Fonda poised for Broadway return

Fonda made her Broadway debut in 1960 in There Was A Little Girl

Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda will return to Broadway after a 46-year absence to perform in 33 Variations.

Fonda will play modern-day musicologist Katherine Brandt who sets out to discover the reason for Beethoven's fascination with a trivial waltz.

"I am very excited about being in Moises' new play. I can't wait to get back on stage with him in this role that I understand so well," Fonda said.

The play by Moises Kaufman is due to open in early 2009.

Best seller

Kaufman will also direct the production.

It premiered at the Arena Stage in Washington in 2007 and has also shown at the La Jolla Playhouse in California.

Fonda made made her last Broadway appearance in the 1963 drama Strange Interlude.

The actress later won Oscars for Klute and Coming Home and also appeared in Nine to Five with Dolly Parton.

Fonda has also starred in more than 20 exercise videos and her autobiography My Life So Far was a best seller.