By Mabel Pais

“Alexander not only has an exceptional voice and a thoroughly honed gift for selling a song, but he can also be surprisingly light on his feet and work a room with an ease that any standup comedian would envy.” – Star Telegram

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) hosts its 2018 Spring into MusicGala. Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and television star Jason Alexander – world renowned as the iconic George Costanza on Seinfeld– headlines a performance of song and comedy at a gala event that includes cocktails, dinner and a silent auction.

The gala’s honoree is Merck & Co., Inc., Chairman of the Board and CEO Kenneth C. Frazier.

The event on Saturday, April 14, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 4:30 pm, followed by a gala dinner at 6 pm.The evening concludes with Jason Alexander: The Broadway Boy– the NJSO’s 8 pmperformance.

The award-winning Broadway song-and-dance man’s concert with the Orchestra brings a hilarious re-telling of his journey to and on the Broadway stage, featuring a program of great music from the theater along with comedy and audience interaction.

A highlight of the orchestral program is a medley of Bruce Springsteen hits that the NJSO debuted at parks concerts last summer.

More information about the gala and silver and bronze event gala tickets is available at www.njsymphony.org/spring.

More information about the concert program is available at www.njsymphony.org/jasonalexander.

NJSO ACCENTS

Prelude Performance—Sat, Apr 14 at 7 pmand Sun, Apr 15 at 2 pm
Enjoy an entertaining pre-concert set from Casual Harmony, Rutgers University’s award-winning all-male a cappellagroup.

 CONCERT PROGRAM

Jason Alexander: The Broadway Boy

Sat, Apr 14, at 8 pm| NJPAC in Newark

Sun, Apr 15, at 3 p.m. l State Theater New Jersey in New Brunswick

Jason Alexander

Bob Bernhardt, conductor

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/jasonalexander.

KENNETH C. FRAZIER

Kenneth C. Frazier is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc., one of the largest healthcare companies, worldwide. Under Frazier’s leadership, Merck has, besides increasing investment in medicines and vaccines and research including early research, led the formation of philanthropic and other initiatives that build on Merck’s 125-year-plus legacy.

JASON ALEXANDER

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.

Alexander began his professional career as a young teenager doing commercials for television and radio. 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’ Accompliceand his Tony Award-winning performance in Jerome Robbin’s Broadway. Alexander also authored the libretto for that show which went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. After moving to LA, Alexander continued working in the theater, notably serving as the artistic director for the Reprise Theatre Company and starring in the hit West Coast production of Mel Brook’s The Producerswith Martin Short. In 2015, Alexander returned to Broadway to star in the Larry David comedy Fish in the Darkand recently appeared in John Patrick Shanley’s The Portuguese Kid at Manhattan Theatre Club.

His many films include Pretty Woman, Jacob’s Ladder, Love Valor Compassion, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dunston Checks In, The Hunchback of Notre Dameand Shallow Hal. In addition, he directed the feature films For Better or Worseand 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 Online, and he has helmed a number of stage productions including The God of Hellat the Geffen Playhouse, Broadway Boundat the Odyssey, an updated revival of Damn Yankeesand The Fantasticks, as well as Sunday in the Park with George for Reprise and most recently the world premiere of Windfallby Scooter Pietsch for the Arkansas Repertory Theater.

Aside from Seinfeld,Alexander has starred and guested in shows includingThe 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 and Listen Up.He was recently seen in Hit the Road,a show he co-created, executive produced and starred in on DirecTV’s Audience network.

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 Jerryand the children’s animated series Kody Kapow.

For his depiction of George on Seinfeld, Alexander garnered six Emmy nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, an American Television Award and two American Comedy Awards. He won two Screen Actors 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 Achievementfrom The Actors Fund.

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 a mix of comedy, music and surprising conversation. He can also be seen in his much-heralded salute to Broadway musicals with some of the finest symphony orchestras throughout the United States. You can stay in touch with Alexander via Twitter (@IJasonAlexander).

BOB BERNHARDT

With 31 years of experience as a music director, 35 years as a pops conductor and 33 years in the opera pit, Bob Bernhardt brings a unique perspective and ability each time he is on the podium.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health and Wellness).