Jason Schmidt(XXII)

In 2023 actor and singer-songwriter Jason Schmidt can be seen starring as Buddy in Paramount+'s highly anticipated Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies. Slated to premiere on April 6, the series is a prequel to the beloved movie musical, Grease. The prequel musical series follows the four founders of the legendary "pink ladies" who dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever. Buddy (Jason) is the golden boy of Rydell High, the quarterback of the football team, the reigning student body president, and the social king. Due to Buddy's privilege, he sees life through a rose-colored lens and doesn't notice how the current hierarchy of the school negatively affects his friends and peers. Throughout the series, Buddy will face certain truths and will be left at a crossroads. In addition to Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Jason can currently be seen starring in the world premiere musical adaptation of The Outsiders portraying the role of Sodapop Curtis. The Outsiders officially opened on March 5, 2023, and is currently being showcased at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The Outsiders is based on the coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola's Motion Picture. Taking place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, the play portrays the hardened hearts and aching souls of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their chosen family of 'outsiders' in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them. Depicting a story of the bonds of brotherhood and the hopes we all hold on to, this gripping new musical reinvigorates the timeless tale of 'haves and have-nots', of protecting what's yours and fighting for what could be. A natural-born performer, Jason got his start in acting at just nine years old when he joined the cast of The Hobbit The Musical at his community theatre in Chicago. He instantly fell in love with being on stage and continued to act within his community theatre whilst also prioritizing his studies. Upon high school graduation, Jason began to audition for college programs and was accepted into the world renowned theatre program at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. His formal training taught him how to be a resourceful actor but more importantly how to look at the world as an artist. It was there, inspired by those around him, that he began to write music and dance, which has now become equally as important to him as acting, making him a multi-hyphenate and triple-threat talent. When Jason is not on set, he can be found in the studio, honing his craft as an independent artist. He is a singer-songwriter and is consistently releasing music across all music platforms, and is currently working on an album. In addition to promoting his various music and acting projects across his social media, Jason is also passionate about using his platform to advocate for mental health.