Jason Danieley
Jason D. Danieley (born July 13, 1971, St. Louis, Missouri) is an American actor, singer, concert performer and recording artist. He is married to fellow performer, Marin Mazzie.
Career
Ben Brantley, of The New York Times called Danieley "The most exquisite tenor on Broadway".[1] After classical voice training at the University of Missouri and Southern Illinois University,[2] Danieley left without graduating and at the age of 25 made his Broadway debut in the Harold Prince-directed revival of Candide, as the title character. Prince was quoted in The New York Times as saying "It's unusual in the world of musical theater to find someone who can sing as well as he can act, mark my words: Jason has an extraordinary future ahead of him."[3]
Danieley appeared Off-Broadway in the musical Hit The Lights! in 1993, but gained recognition in 1996 in Floyd Collins, based on the tragedy of caver Floyd Collins, written by Richard Rodgers’s grandson, Adam Guettel.[4] The musical has a mixture of Appalachian and classical music; this was a good vehicle for Danieley's talents, having a classical background, but being raised on old-time, country and gospel music.[4]
Danieley starred in the Broadway musical The Full Monty, which premiered at the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, California in June to July 2000.[5] The musical opened on Broadway in October 2000.[6] He appeared in the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical Curtains on Broadway in 2007.[7] Composer John Kander wrote the song "I Miss The Music" specifically for the character that Danieley played in Curtains.[8] He also starred as Lt. Joseph Cable, in the Emmy nominated concert version of South Pacific, performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2005.[9] The concert was filmed and aired on PBS' Great Performances. He has appeared in London's West End.
Danieley joined Next to Normal on Broadway, replacing Brian d'Arcy James in the role of Dan on July 19, 2010, opposite Mazzie, who replaced Alice Ripley as Diana. This made them a real-life couple portraying an onstage fictional married couple.[10]
He appeared in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of Allegro in March 1994 [11] and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in February 2005.[12]
He will appear in the Williamstown Theatre Festival (Massachusetts) production of The Visit in July and August 2014 and again in 2015 when it transferred to Broadway.[13] He will appear in the Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, New Jersey) production of Can-Can as "Aristide" in October 2014.[14]
Concerts and recording
Danieley's career on and Off-Broadway combined with his classical background led to a natural crossover into singing with most of the country's leading symphonies and pops orchestras. A frequent guest artist with Boston, Philadelphia and New York Pops and The San Francisco Symphony[15] he has also appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (at the Hollywood Bowl), St. Louis, Utah, Minnesota and Buffalo Symphonies. Additionally, Danieley and Mazzie appear at smaller venues, such as the Café Carlyle in New York in 2011.[16]
Danieley met his wife, Marin Mazzie, in 1996 in an Off-Broadway play that they performed together titled Trojan Women: A Love Story.[17] Danieley and Mazzie recorded their first album Opposite You on PS Classics, which was released in 2005.[18] The Variety critic wrote "When they sing, the heart seems to beat a little faster…emotional strength to envelop the listener and melt the heart... This is one savvy pair...". The San Francisco Chronicle labeled them "Broadway's golden couple". [citation needed]
Danieley launched his solo recording career with the self-titled album Jason Danieley & The Frontier Heroes, combining Americana music from the Great American Songbook and Broadway repertoire. The recording was produced by PS Classics and released in 2008.[19] His other recordings include the cast albums of Curtains, Floyd Collins, Candide, The Full Monty, Dream True, the compilation CDs of Jule Styne in Hollywood, The Stephen Schwartz Album and two Boston Pops albums, A Splash of Pops and My Favorite Things.
Personal
Jason Danieley was born in St. Louis to Larry and Carole Danieley. He has been married to actress Marin Mazzie since October 19, 1997.
Awards
- 1997: Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Candide
- 1997: Drama League Award, Candide
- 1997: Theatre World Award, Candide
- 2005: Backstage West Award, Honorable Mention, "110 In The Shade"
- 2005: Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical, The Highest Yellow (Signature Theare, Arlington, Virginia)[20]
- 2007: Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Curtains
References
- ^ Brantley, Ben."Theater Review, 'Curtains' " The New York Times, March 23, 2007
- ^ Jason Danieley Performer of the week
- ^ Jacobs, Andrew."No Clanking Dinner Plates In the Wings for This Candide" The New York Times, June 22, 1997
- ^ a b Spencer, David. "Review. Floyd Collins " aislesay.com, accessed June 23, 2014
- ^ Ehren, Christine. "Wilson, Danieley Do 'The Full Monty', June 1-July 2 in San Diego" playbill.com, June 1, 2000
- ^ Ehren, Christine. "Broadway to See 'The Full Monty', Starting Sept. 26 at Eugene O'Neill" playbill.com, June 9, 2000
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Raise the 'Curtains': Kander, Ebb, Stone, Holmes Musical Begins Broadway Run" playbill.com, February 27, 2007
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "With 'Curtains', Kander Writes a Love Letter to Theatre — and to Absent Friends" playbill.com, March 22, 2007
- ^ gans, Andrew. "Alec Baldwin Joins McEntire-Mitchell 'South Pacific'; Principal Casting Complete" playbill.com, May 19, 2005
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley Are 'Next to Normal' On Broadway Starting July 19" playbill.com, July 19, 2010
- ^ Holden, Stephen. "Review/Theater: 'Allegro'; Revival of a Famous Pair's First Flop" The New York Times, March 5, 1994
- ^ Simonson, Robert. "Full Cast Announced for Encores! Tree Grows in Brooklyn' " playbill.com, February 8, 2005
- ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Jason Danieley Replaces Howard McGillin in Kander and Ebb's 'The Visit'; Stars of "Veep" and "Girls" Join Williamstown Season" playbill.com, June 2, 2014
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Kate Baldwin and Jason Danieley Will Head Cast of Paper Mill's Broadway-Bound 'Can-Can' " playbill.com, June 2, 2014
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Mazzie and Danieley Offer Holiday Concerts Dec. 29 and 31 in San Francisco" playbill.com, November 7, 2002
- ^ Holden, Stephen. "A Cabaret Evening of Songs From a Marriage Made Off Broadway" The New York Times, May 11, 2011
- ^ Fitzgerald, T. J. "Mazzie and Danieley Making Beautiful Music at Feinstein's", BroadwayWorld.com, March 27, 2009
- ^ Suskin, Steven. "ON THE RECORD: Mazzie and Danieley's "Opposite You" and Virtue in Danger" playbill.com, November 13, 2005
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Track Listing Announced for "Jason Danieley and the Frontier Heroes" Disc, Due Sept. 16" playbill.com, August 13, 2008
- ^ "Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical" awardsandwinners.com, accessed June 23, 2014