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EPISODE 109- JASON ALEXANDER

September 9, 2018 Ilana Levine
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Though best known for his award-winning, nine year stint as the now iconic George Costanza of television’s Seinfeld, Jason Alexander has achieved international recognition for a career noted for its extraordinary diversity. Aside from his performances on stage, screen and television, he has worked extensively as a writer, composer, director, producer and teacher of acting. In between all that he has also become an award-winning magician, a notorious poker player and a respected advocate on social and political issues. 

For his depiction of “George” on Seinfeld, Jason garnered six Emmy nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, an American Television Award and two American Comedy Awards. He won two Screen Actor Guild Awards as the best actor in a television comedy despite playing a supporting role and in 2012 he was honored to receive the “Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement” from the Actor's Fund.

Aside from Seinfeld, Jason has starred and guested in shows as The Grinder, Drunk History, Friends, Two and a Half Men, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Criminal Minds, Monk, Franklin and Bash, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bob Patterson, Listen Up, Hit the Road, Orville and Young Sheldon. He also starred in the television films of Bye Bye Birdie, Cinderella, A Christmas Carol and The Man Who Saved Xmas. Additionally, his voice has been heard most notably in Duckman, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, Tom and Jerry and Kody Kapow.

His many films include: Pretty Woman, Jacob’s Ladder, Love Valor Compassion, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dunston Checks In, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Shallow Hal. In addition he directed the feature films For Better or Worse and Just Looking. He is also a distinguished television director, overseeing episodes of Seinfeld, Til Death, Everybody Hates Chris, Mike and Molly, Criminal Minds and Franklin and Bash. He won the American Country Music Award for his direction of Brad Paisley's video “Cooler Online.” 

While still in college, his desire to work as a stage actor in New York came to be with his debut in the original Broadway cast of the Hal Prince/Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along. He continued starring on Broadway in the original casts of Kander and Ebb’s The Rink, Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, Rupert Holmes’ Accomplice and his Tony Award winning performance in Jerome Robbin’s Broadway. Jason also authored the libretto for that show which went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. After moving to LA, Jason continued working in the theater, notably serving as the artistic director for the Reprise Theatre Company and for the hit West Coast production of Mel Brook’s The Producers in which he starred along with Martin Short. Most recently, Jason returned to Broadway to star in the Larry David comedy Fish in the Dark at the Cort Theater and recently appeared in the John Patrick Shanley’s The Portuguese Kid at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

He has also helmed a number of stage productions including: The God of Hell at the Geffen Playhouse; Broadway Bound at the Odyssey; an updated revival of Damn Yankees and The Fantasticks, as well as Sunday in the Park with George for Reprise and most recently the world premiere of Windfall by Scooter Pietsch for the Arkansas Repertory Theater.

Mr. Alexander tours the country and the world performing his one-man show, “As Long As You’re Asking, a Conversation with Jason Alexander,” which contains music, comedy and conversation. He can also be seen in his whimsical salute to Broadway musicals with some of the finest symphony orchestras throughout the United States. You can stay in touch with Jason via Twitter (@IJasonAlexander)

In broadway, television, musicals Tags Jason Alexander, Seinfeld, tony awards, Emmy awards

EPISODE 93 - KATIE FINNERAN

May 7, 2018 Ilana Levine
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Katie Finneran is featured in the third season of Netflix's critically acclaimed drama, Bloodline. 
Finneran last appeared on Broadway in 2015 It's Only a Play at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre starring Martin Short, Maulik Pancholy, F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, and Micah Stock.

In 2012, Katie co-starred on NBC's "The MIchael J. Fox Show" and was called "this season's funniest breakout star" by The Daily Beast. In the fall of 2012, she starred on Broadway as Miss Hannigan in the Tony Nominated revival of "Annie."

In 2010, she won a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of "Promises, Promises." She also was awarded the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award in 2002 for her performance in the Broadway revival of "Noises Off."

Katie was raised in Miami, Florida and graduated from New World School of the Arts. After a year of conservatory training at Carnegie Mellon University she moved to New York to study acting with the legendary Uta Hagen. Her first Broadway show was, "On Borrowed Time," starring and directed by George C. Scott. Other Broadway credits include, "Two Shakespearean Actors," "My Favorite Year," "In the Summer House," "The Heiress," Neil Simon's "Proposals," "The Iceman Cometh," "Mauritius," and as Sally Bowles in the Tony Award winning revival of "Cabaret." In 2009, Finneran was part of the original Off-Broadway cast of "Love, Loss and What I Wore," by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. TV credits include, "Sex and the City," "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," "Oz," "Wonderfalls," and the role of Poppy on season 2 of "Frasier." Her film credits include "Night of the Living Dead," "You've Got Mail," "Liberty Heights," "Miss Congeniality 2," "Bewitched," and "Broken Bridges.” In 2011 Finneran appeared as Amy in the New York Philharmonic production of "Company," starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti Lupone.

In 2014, Finneran began filming Bloodline,  a new Netflix original series.The 13-episode series centers on a close-knit family of four adult siblings whose secrets and scars are revealed when their black sheep brother returns home. The cast includes Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Kyle Chandler, and Norbert Leo Butz.

Little Known Fact: While in college she read Uta Hagen's book on acting and decided rather than reading it she would go and study with the great acting teacher herself. 

Tags katie finneran, tony awards, actress

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