APRIL 21 • 2022 | 55
Meet
Stephen
Kantrowitz
English. “I continued to play the violin
for a number of years while becom-
ing co-founder and co-director of the
National Jewish Theatre to produce and
tour works by Jewish artists.”
That initiative continued through the
organization’s transitioning to Broadway
Ala Carte and his acceptance of other
positions, most recently as director of
cultural affairs for the city of Miramar,
Florida, where he produced, pro-
grammed and administered about 300
presentations annually.
He has been at the helm of shows that
have reached from the Broadway musi-
cal Show Boat to concerts featuring final-
ists on the TV hit America’s Got Talent.
Kantrowitz, who began working
remotely for the West Bloomfield JCC
in March, has turned over management
responsibilities for Broadway Ala Carte
to his wife, actress Jodi Chekofsky.
Currently getting her attention is the
tour titled The Phantoms … Unmasked!
spotlighting Phantom of the Opera stars.
“I’ve done collaborations and
brought programming to venues
for many different Jewish organiza-
tions — Hadassah, B’nai B’rith, ORT,”
said Kantrowitz, who also oversaw
cultural arts at the YM-YWHA of
North Jersey (JCC). “We’ve done
shows beyond only those with Jewish
themes. We did an original salute to
the late comedian Fanny Brice (Second
Hand Rose) that my wife created
before taking on the role.”
Besides getting to know the Michigan
Jewish community, Kantrowitz is look-
ing forward to getting to know the
state. This will be his first experience in
Michigan.
“The crux of many of my programs
has been to bring guest artists to com-
munities and to find ways to connect
them with students who are budding
artists and budding performers,”
Kantrowitz said.
“I would be very interested in
exploring those types of partnerships
with local colleges and schools, and
inviting guest artists who are masters
in the trade from all over the country.
They can share their experiences and
help the next generation get ready for
their own careers.”
At home, Kantrowitz enjoys fusion
cooking, mixing traditional Jewish reci-
pes with recipes from other cultures.
“I’m a lifelong fan of professional
wrestling,” he said. “I like the theatrical-
ity. I know it’s fake and not a sport, but
it’s very entertaining to me. My father
got my brother and me hooked on it.”
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The new senior director of cultural
arts at the JCC has been busy.
F
rom helping to launch a theater reboot
of the Lenore Marwil Detroit Jewish
Film Festival to beginning a new job as
senior director of Cultural Arts at the Jewish
Community Center (JCC) in West Bloomfield,
Stephen Kantrowitz is keeping busy.
Although Kantrowitz did not have a voice
in choosing what will be offered as part of the
24th annual cinema showcase, he is mapping
out logistics for the event and getting acquaint-
ed with longtime festival committee members.
“I’m very excited to be at the West Bloomfield
JCC, and I have great plans for the Cultural Arts
Department,
” said Kantrowitz, who was a violin
performer before transitioning into 25 years of
producing and presenting programs to bring
more than 1,000 shows to Jewish and nonsectar-
ian venues around the country.
“I look forward to working with Metro
Detroit’s Jewish community to make the
existing initiatives grow and create new and
exciting initiatives that will engage a wider
audience at the JCC and connect them with
our community.”
Kantrowitz’s entertainment interests started at
age 9, when the New Jersey school he attended
offered instrumental training and free instru-
ments. He chose the violin in keeping with the
direction then preferred by an older brother and
sister, who moved on to other fields.
Attendance in the pre-college curriculum at
the Manhattan School of Music led to appear-
ances at celebrated venues including Carnegie
Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. He has
worked with well-known Jewish musicians,
such as pianists Vladimir Feltsman and Ethan
Bortnick.
“I decided I wasn’t going to focus on music
at Montclair State University because I wanted
to explore other things as well, like writing
and theater,” said Kantrowitz, who majored in
Stephen Kantrowitz