Theatre artist and producer Michael Kushner is turning his podcast Dear Multi-Hyphenate into a book designed to help theatre professionals incorporate all of their diverse skills and abilities into their careers. How to Be A Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business: Conversations, Advice, and Tips from Dear Multi-Hyphenate will release February 10, and is currently available for pre-order.
Drama Book Shop will celebrate the release February 12 from 7:30-8:30 PM, with Kushner on hand to sign books in person. Admission is free with a pre-order of the book through Drama Book Shop.
"This book is all about accessibility in the theatre industry,” says Kushner in a statement. “My goal is to share little to no cost ways one can partake in the industry and create a lucrative career. You no longer have to, or should, choose one way to create in the theatre, television, and film industries anymore—and I believe multi-hyphenating is the key to longevity and specificity. Multi-hyphenating has been around a long time but never had a name, and was often looked down upon if you weren’t a celebrity. But why do you have to be a celebrity in order to have multiple proficiencies? Of course actors can produce, photograph, educate, write, and podcast! We’re creatives and we don’t need permission—and the plus side of this approach has never been discussed, until now.”
The book includes excerpts of interviews with Beowulf Boritt, Rachel Brosnahan, Sammi Cannold, Jim Caruso, Ken Davenport, Paige Davis, Julie James, Joan Marcus, Matthew Murphy, Jen Namoff, Karen Olivo, Pennywild, Tonya Pinkins, Bob the Drag Queen, Frances Ruffelle, Leigh Silverman, Tom Viola, and more, covering a range of topics including self identity, networking, workflow, failure, passion, purpose, socially responsible artistry, social media, and the effects of COVID-19.
Along with hosting and producing Dear Multi-Hyphenate on the Broadway Podcasting Network, Kushner is executive producer of the Emmy-nominated series Indoor Boys and is the former director of programming for The Green Room 42. An accomplished photographer, his work has been published by The New York Times, Vogue, and Playbill. Kushner is also a founding member of Musical Theatre Factory and executive producer of XaveMePlease.
