Jason Alexander

Martin Short and Jason Alexander headline a staged reading of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" this week, teaming for the first time since they traded witticisms in the L.A. run of Mel Brooks' "The Producers." The Reprise! Broadway's Best event takes place Friday and Saturday at the Wadsworth Theatre in Brentwood. Alexander, Reprise's artistic director, will direct. Or, as he puts it, "I'm managing the chaos, is what I'm doing."

As George Costanza, the balding bumbler on "Seinfeld," Jason Alexander was all about bringing the funny. But in tonight's episode of "Criminal Minds," the actor is all about bringing the pain. The latest installment of the CBS procedural features Alexander in dramatic makeover mode, portraying a deranged professor who claims to have killed several women and who puts a terrified mother in peril as part of his personal vendetta against serial killer profiler David Rossi (Joe Mantegna).

Tony Award-winning stage and screen veteran Jason Alexander is taking on a new role: artistic director of Reprise! Broadway's Best. The actor widely recognized as George on the "Seinfeld" TV series has big plans for Los Angeles-based Reprise, a not-for-profit theater known for stripped-down versions of vintage musicals such as "Company," "Kismet" and "Pippin."

I was blown away by "History Boys" when I saw it in New York. That ensemble of actors was absolutely dazzling, with each receiving at least one extraordinary moment in that brilliant play. I want to see if the magic can be recaptured or if it was simply one of those mercurially magical nights in the theater. My guess is that I am likely to be bedazzled again when it comes to the Ahmanson. "Ray Charles Live" -- how can this miss?

Together again: Martin Short and Jason Alexander, who headlined the L.A. production of "The Producers," will reunite for a staged reading of Neil Simon's comedy, "The Odd Couple," Jan. 25 and 26 at the Wadsworth Theatre in West L.A., presented by Reprise! Broadway's Best, which is headed by Alexander, the company's new artistic director.

Jason Alexander, who calls himself "a big old host," has emceed shows ranging from charity events to the Emmys. "But it's always daunting," he said. "I'm not a stand-up comic. I studied Shakespeare!" Alexander -- who made millions laugh in his role as George Costanza in "Seinfeld" -- hosts "A Capitol Fourth" on Tuesday from the West Lawn of the Capitol. It airs locally at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV.

As an aspiring screenwriter, I have voraciously read The Rules of Hollywood column every week--not because I feel I have to but because it is really compelling. I read Jason Alexander's piece to hear a giant character speak of such normal, everyday insecurities ("Once You're in the Club, Mr. Dogg Is Simply Snoop," Feb. 19). He brought himself down to everyone's level. I loved that he showed us how fragile he feels in his world. That was a brave exposure. Andrea Levy Woodland Hills

THE article about Jason Alexander becoming artistic director of Reprise was very disturbing to me ["Alexander to Lead Reprise Theater," by Lynne Heffley, May 21]. I am a charter subscriber to Reprise and feel that it is consistently the best musical theater in Los Angeles. To dilute its very successful format by adding plays, etc. is a terrible idea. Its mission of producing classic American musicals with simple staging and excellent performers works so well, it would be a pity to mess with it. ROBERT MARKS \o7Los Angeles \f7

It's checkmate for the L.A. production of "Chess." Reprise Theatre Company says it has scrapped plans to stage the 1980s musical at UCLA in May and will instead mount a production of "The Fantasticks," which is already enjoying a revival off-Broadway. Jason Alexander, artistic director of Reprise, said "Chess" was undone by the death Nov. 25 of Gerald Schoenfeld, president of the Shubert Organization, who he said had "commissioned and brokered" the Reprise revival of the musical that features music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, with lyrics by Tim Rice.

Productions of "Carousel," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" will headline a truncated 2010 season at Reprise Theatre Company. Instead of a fourth production, the company is producing a special series of concerts, revues and readings celebrating the music of Richard Rodgers. The events will take place in venues across L.A. this fall. Jason Alexander, who is completing his first full season as the company's artistic director, said the shortened 2010 lineup was due to scheduling conflicts with UCLA Live, which uses the same theater.