Jason Graae
Jason Graae | |
---|---|
Born | Bistro Awards (4) | May 15, 1958
Website | http://www.jasongraae.com |
Jason Graae (pronounced "grah"
Early life
Though he was born in Chicago, Graae was educated in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at Edison Preparatory School where he played the oboe, acted in plays, and sang in the chorus.[1] He appeared in a production of the musical George M! in the seventh grade.[9] Graae was a member of the Tulsa Youth Symphony for four years in high school as the principal oboist. Following his passion for music, Graae went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, hoping to become a concert oboist, but did not like his instructor's approach. He transferred to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music only to have his previous instructor move there as well. Taking this as "a sign from the musical gods", he pursued a career in musical theatre instead.[1] He graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from the now-merged University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.[10][11][12]
His mother was a dancer in Broadway musicals who moved to Europe after marrying his father;
Career
Early years
Graae made his
Overview
Graae's reputation has grown on Broadway with roles in the
The years 2000–2010
In 2000, Graae was cast in Forbidden Broadway Y2K LA!, an updated version of the
In 2004, Graae took on the one-man play
The Joel Hirschhorn Award is given annually by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for "outstanding achievement in musical theatre"; Graae was honoured with this award in 2007.[8] In 2008, he starred opposite Constance Towers in the Los Angeles revival of Arthur Allan Seidelman's production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks;[28] the play had premiered at the Geffen Playhouse in 2001 with Uta Hagen and David Hyde Pierce in the two roles.[29] Hyde Pierce and Graae worked together as long-lost identical twin brothers in a 1999 production of The Boys from Syracuse.[30]
The years 2011 to the present
In 2012, he worked with long-term friend Faith Prince on The Prince and the Showboy presented at the
Graae performed in Little Me in its original form with 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco in 2013, under the direction of Eric Inman.[31] He received critical acclaim, being described as "stepping into the roles previously inhabited by two of the most versatile entertainers in Broadway and Hollywood history" and as having "boundless energy and a staggering level of comedic talent" as well as a "quick wit (he's a master at ad libbing onstage) [which] came in handy when a fake moustache started to take on a life of its own" on opening night.[31] While collaborating with 42nd Street Moon, he performed in Once In Love With Loesser, developed by the company's artistic director Greg MacKellan as one of his musical tributes dedicated to exploring and celebrating the work of some of Broadway's greatest songwriters. The performance was built around the three stages of Frank Loesser's career: as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, his work in Hollywood, and finally as a Broadway songwriter. Graae performed Once In Love With Amy (from Where's Charley?) and The King's New Clothes (from the 1952 Danny Kaye film Hans Christian Andersen) and was described as having "scored strongly".[32]
In 2015–16, Graae took on the iconic role of
Graae gave a series of well-received performances in a concert version of the musical The Pajama Game at the Musical Theatre Guild in Los Angeles in 2016.[35] In October 2016, he performed in a concert version of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along, winner of the Drama Desk Award and Olivier Award for Best Musical.[36] In March 2017 he is scheduled to appear with Liz Callaway in Happily Ever Laughter billed as an evening of "love songs, high belting, and hilarity" at Annenberg Theater in the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs CA.[37]
Opera
Graae made his operatic debut with the
Personal life
Graae married his partner, fashion designer Glen Fretwell in 2014.[42]
Awards and nominations
Year | Nonminated Work | Award | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Forever Plaid | Bistro Award
|
Won | Cast award[4] |
1993 | Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
|
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | [6][19] |
1995 | Forbidden Hollywood | Ovation Award
|
Nominated | [6] |
2000 | Forbidden Broadway Y2K LA! | Ovation Award
|
Won | [5][6][23] |
2001 | Best Musical Comedy performance | Bistro Award
|
Won | [4] |
2003 | Anything Goes | Ovation Award
|
Nominated | [16] |
2004 | Fully Committed
|
Artistic Director's Achievement Award | Won | [6][27] |
2006 | Coup de Graae! | Bistro Award for Best Major Engagement
|
Won | [4][5] |
New York Nightlife Award | Won | [5] | ||
2007 | L.A Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre | Won | [8] | |
2008 | Coup de Graae | Bistro Award
|
Won | [4] |
2012 | The Prince and the Showboy | New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy Duo | Won | with Faith Prince[7] |
2015 | Scrooge in Love! | San Francisco Theatre Bay Area Award for Best Actor in a Musical | Won | [34] |
2016 | The Merry Widow | Oscar Wilde Award | Nominated | [40][41] |
References
- ^ a b c d e Boehm, Mike (26 October 2001). "Graae: the World's Leading Comedy Oboist". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Lovendusky, Eugene (4 October 2007). "Jason Graae: Anatomy of an Actor". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Jason Graae Theatre Credits". broadwayworld.com. 2016. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Bistro Awards. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Theater Mania – Jason Graae". theatermania.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "A Holiday Concert for the Troops with Marvin Hamlisch – The Performers: Jason Graae". WETA-TV. 2003. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Holden, Stephen (16 January 2013). "Where Knowing Your Way Around a Song Trumps Youth". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c "Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle – 2007 Awards". Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d O'haire, Patricia (13 October 1996). "Naked Ambition Broadway Star Jason Graae Reveals Why he's Dressing Down to give his Career a Leg Up". New York Daily News. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ISBN 9780768926989.
