Under the Knife: A Beautiful Woman, a Phony Doctor, and a Shocking Homicide by Diane Fanning Page A
Authors: Diane Fanning
Tags: Fiction, General, Medical, True Crime, Murder, Case studies, new jersey, Surgery; Plastic - Corrupt Practices - New Jersey - Newark, Plastic & Cosmetic, Murder - New Jersey - Newark, Corrupt Practices, Newark, Surgery; Plastic, Surgery
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complete. He stopped by the offices of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to offer his services as a volunteer. There he met Peter Borzotta. Peter had heard of Jason and knew of his battle with cancer. He thought Jason seemed thin, even gaunt, and the ravages of chemo were etched into his face. But both his spirits and his energy level were high.
The two men hit if off right away and soon were seeing each other outside of the BC/EFA offices. As their relationship grew, they opened up about their pasts. Jason told Peter about his previous boyfriend Dean Faiello and how Dean’s problems with drugs destroyed their relationship.
Jason seemed as healthy as ever, singing and dancing his way back to the stage in the off-Broadway production of
Captains Courageous
. He performed through the full run of the show in the Manhattan Theatre Club, from its opening on February 16, 1999, to its final curtain less than two months later on April 4.
That year, Jason was one of the five dancers in a production team assisting the creative process as Jerry Mitchell choreographed routines for
The Full Monty
. During this project, the dancers often relaxed in the basement. Jason entertained, doing crazy dance routines borrowedfrom his days at the Disney theme parks. He took those moves over the top, his lean 6’2” body forming joyous contortions as he clowned his way through the impromptu routine. Jerry often joined in. The two men danced until they were laughing so hard they could no longer stand.
The Full Monty
moved to San Diego for a three-month run. Jason, for minor reasons, was not one of the players on the West Coast. But when the show made its triumphant return, he rejoined the cast, earning him his greatest fame. He was a “swing” in this production—always ready to perform any of the five different parts during the eight performances each week.
On opening night, the honor of the Gypsy Robe fell on his shoulders—a tradition dating back to the 1950 production of
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
. Jason earned his place in this ceremonial celebration as the chorus member with the most Broadway musical show credits.
Half an hour before curtain, the robe was delivered to his dressing room. He slipped it on and circled the stage three times while cast members surrounded him, reaching out to touch the robe for good luck. Jason then made the traditional tour of each dressing room. Since
Full Monty
was the first musical to open on Broadway that season, the garment was a plain, full-length dressing gown. After the performance, Jason added a memento from the show to the robe, wrote the opening date and passed it around for cast members to sign. The robe remained in Jason’s custody until opening night of the next musical on Broadway—a revival of
The Rocky Horror Show
on November 15. At that time, he visited the NSU Theater and bestowed the robe on the new Gypsy.
The world looked bright for Jason. On September 24, 2001, he took part in
Dreamgirls
, the one-night twentiethanniversary benefit concert for the Actors’ Fund at the Ford Center for Performing Arts.
In December 2001, Jason faced a recurrence of his brain cancer. He underwent more surgery. Surviving the risky procedure in the operating room was only the first challenge. Afterwards, he endured round after round of exhausting, nauseating chemotherapy. But Jason never complained. He never whined. He never indulged in selfpity.
Rosie O’Donnell came to his rescue one more time. While Jason battled his illness, Rosie gave him money for food and rent and helped with his medical bills.
Jason returned to New York in time for the tenth annual
Broadway Bares
show, but he was bald and uncomfortable with the appearance of his chemo-ravaged body. The opening song that year, “The Barest Show on Earth,” was a reprise of the opener from the seventh show. Jason performed that song three years earlier—his voice perfect for the number. Jerry Mitchell could not imagine featuring the song
The two men hit if off right away and soon were seeing each other outside of the BC/EFA offices. As their relationship grew, they opened up about their pasts. Jason told Peter about his previous boyfriend Dean Faiello and how Dean’s problems with drugs destroyed their relationship.
Jason seemed as healthy as ever, singing and dancing his way back to the stage in the off-Broadway production of
Captains Courageous
. He performed through the full run of the show in the Manhattan Theatre Club, from its opening on February 16, 1999, to its final curtain less than two months later on April 4.
That year, Jason was one of the five dancers in a production team assisting the creative process as Jerry Mitchell choreographed routines for
The Full Monty
. During this project, the dancers often relaxed in the basement. Jason entertained, doing crazy dance routines borrowedfrom his days at the Disney theme parks. He took those moves over the top, his lean 6’2” body forming joyous contortions as he clowned his way through the impromptu routine. Jerry often joined in. The two men danced until they were laughing so hard they could no longer stand.
The Full Monty
moved to San Diego for a three-month run. Jason, for minor reasons, was not one of the players on the West Coast. But when the show made its triumphant return, he rejoined the cast, earning him his greatest fame. He was a “swing” in this production—always ready to perform any of the five different parts during the eight performances each week.
On opening night, the honor of the Gypsy Robe fell on his shoulders—a tradition dating back to the 1950 production of
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
. Jason earned his place in this ceremonial celebration as the chorus member with the most Broadway musical show credits.
Half an hour before curtain, the robe was delivered to his dressing room. He slipped it on and circled the stage three times while cast members surrounded him, reaching out to touch the robe for good luck. Jason then made the traditional tour of each dressing room. Since
Full Monty
was the first musical to open on Broadway that season, the garment was a plain, full-length dressing gown. After the performance, Jason added a memento from the show to the robe, wrote the opening date and passed it around for cast members to sign. The robe remained in Jason’s custody until opening night of the next musical on Broadway—a revival of
The Rocky Horror Show
on November 15. At that time, he visited the NSU Theater and bestowed the robe on the new Gypsy.
The world looked bright for Jason. On September 24, 2001, he took part in
Dreamgirls
, the one-night twentiethanniversary benefit concert for the Actors’ Fund at the Ford Center for Performing Arts.
In December 2001, Jason faced a recurrence of his brain cancer. He underwent more surgery. Surviving the risky procedure in the operating room was only the first challenge. Afterwards, he endured round after round of exhausting, nauseating chemotherapy. But Jason never complained. He never whined. He never indulged in selfpity.
Rosie O’Donnell came to his rescue one more time. While Jason battled his illness, Rosie gave him money for food and rent and helped with his medical bills.
Jason returned to New York in time for the tenth annual
Broadway Bares
show, but he was bald and uncomfortable with the appearance of his chemo-ravaged body. The opening song that year, “The Barest Show on Earth,” was a reprise of the opener from the seventh show. Jason performed that song three years earlier—his voice perfect for the number. Jerry Mitchell could not imagine featuring the song
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