The New York Times recently said, “Nowadays, probably no other performer could infuse (that song) with the manic mischief that Jason Graae, a frisky clown with a real tenor, pumped into it…”
Jason Graae has starred on Broadway in “A Grand Night For Singing”, “Falsettos”, “Stardust”, “Snoopy!”, “Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?”. Off- Broadway shows include “Forever Plaid”, “Olympus on My Mind”, “All in the Timing”, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination- Best Actor in a Musical)” and many more.
Jason made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as the male vocalist in Twyla Tharp’s “Everlast” with American Ballet Theatre. Jason has performed his one man show all over the country from Rainbow and Stars and Birdland in NYC to Feinstein’s and the Plush Room in L.A. and San Francisco, winning 4 Bistro Awards and a N.Y Nightlife Award, also making TimeOut NY’s Top Cabaret shows of the year. His current critically acclaimed show with Faith Prince, “The Prince and the Showboy” was recently seen at 54 Below and the pair won a 2nd Nightlife Award for Best Duo.
In Los Angeles, he recently won his second L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award – the 2008 Joel Hirschorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. He won an Ovation Award for “Forbidden Broadway Y2KLA!”, an Artistic Director’s Achievement Award for “Fully Committed” and a Santa Barbara Indie Award for “High Button Shoes”. Jason originated the role of “Houdini” in the L.A. production of “Ragtime” at the Shubert Theatre. At the Hollywood Bowl, he was Benny Southstreet in “Guys and Dolls’” and Marcellus in “The Music Man”. He was seen in “See What I Wanna See” at the Blank and “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”at La Mirada. Recently, he played the 7 Sid Caesar roles in “Little Me” with the 42nd Street Moon Theatre Co.in San Francisco, and Jerry/Daphne in “Sugar” with Sacramento Music Circus. He was told he was not an attractive lady.
On television, Jason has appeared on many shows including “Six Feet Under”, “Rude Awakening”, “Friends”, “Frasier”, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, “Living Single”, “Caroline in the City”, “Providence”, etc. On PBS, he was a guest soloist twice with the Boston Pops and once with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony on “Holiday for the Troops at The Kennedy Center” and in “Words and Music by Jerry Herman”.
Movie appearances include the title role in “Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms” (2008 Toronto and London Film Festivals), Disney’s “Home on the Range”, “On Edge”, “Gepetto”, “The Dukes of Hazzard in Hollywood”, and “Awakening of Spring” . He has been heard on many cartoons and for 5 and 1/2 years he was the voice of “Lucky, the Leprechaun” for Lucky Charms Cereal, a balanced part of your complete breakfast.
He made his Los Angeles Opera debut as “Njegus” in “The Merry Widow”, repeating the role with Dallas , New Orleans, and Houston Grand Opera . Also with L.A. Opera he was featured as “Offenbach” in “The Grand Duchess” , directed by Garry Marshall. He has played “Frosch” in “Die Fledermaus” with the Washington National and San Francisco Operas, the Manhattan School of Music, and most recently with Houston Grand Opera.
Jason has recorded over 45 CDs, including original cast albums, concerts, compilations, and his two solo CDs, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile – Jason Graae Sings Charles Strouse”, and “Jason Graae LIVE at The Cinegrill” (Fynsworth Alley), and “Perfect Hermany-the songs of Jerry Herman.” Upcoming recordings- “And The World Goes Round” (Kritzerland) and “Roberta” (New World Records).