Jason Graae, what happened to ye?

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 5:00pm

As long as were pontificating on Debra Monk, let's talk about another little musical theatre elf that hasn't done all that he could.

Jason Graae.

Glorious voice, but his ouevre consists of cabaret shows -- including the dismally bad FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD. [Sidebar: I think the reason FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD didn't have the success that it's BROADWAY cousin did is this: Hollywood doesn't have a sense of humor about itself. New York does.]

I wonder why Herr Graae hasn't hit in a book musical? Could it be that he's got the "cute" thing going on, and he's past the age where he can pull off "cute" gracefully? Is he a bad actor? What?

Opinions please, queens.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 5:06pm

from what i've seen, not a bad actor at all. And wasn't he one of the original PLAIDS?

[bk]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 5:13pm

Jason is alive and well and very happy, doing lots of concerts. He is never less than wonderful in said concerts. He records regularly, most recently on the Jeepers Creepers CD that I just did. He's done quite a few "book" musicals at various Encores! type venues - several at Reprise! here in LA and he's a terrific actor. I do wish that he could get a Broadway musical because he deserves it. He was also superb as Houdini in the LA Ragtime.

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 5:17pm

I had this conversation with a producer here in NYC. We came to the conclusion that the look he has for the talents he possesses make him hard to cast. He seemed to come up in a time when the Brit Blockbuster shows were huge. Now, it's nothing but youthful musical comedy. A decade ago, he would have been a marvelous Bobby Strong, a definitive Jimmy (in TMM) and, if he could dance, an astonishing Will Parker. That said, his Leo Bloom would be sublime.

Sometimes it really is all about timing.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 5:19pm

That's interesting, Bruce. I knew that he stayed busy doing concerts, benefits, cabaret, etc., but didn't know that he had appeared in the LA company of RAGTIME. Guess I don't keep up with the LA scene.

So, I s'pose the real question would be: how come he hasn't gotten a BROADWAY credit the size that his talent deserves?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 8:52pm

I think all the shows that he would be considered for are usually offered to Chip Zien or Lonny Price first.

[Bwaybabie]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 9:10pm

Jason Graae rocks! He also would have been a marvelous Dusoleil in Amour (not that that show did too well or anything.)

[QueenS]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 10:25am

A friend of mine just saw one of his shows up at the Yale Cabaret and said he was just great. Love his "Never Fully Dressed" CD!

Speaking of Plaids, I'm also disappointed that David Engel doesn't work as often as he should. I continued to check to see if John Barrowman was ever out in order to see David go on in Putting it Together, but if he ever did, I missed it.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 11:58am

I too know Mr. Graae from his Never Fully Dressed cd and I enjoy it immensely

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 12:18pm

Graae's CD "Live from the Cinegrille" is also fun. Check it out.

[tpdc]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 2:00pm

He pops up in sitcoms now and then. He was a regular on Showtime's RUDE AWAKENING. He just appeared in the Washington Opera production of Die Fledermaus with June Anderson and Jesus Garcia that will be televised on PBS.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 4:01pm

i saw him in the Houston Grand Opera production of MERRY WIDOW and though he was vocally ailing, he stole the show. Would love to see him do more. He'd be a great Leo in PRODUCERS.