Jason Gardiner Article
"Handsome, clean, striking, diligent." These are the words Jason Gardiner uses
to define his character, "Alonzo", in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical CATS. Save
only that Alonzo is supposed to be a black and white feline who stands roughly 12 inches
at the shoulder, and Jason is 5-foot 11-1/2 inches, and has dark hair and blue-green eyes,
the Australian performer might have looked into a mirror and seen what others see of him,
when he provided this description.
"Jason is a consummate professional," says his agent. From being the only
performer in the CATS video allowed to put on all his own make-up, ("[Karen Dawson]
loved my make-up"), to his flawless performance in the video, ("He's not on the
Bloopers List anywhere, and when we realized it, there must have been a hundred people
looking at that video, just to find one mistake he made. They didn't find any; closest
they found was when he focused on the camera for a second during Jellicle Songs for
Jellicle Cats"), Jason Gardiner demonstrates his dedication to his profession and to
his performance. He began devoting himself to his work at an early age ("It was
something I've always wanted to do for as long as I can remember, but at 15 I knew I had
what it takes?") and, with the support of his family, attended the National Ballet
School in Melbourne, Australia. After a variety of performances, he traveled to the US to
perform in Kismet (Miami, Fl) and the US National Tour of West Side Story, taking the
opportunity to continue his training at Broadway Dance in New York City. From there, he
went on to the United Kingdom, breaking briefly first to set up his own production company
and choreograph for several jobs in Hong Kong and the Far East.
With a desire to only do the very best work ("?that I find artistically
fulfilling"), and a career goal of becoming a director/choreographer ("?and give
back all I've learned from the best!"), Jason Gardiner feels the best advice ever
given to him was "Never stop learning and evolving and never ever quit! Learn to
respect your self worth and never compromise your gifts." "Its easy to see he
loves what he does and is excited about it," says Susan Petersen, site co-ordinator
for the Official Jason Gardiner Web Site, "He knows he's good and he isn't afraid to
show it." "As a musical performer I have to be able to do everything," says
Jason, when asked if he considers himself first a singer, dancer, or actor. "Each
fulfill me in different ways ? that is why musicals satisfy me totally because I must do
everything."
"I don't think you ever do [realize you are a success as a performer]," comments
Jason, "I'm always trying to do more." Being internationally popular certainly
wasn't expected. "It's not something I set out to do," says Jason, "[It is]
flattering ? I'm just glad people appreciate what I'm doing ? but I do it for myself and
if people out there 'get it' then I'm thrilled."
Chosen for the CATS video when Gillian Lynne, choreographer for the video, went to see the
West End stage production of the same musical ("She chose me from my performance of
Alonzo."), Jason Gardiner describes the filming process as "Very strenuous, long
and tiring ? but completely electrical", saying that "Video/film is a different
discipline that requires even more focus and I find it a challenge."
"To be perfectly honest," Jason confides, "I am very self-critical and so
for me it is always difficult to be objective when I watch myself ? I always think I can
do better!" He says that he prefers live performances over those on film as
"Each have their good and bad points ? but ultimately live gives you that rush of
having an audience respond and I really feed off that", but he found making the CATS
video quite the experience because "?we knew this was the definative cast and would
be around forever."
"Alonzo in the video had the best cat mannerisms I've ever seen a human do. He was
incredibly convincing." To get into the mood of being a cat, Jason read books,
watched his cat TJ, observed the big cats at the zoo and even used cartoons of cats as a
resource. Having his own cat helped him quite a lot to understand their temperaments and
mannerisms, as did all the cat improvisation that happened during rehearsals. He claims
the artistic director in London to be one of his best instructors ? "Chrissy
Cartwright, is an incredible teacher in cat behaviour." But, he says, "I don't
think you can ever stop learning to be a cat!!"
But he isn't all serious work. With a dream role of 'Frank'n'furter' from Rocky Horror
Picture Show, (the part Tim Curry had so much fun with), and favorite foods of
"Japanese and chocolate anything!!", Jason Gardiner reveals a more light-hearted
view of himself. "He's always chuckling," laughs Susan Petersen, "He has a
very expressive voice and seems like a fun guy." Asked to describe a memorable moment
during the making of the CATS video, Jason offers "? I can remember the entire cast
going hysterical over the entrance of 'the Great Rumpus Cat'. How it was done was just too
funny to watch and every take would leave us rolling with laughter! Poor Frank!"
His favorite Cats are Old Deuteronomy, Tugger, and Jemima, and favorite past roles include
Riff in West Side Story, Munkustrap in CATS, Tugger in CATS, and Stephen in Godspell.
Jason supports AIDS research, the World Wildlife Foundation and the homeless. "At the
moment," he asserts, "I am very content with my career and still enjoy
performing. But I see myself evolving and making the transition to becoming a
director/choreographer."
By~ Karen Van Brunt
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