Alexander

Web posted on: Tuesday, July 21, 1998 6:02:31 PM

From Correspondent Bill Tush

BROOKLYN, New York (CNN) -- By playing the "Seinfeld" character George Costanza, actor Jason Alexander became one of the most recognizable faces on television over the past nine years. Now, two months since the final "Seinfeld," Alexander is busy at work -- making movies.

"Cherry Pink," the story of a boy who comes of age in 1950s Brooklyn, marks the second movie Alexander has directed (his first feature film was the 1996 small-budget movie "For Better or Worse).

"It's very funny, it's very heartfelt, it's a people story," says Alexander. "I know the background of these characters and it's almost a theatrical piece, which qualifies me to direct it," he said, alluding to his past work on Broadway -- Alexander won a Tony in 1989 for his performance in "Jerome Robbin's Broadway."

Merriman

'Every day is fun'

Now, Alexander is working with newcomer Ryan Merriman, who stars as Lenny, a teenager who is obsessed with the idea of sex. Merriman says he has enjoyed working with Alexander.

"Every day is fun and there's never a sad moment or a bad moment," says Merriman. "Every day he starts off the day fun."

According to Alexander, "fun" is also the word that best describes his time on "Seinfeld."

"The greatest part of the job was ... that was for nine years it was a pleasure to go to work," says Alexander. "We would go, it was always fun, it was always funny, we laughed every day, we enjoyed each other, we always got along."

Actor... Director... Singer?

Musical 'heaven'

While it's too early to discuss "Seinfeld" reunions or specials, Alexander says he wouldn't rule it out.

"I would work with any one of them again in a heartbeat because it was joyous and incredibly easy," Alexander says.

In the immediate future, Alexander says he'd like to more work on musicals, like 1995's "Bye, Bye Birdie."

"It's kind of a lost form of entertainment and there's not a lot of people left that I think really have the understanding of how to do it," says Alexander. "When it's done right, it's heaven."