1st Edition
How to Be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business: Conversations, Advice, and Tips from “Dear Multi-Hyphenate”
How to Be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business empowers theatre professionals to take hold of their own career and become successful ‘multi-hyphenates’– artists with multiple proficiencies, often cross-pollinating each other to help flourish professional capabilities.
Discussing self-identity, networking, workflow, failure, passion, purpose, socially responsible artistry, social media, and the effects of COVID-19, Michael Kushner, award-winning theatre multi-hyphenate artist, sets the stage for artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to find personalized success in the theatre industry. Complete with informative and lively exercises and excerpts from Kushner’s popular podcast and workshop, Dear Multi-Hyphenate, this book addresses questions such as: How do we recover from a pandemic? How do we give more access to marginalized theatre creators? and What goes into producing our own projects? Featuring exclusive information from a myriad of theatre makers such as agents, managers, designers, actors, press representatives, producers, comedians, social media stars, writers, executive directors, CEOs, and lawyers, this book promotes the dismantling of gatekeeping and provides a specialized, hands-on experience to an innovative and lucrative approach to theatre making.
How to Be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business is an invaluable resource for theatre artists at any level in their careers, whether they are undergraduates, graduate students, professors, award-winning members of the theatre and film community, working professionals, high school students, or entrepreneurs.
Part 1: Preparation 1. What is a Multi-Hyphenate? 2. It’s Not About You 3. Skill vs. Proficiency Part 2: Application 4. Access: Location, Process and Cycle 5. Workflow and Work Ethic 6. Fortitude of Failure 7. Boundaries 8. Get a GRIP: Methods of Protection Part 3: Navigation 9. Networking vs. Netweaving 10. Social Media 11. Comparison May Not Be the Thief of Joy 12. Passion, Purpose, and Socially Responsible Artistry
Biography
Michael Kushner is New York City’s leading multi-hyphenate and the executive producer of the Emmy-nominated series Indoor Boys. In true multi-hyphenate form, Michael served as the director of programming for The Green Room 42, providing the space with sold-out programming post-pandemic. He is the owner of Michael Kushner Photography and has been published in the New York Times, Vogue, Playbill, and more. He is also the creator of The Dressing Room Project, where he photographs actors prepping for their roles on and off Broadway. Michael holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, where he won the 2020 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He is the founding member of Musical Theatre Factory, the Executive Producer of XaveMePlease (created by Wesley Taylor, Frameline 43 Festival Finalist), and the creator of the podcast Dear Multi-Hyphenate with Broadway Podcast Network. He is an active participant of Covenant House Sleep Out, as well as a performer and a member of the Actors' Equity Association.
