Adam Kantor

Q & A with Adam Kantor when he starred as 'God' in the Off-Broadway musical comedy Falling for Eve which played at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's from 15 Jul 2010 - 8 Aug 2010.

Birthday
May 27th.

Place of birth?
Great Neck, NY.

You now live in?
Upper East Side, NY.

Did you go to training school, if so which one?
Northwestern University. Also, in high school, I did summer programs at Stella Adler and CAP21.

As an actor, do you have a preference for stage, TV or film?
I don't have a preference, and I'm fascinated by both mediums. There is something exhilarating about performing in front of a live audience. It's also important for the training of an actor. However, the camera can capture and preserve a performance that reaches millions across the planet. I have much more experience with the stage, and would really love to start doing more tv/film. The limited experience I've had on camera has been really really positive.

Your first stage performance was?
HMS Pinafore in 4th grade in the chorus. First lead was Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors in 6th grade!

Career highlight to date?
Sharing the stage with my grandmother, Lucille Kantor, who did a walk-on appearance in RENT on Broadway with me while I was playing Mark.

What roles would you most like to play?
Treplev in The Seagull.

What's the best advice you have ever received?
My great grandmother, who lived to be 102, would stress that nothing should be taken too seriously, and no one should take themselves too seriously. Perhaps that's the key to a seriously long life.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Cracking so loud and hard during "What You Own" in RENT that everyone backstage heard and wouldn't let me hear the end of it.

What is the most annoying part about your job?
The times when you're not sure how or when the next job will come.

Briefly tell us how you become involved with Falling for Eve?
Michael Cassara (the casting director who is very awesome) asked if I would do the reading of the show back in the fall of 2009, I gladly said yes, and the creative team liked my work, so they asked me back to do the show! I didn't even have to audition....my favorite kind of job!

Briefly tell us about the character you play in Falling for Eve?
The Lord Almighty God. That sums it up.

If you had not become a performer, what might you have done instead?
I'm really interested in music and travel. I've fused those two passions and founded a nonprofit organization called Broadway In South Africa. We conduct arts education workshops for kids in townships in South Africa. When not performing, I spend a LOT of time working as the Director of Development for this cause. The administrative staff consists of people who have become my closest friends. It's an organization I'm really really proud of. Check us out at broadwayinsouthafrica.org.

Who are your favorite actors/actresses?
All the old British farts....Ian Mckellen, Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench, Hellen Mirren, Maggie Smith.

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?
Nelson Mandela, "Thank You."
or
Sarah Palin, "No Thank You."

What was the last book you read, and name some of your favorite authors?
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Just started Ender's Game. I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez and John Irving.

What was the last film you saw, and name some of your favorite movies?
Inception. I saw it because my favorite movie is Memento. I liked Memento better.

Favorite TV programs?
Family Guy and Modern Family. I like funny shows about family.

Favorite holiday destinations?
I have a lot of family in Miami and I love visiting. Especially love the beach!

Do you have any hobbies?
Tennis. My entire family is really really into it. My brother Sam's serve could kill an elephant.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?
I only need two items. I would take a small axe to chop coconuts and drink what's inside. I would also take VITACOCO water for when I finished all the coconuts on the island. (I really like coconut water.)

Do you have any superstitions?
The usual stuff....walking under ladders, the number 13, blah blah blah. But, I'll always forget how you're not supposed to say "Macbeth" in a theatre, and inevitably I'll mention that play backstage or something and then everyone will want to kill me.

What are your future plans?
I might cover a vacation spot in Next To Normal at some point in the next few months. I also might go to South Africa in January. I also might get hit by a car and not do either of those things. But regardless, I am trying to live for today and enjoy.

Originally published on

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