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JASON GRAAE has charmed audiences with his critically-acclaimed solo concerts and performances in such Broadway hits as RAGTIME and FALSETTOS. He'll be taking his latest one-man show to New York's Birdland Jazz Club (part of the BROADWAY AT BIRDLAND series) on Oct. 21-22. Note: All photos in this article courtesy of Susan Schulman Publicity.
First off, tell us about your upcoming Broadway at Birdland concert. This is my new show, "Graae's Anatomy" - I did a version of it last January at Birdland, and then reworked it for the El Portal Theatre, a gorgeous theatre in NoHO Arts District in L.A. Whose idea was the nude picture on your solo album YOU'RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE? The producer, Bruce Kimmel made me do it! He said ,"No one in Kansas is going to know WHO the F*** you are ,so if you want to sell CDS, TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES." It made me feel so cheap.
Are any more CDs in the works? I'm thinking about a couple. It's harder now to put it together then it used to be. To think we USED to get a salary for recording these albums. Now you have to foot half the bill. For a while, you were the voice behind one of advertising best-known icons - the Lucky Charms Leprechaun. Do people ever ask you to do the voice for them? More than you know. More than you'll EVERRRRRRRR know. People are desperate to know cereal spokes-leprechauns. It's been said that you have a knack for making each audience member feel that you’re performing especially for him/her. Is this a conscious choice or something that just comes naturally to you? Well, usually I have slept with half the people in my audience, so that helps. How was doing Jerry Herman’s THE GRAND TOUR at the Colony? What was it like to breathe new life into a forgotten flop show? It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Working with Jerry Herman is such an uplifting experience. When he gives you a note, it's so smart. You never feel intimidated by his presence - he's just so nurturing to actors and so supportive. I felt the character of Jacobowsky had so many of the best qualities of Jerry Herman in him - smart, playful, soul-searching, loving, and he's a survivor. It was the best part I'll ever play. My career peaked in Burbank. You played Houdini in the original Los Angeles company of RAGTIME. Was it physically challenging doing the stunts? I'll say. I got clobbered on the head in the magic trick that opened Act 2 and got a concussion and have had a recurring muscle injury in my back ever since - I was out for 2 weeks -I didn't want to take action against Garth Drabinsky because I wanted to stay in good with Livent. BIG MISTAKE THERE.
FOREVER PLAID is a worldwide phenomenon. What was it like to be involved in its inception? Who would have thought when Guy, David, Stan, Stuart James Raitt and I were rehearsing in Stan's apt, drinking beer and eating pizza and HOWLING, that we were going to have such a big hit on our hands. It was one of the best times of my life. Let’s talk about another long-running audience favorite on your resume - FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. Who were some of your favorite characters/actors that you spoofed? Well I came out to L.A. to do FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD, I just had gotten passed over for the Aladdin film and I got to lampoon the guy who got it - that was SWEET REVENGE! I loved doing Mandy Patinkin because he's such a nut, and I loved doing Marlon Brando in GUYS AND DOLLS too. That show was a ball. I've never sweat so hard in my life. What are some of the highlights of your movie & television work? Movies - some lowlights but no highlights really. TV has often been great - residuals are a good thing! I was on all the must See TV shows during NBC's heyday - Friends, Frasier, Caroline in the City, etc. - and that was a ball. I did a series on Showtime for 2 years which was interesting - Rude Awakening - with Lynn Redgrave and Sherilynn Fenn - weird show, but it pushed the envelope and that's always fun. You can say ANYTHING on Showtime and we did. Also, being a small part of my favorite show on TV, Six Feet Under, was a heady, happy time. Just being in the same room as all those wonderful actors and writers was absolutely thrilling. The most recent stuff I've done is on PBS- singing with symphonies or Operas. Any other projects you’d like to tell us about? I don't think so. I don't know you well enough. Well, OK - I'm going to do The Merry Widow with Dallas Opera in November. Learn more about Jason Graae at his official website - www.jasongraae.com Information on t he BROADWAY AT BIRDLAND series available at Birdland Jazz.com
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