96 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

K

eith Firstenberg is a 
self-professed nerdy 
science guy. He’s got a 
bachelor’s and master’s degrees 
in glass engineering science 
with minors in chemistry and 
physics from Alfred University. 
He’s spent his career as an 
engineer, including the past 10 
years as a research engineer on 
ignition products for Tenneco, 
formerly Federal-Mogul. But, 
by night, Firstenberg’s one really 
funny guy in Suite Surrender, 
which runs Sept. 23-Oct. 8 at 
Farmington Players.
“I am very left-brained — a 
science geek, for sure,
” says 
Firstenberg, who plays the hotel 
general manager in the comedy 
Suite Surrender. “The theater 
part of me keeps me balanced 

on my right side. I really enjoy 
acting and singing. I definitely 
recognize the dichotomy.
”
It was Cantor Don Croll 
at Temple Beth Torah in 
Rockland County, N.Y., where 
Firstenberg grew up, who rec-
ognized Firstenberg’s theatrical 
talents early on. Croll recruited 
Firstenberg for the junior choir 
and the temple variety shows.
“The cantor encouraged my 
acting bug,
” says Firstenberg, 
whose father worked backstage 
on the construction crew. “My 
family’s Friday night routine 
was lighting the candles, doing 
the Kiddush and HaMotzi, and 
then going to services. I enjoyed 
participating and hearing the 
music from the bimah. I’
d say 
that my upbringing in Judaism 

is partly responsible for my love 
of performing.
”
Firstenberg continued to 
attend Shabbat services with his 
family until high school per-
formances of the school plays 
and musicals were also held on 
Friday nights. 
Fast forward to Suite 

Surrender, slated to open 
on Sept. 23 for three week-
ends. Prior to the pandemic, 
Firstenberg, his wife and their 
daughter, would always go 
home to New York to spend the 
Jewish holidays with his parents. 
Now, after two years, plans were 
well underway to spend Rosh 
Hashanah with his East Coast 
family when Firstenberg heard 
about Suite Surrender auditions.
“Director Tony Targan [who 
is also Jewish] jokingly urged 
that I had to ‘sacrifice’ my 
travel plans to be in the show,
” 
says Firstenberg, who, along 
with being a frequent actor at 
Farmington Players, is also their 
sound chair.
“Keith is a versatile actor 
and is a great fit for the role of 

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

PHOTO BY PAUL MANOIAN

It’s science by day and theater 
by night for Keith Firstenberg.

JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

How
‘Suite’ 
It Is 

PHOTO BY JAN CARTWRIGHT

Keith 
Firstenberg

Keith Firstenberg, 
Donna Pelon and Rose 
Randall Warner in 
Suite Surrender at 
Farmington Players 
Sept. 23-Oct. 8.

