Jason Kravits to Return in OFF The TOP at The Duplex This May

Jason Kravits defied the sacred rules of cabaret performing in OFF The TOP at The Duplex. See him again on May 13th!

The very funny actor and singer, Jason Kravits - perhaps you've seen him on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Madam Secretary or Curb Your Enthusiasm - poked fun at the much beloved and often maligned genre of cabaret performing with his show, OFF The TOP, at The Duplex on Monday night.

In the company of his totally hot and very agile band, pianist Jody Shelton, bassist Jeff Kerestes and percussionist Sean Dixon, and with a guest appearance by the fantastic actress/singer Kate Wetherhead, Jason improvised an entire cabaret show on the spot, start to finish. With no weeks of rehearsal, no (true) confessions on stage and no hours sweating over a theme, his quick and slightly twisted brain made up a 40-minute act from suggestions he pulled out of a fishbowl.

Before the show, the audience was given a very short list of questions which were collected in the bowl and placed on the piano. When Jason hit the stage running, he immediately created his character: a singer from Yonkers, New York named Aaron. Jason/Aaron proceeded to improvisepatter, showstoppers, rhythm and blues, Jason Robert Brown stylings and a Sondheim-styled parody: the absolutely 100% completely incredibly brilliant masterpiece, "Hyperbole."

Jason created a five-songmedley from a fictional musical (pulled out of the fishbowl) titled "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels" which included the spontaneous compositions (and their transitions): "Detroit," "One If By Land," "My Penis," "I'll Probably Be There On Time," and "Dickish." Jason's other made-up songs included "We Got Girl Scout Cookies Today," "The Absence,"the swing tune, "Save Your Money," and "Lemons," delivered at times with an appropriately puckered mouth. The tricky duet with Kate Wetherhead, "Just Say Yes (to love)" was a highlight among many hilarious moments.

Jason Kravits has entertained audiences for years in his many memorable roles on TV and in the theater. Killed off in a hail of bullets after playing ADA Richard Bay for nearly four years on ABC's 1990's hit, The Practice, Jason has continued to work steadily in series TV and films, as well as on Broadway, including The Drowsy Chaperone, and Relatively Speaking. He will be featured again this season on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, as divorce attorney, Gary Dubbin.

Sadly, if you attend the next OFF The TOP performance on Friday, May 13th at The Duplex you won't hear any of the aforementioned tunes, which disappeared into cabaret history with the close of the show at about 8:30pm. But you'll hear a completely new set of audience -inspired titles, pulled out of the OFF The TOP fishbowl. This is a very creative evening from a lovable talent.

Below, watch Jason in action in OFF The TOP!

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