Thursday, April 4, 2019
8 p.m. -- Conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue
Page Hall, 135 Western Ave., Albany, on the University at Albany downtown campus. See map.

Comedian, actor, television writer, author and musician Paul Reiser will visit the University at Albany for an evening of conversation with WAMC's Joe Donahue as part of The Creative Life: A Conversation Series.

Free and open to the public, the event will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2019 at Page Hall on the University at Albany’s downtown campus at 135 Western Avenue.

The Creative Life series is a major arts initiative of the University Art Museum, New York State Writers Institute and UAlbany Performing Arts Center in conjunction with regional public radio station WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Paul Reiser has spent the last 30+ years acting in Oscar and Emmy award-winning movies and TV shows and has lent his talents behind the camera as well.

He joined the cast of Netflix's "Stranger Things" for the series' highly anticipated second season, which was released October 2017 and renewed for a third season. Reiser has had notable performances in films such as "Diner," "Bye Bye Love," "'The Marrying Man," "Aliens," and "Beverly Hills Cop" (I and II).

Reiser also co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed NBC series "Mad About You" (1992-1999), which garnered him multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, American Comedy Award and Screen Actors Guild nominations. More recently, Reiser earned acclaim for his supporting role in the 2015 Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-winning film, 'Whiplash."

Reiser’s book, Couplehood, has sold over two million copies and reached the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Reiser’s second bestseller, Babyhood, features his trademark humorous take on the adventures of being a first-time father, followed by his third bestseller, Familyhood.

Reiser, who attended the State University of New York at Binghamton and majored in music, co-wrote "The Final Frontier" – the theme song from "Mad About You" with Grammy-winning producer Don Was, and in 2011 he released an album of original songs with British singer / songwriter Julia Fordham called 'Unusual Suspects.'

The Creative Life series brings leading figures from writing, music, dance, choreography, visual arts, architecture, theatre and filmmaking to the University for conversation with Donahue about their creative inspiration, craft, and careers. The Creative Life celebrates the depth and range of artistic practice and calls attention to the dynamic arts and cultural programming at the University at Albany. While discussion topics vary per guest, conversations examine the unique contribution of each artist to their field, the creative process in general and the demands of sustaining an artistic practice over time.

Guests in previous seasons of The Creative Life have included writer Susan Orlean, performance artist Bibbe Hansen, public installation artist Jean Shin, essayist/author Esmeralda Santiago, fiction writer Joyce Carol Oates, tap dancer-choreographer Savion Glover, jazz violinist Regina Carter, painter David Salle, author Lois Lowry, choreographer Garth Fagan and Broadway star Patti LuPone.

Major support for The Creative Life is provided by The University at Albany Foundation and The John D. Picotte Family Foundation, and Stewart�s Shops/Dake Family. Additional support is provided from the UAlbany Alumni Association, College of Arts and Sciences, Office of the Provost and University Auxiliary Services.

For additional information, call the UAlbany Performing Art Center box office at 518-442-3997.

Paul Reiser's 'Mad About You' Reflection, Associated Press (2016)

"Final Frontier" by Paul Reiser & Anita Baker on "The Tonight Show"

Scene from "Alien" (1986)

Paul Reiser is still figuring out why ‘Mad About You’ worked (2017)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Oct 20, 2016
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