Jason Alexander to Present Acting Workshops at Utah Valley University, 2/27 - 2/29

Jason Alexander is best-known for his two-time Emmy-winning role as George Costanza on the hit TV series “Seinfeld,” but he’s also a proud recipient of a Tony, for JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY in 1989. Alexander will share his talent at Utah Valley University students and faculty on Feb. 27-29 with a series of acting workshops. The Orem, Utah, university has the state’s largest number of enrolled theater students.

The campus visit will end with an “Evening with Jason Alexander” on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Grande Ballroom of the university’s Sorensen Student Center.

“Jason Alexander is a tremendous example of an Emmy- and Tony-award winner who is serious, thoughtful and philosophical about theater. Having him on campus and individually working with students will be more or less like bringing a world famous chef in to talk about cooking,” said James Arrington, chairman of the UVU Department of Theatrical Arts for Stage & Screen. “The students are looking forward to his visit with something more than curiosity: What will he think of me? Can he actually help me? Do I really want to do this? The answer to these questions are often subliminal, but any answers are better than constant questions. Those who’ve carved the path can shorten the journey for those who follow.”

UVU recently hosted actor and three-time Fulbright Scholar Baron Kelly as an artist in residence for one semester. He performed the lead role in the university’s well-received production of OTHELLO with a cast of student actors. Kelly’s Broadway credits include SALOME with Al Pacino and ELECTRA with the late Colleen Dewhurst. His musical theater roles include the king in the 50th anniversary production of THE KING AND I and replacing Tom Woppat as King Arthur in CAMELOT.

“Baron Kelly’s visit last semester was a treasure trove of experiences,” Arrington said. “Students were actually able to spend time in rehearsal and onstage with this unique scholar-artist. Because his background is extremely academic, his teaching and example were well worth the effort to bring him. Students were able to meet him face to face for a semester and ascertain how and why he’d chosen his unique path. He demystified the theater for many of them and helped them find themselves in the art.”

Arrington added, “Our students gain an immense amount of insight into the dark and often fathomless world of professional theatre by rubbing shoulders with those who actually do it or have done it for a living.”

In addition to his continuing film and TV work, in 2007 Alexander was named artistic director of the nonprofit Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles, where he continues to direct and occasionally take on roles.

For more information on the activities of the Utah Valley University Department of Theatrical Arts for Stage & Screen, visit uvu.edu/theatre/. And Baron Kelly’s website is baronkelly.com/.

Photo courtest of Jason Alexander.