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