Faculty, Resident Artists, and Alumni ... Alumni continue to hold key positions in the performing and media arts. Numbered among them are ... musical theatre stars Faith Prince, Lee Roy Reams, Michele Pawk, Jason Graae, Jim Walton, Vicki Lewis, and Ashley Brown.
- ^ "College-Conservatory of Music: Musical Theatre – History of the Program". University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music. 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b "College-Conservatory of Music: Musical Theatre – Recordings". University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music. 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b c Nondorf, Tom (1 October 2007). "THE LEADING MEN: Foster and Graae". Playbill. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (22 August 2012). "Two Vestiges of Vaudeville". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Otten, Liam (29 January 2015). "Valentine's Day with Callaway and Graae". Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Otten, Liam (9 December 2004). "Callaway, Graae to bring evening of cabaret Jan. 15". Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (23 November 1989). "'Forever Plaid,' a Spoof". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- Lortel Archives. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (17 June 1997). "Review: 'Ragtime'". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Hamstra, Stuart V. (2004). "Jason Graae Returns to NY with Coup de Graae!". Cabaret Hotline Online. Archived from the original on 27 February 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms".
- ^ a b Martinez, Julio (7 March 2000). "Review: 'Forbidden Broadway Y2K L.A.!". Variety. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Broadway World News Desk (13 December 2004). "JASON GRAAE begins final week of "COUP DE GRAAE!" at Helen's". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Broadway World News Desk (8 May 2014). "Photo Flash: Jason Graae brings 49 AND A HALF SHADES OF GRAAE to Birdland". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b c Henerson, Evan (2004). "'Fully Committed' to the role Jason Graae prepares a hearty buffet of characters". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Stoudt, Charlotte (5 November 2008). "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Oxman, Steven (10 June 2001). "Review: 'Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks'". Variety. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Phillips, Michael (24 September 1999). "Theater Review: A Rare View of 'Syracuse': Reprise! production of the Shakespeare-drawn musical has strong tunes that help cover for a weak libretto". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b "San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Excellence in Theatre Awards for Theatre Year 2015". San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Nichols, David C. (16 May 2016). "This 'Pajama Game' plays out with old-school charm". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b Broadway World News Desk (23 September 2016). "Andrew Samonksy, Jason Graae, Beverly Ward and More to Star in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Concert at Rubicon". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Liz Callaway & Jason Graae—Happily Ever Laughter". psmuseum.org. Palm Springs Art Museum. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Kisselgoff, Anna (22 May 1989). "Twyla Tharp's Champion Wears Boxing Trunks". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Hitchcock, Laura (2 December 2001). "A CurtainUp LA Review – The Merry Widow". CurtainUp. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b Encore Staff (23 June 2015). "2015 Wilde Award Nominees: It was a Wilde Year". encoremichigan.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b Goltz-Taylor, Jennifer (11 April 2015). "The Merry Widow – Detroit (Michigan Opera Theater)". Opera News. 79 (11). Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Photos: Broadway's Jason Graae Weds Designer Glen Fretwell; Faith Prince Officiates!".
External links
- Jason Graae at IMDb
- Jason Graae home page