He is performing as a member of the ensemble in a new Twyla Tharp show, "The Times They Are A-Changin'," through March 12. If the show does well in its run at the Old Globe Theatre, its next stop could be Broadway.

"Jason McDole is a phenomenon: a unique, brilliant dancer and a wonderfully inventive artist," Tharp says. "I love him."

As the title suggests, the show's music is from the catalog of iconic folk and rock singer-composer Bob Dylan. But the concept of the show is entirely that of renowned choreographer Tharp, who is known for her quirky dance style that combines aspects of ballet, modern dance and ordinary movement.

"It's everything I ever wanted to see personally," McDole says. Speaking by phone from San Diego, where he and other company members have been rehearsing, he says the show is "highly visual. It really captures everything, including dance, music, singing and circus feats."

The show revolves around a circus troupe, but is largely abstract. The Old Globe's Web site calls the show "a classic coming-of-age tale of generational conflict."

"It's not 'Movin' Out,' which was balletic," says McDole, referring to another Tharp show, a broadway production that is based on the music of pop singer-songwriter-pianist Billy Joel.

McDole says he received a bit of extra help so he could sing with "The Times They Are A-Changin'."

"That was challenging, but the musical director would take his time to help me out with the notes here and there," McDole says.

It's not the first time he has sung in a show: McDole did the same at Hopewell Area High School, where he had the dancing and singing lead in the school musical.

McDole says doctors aren't sure what caused his hearing loss, but he believes his condition is congenital. At age 3, he began wearing hearing aids. During his public-school career in the Hopewell district, his teachers made sure he sat in the front row so he could catch as much of their teaching as possible. His mother, Donna McDole, who still lives in Hopewell, made sure her son had private speech therapists to help him.

McDole began dancing late. He was around 12 or 13 when he started classes at Paula Scriva's Dance Studio in Rochester.

"He's really flexible," says studio owner Paula Scriva Jersey. "He can contort his body into all kinds of positions, which is so unusual for a guy." That flexibility has allowed McDole to incorporate gymnastic moves into some of his professional dance pieces.

Jersey says McDole "was such a hard worker and so focused on what he did. He used to be able to feel the vibrations of the music through the floor."

"I know what tempo is and can follow along," McDole says. After learning a piece, he can then "open my ears to appreciate the music. It's a process I need to do to learn" a piece.

After high school, McDole left for New York, where he earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in dance at the Juilliard School. He later joined the Parsons Dance Company and the Lar Lubovitch Company. For the past three years, he has been married to Elizabeth Koeppen-McDole, a former dancer who is now Parsons' associate artistic director.

Despite a professional career far from the area where he grew up, McDole has not forgotten his roots.

"I do appreciate that I had so much support," says McDole, including people who were willing "to accept me for who I am and appreciate all of me."

By Sandra Fischione Donovan
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/entertainment/arts/s_422771.html