth installment, this series of performances is unlike any traditional play. There’s no script in the usual sense. No costumes. No sets. Only real people, reading real stories—deeply personal monologues about mental health, trauma, healing, and the parts of life we’re often told to hide.
Each performer shares something intimate—sometimes raw, sometimes quiet, sometimes uncomfortable—but always human.
Fonda’s participation brings a new level of attention and gravity to the project. A two-time Oscar winner and lifelong activist, she’s long been open about her own battles with depression, self-worth, and the impossible standards placed on women in Hollywood.
“It Took Me Decades to Say It Out Loud”
In a recent interview, Jane reflected:
“I used to think something was wrong with me for being depressed. I blamed myself. Now I know that silence is the enemy. That’s why I’m doing this.”
Her story in This Is Crazy! (V) is expected to touch on her early years in a famous but emotionally distant family, her struggles with eating disorders, and how she began to understand the difference between performance and authenticity.
Ticket Info, Purpose, and Urgency
The event will take place at Symphony Space on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, with curtain time at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $75 to $250, and all proceeds will benefit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)—a leading non-profit supporting mental health awareness, education, and services.
Given that this is a one-night-only performance with limited seating, tickets are selling out quickly, with early buyers describing it as “the most honest show they’ve ever seen.”
Not Entertainment—Empowerment
This isn’t Jane Fonda playing a woman in crisis. It’s Jane Fonda being one—years ago, and maybe even now. And in doing so, she gives the audience permission to look inward, to feel less alone, and to reframe their own experiences with mental and emotional struggle.
The tone of the evening is not one of sorrow—it’s one of survival, clarity, and collective truth-telling.
Other stories expected in the lineup include:
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A man recalling the exact moment he realized he couldn’t keep pretending
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A mother speaking about the silent shame of postpartum anxiety
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A young woman explaining why she refused therapy for years—then how it saved her
Fonda Is No Longer Playing a Role. She’s Becoming a Mirror.
This Is Crazy! (V) invites the audience not just to listen, but to feel. To connect. To remember that behind every smile, every photo, every success story… there might be a war you never saw.
Jane Fonda once transformed cinema. Now, in her late 80s, she’s quietly transforming conversations—about pain, courage, and the freedom of finally saying: “This is who I am.”