Jeremy Kushnier
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Kushnier is a stage actor and songwriter
.
-winning musical Jersey Boys
in the role of Tommy Devito and was one of the "Top 10 Great Chicago Performances of 2007". He starred in the Chicago cast, and then opened the Vegas production. He took over the role of Tommy on August 21, 2008 as part of the Toronto engagement of Jersey Boys, which was part of the North American tour. He is currently playing Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine in the first national tour of the Pulitzer Prize
winning musical Next to Normal. He is married to Jenny Lee Stern.
, Manitoba
, Canada
.
Kushnier attended Miles MacDonell Collegiate
, the Winnipeg School of Performing Arts, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
, all in Winnipeg.
He is the brother of the actor Serge Kushnier and the musician Bryce Kushnier, involved with the electronic project vitaminsforyou
.
Kushnier travelled by bus from Toronto
to New York City
to audition for a role in Footloose
in 1997.
Kushnier's second album "Jeremy Kushnier" in 2006 (produced by Jonathan Dinklage) is a more grounded look at life through clearer glasses. This EP conceived and produced with his friend and musical director Jonathan Dinklage is an acoustic blend of rock and pop that gleans its inspiration from an era of analog tape and tube warmth. A time when one good take could make an album. This album was recorded with a group of musicians with the feel and talent to pull this inspiration together in a truly creative and original way. There is an honesty in this recording that keeps it grounded without taking itself too seriously. Jeremy's writing continues to fuse his love of singer songwriters with his self proclaimed pop addiction. From the moody Allison to the B52's - esque Lullaby this follow up to his first release "In Time" is sure to leave you wanting more.
Soundtrack:
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Overview
Kushnier is most well known for his role in the Tony AwardTony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning musical Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is a documentary-style musical, based on one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons...
in the role of Tommy Devito and was one of the "Top 10 Great Chicago Performances of 2007". He starred in the Chicago cast, and then opened the Vegas production. He took over the role of Tommy on August 21, 2008 as part of the Toronto engagement of Jersey Boys, which was part of the North American tour. He is currently playing Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine in the first national tour of the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning musical Next to Normal. He is married to Jenny Lee Stern.
Early life
Jeremy Kushnier was born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Kushnier attended Miles MacDonell Collegiate
Miles Macdonell Collegiate
Miles Macdonell Collegiate is a high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the River East Transcona School Division. It is one of the five schools in Manitoba that participate in the International Baccalaureate Program. The school offers classes in French Immersion geared towards university attendance in...
, the Winnipeg School of Performing Arts, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
, all in Winnipeg.
He is the brother of the actor Serge Kushnier and the musician Bryce Kushnier, involved with the electronic project vitaminsforyou
Vitaminsforyou
Vitaminsforyou is a Canadian electronic music project led by Bryce Kushnier, a pioneer of the “lo-fi bedroom electronics” genre of music. Originally based in Winnipeg, the band currently operates from Toronto....
.
Kushnier travelled by bus from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to audition for a role in Footloose
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
in 1997.
Footloose
Original, musical- Starring: Jeremy Kushnier [Ren McCormack] (October 22, 1998 – July 2, 2000).
Rent
Original, musical, drama- Starring: Jeremy Kushnier [Roger Davis] — Replacement (November 17, 2003 – January 17, 2005).
Theatre credits
- (1990) Performed in Say It With Music at the Rainbow Stage
- (1995) Cast in the Toronto production of The Who's Tommy; later toured Canada
- Performed as a swing in the Canadian production of Rent
- (2000) Cast as one of the leads in The Rhythm Club; premiered at The Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia
- (2001) Played Roger in the Benny Tour production of Rent
- (2002–2003) Playing Radames in the national tour of Disney's Aida
- Appeared in the workshops of the stage musicals "Summer of '42" and "Joe: The Musical"
- Appeared in the Readings for Hamlet — The Musical, ROOMS, and Drift
- Appeared in American Duet featuring Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, in February 2004.
- (2005) Played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Kansas City Starlight Theatre.
- (2006) Played Roger in World Tour of Rent.
- (2006) Played Jerry in Full Monty at Maine State Music Theater
- (2007) Played Jamie in Bright Lights, Big City.
- (2008) Stars in the hit play, Jersey Boys, as Tommy DeVito in the LaSalle Theatre in Chicago
- (2010) Played Freddie Trumper in Signature Theatre's production of ChessChess (musical)Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
- (2010–2011) Staring as Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden in the first national tour of Next to Normal
Music
Jeremy Kushnier's first CD, In Time (2002), is a celebration of relationships, life and love. Growing up, Jeremy's influences ranged from The Beatles (I know it's cliché, but it's true) to Billy Joel. Loving the singer/song writer genre he quickly developed his own style of writing, ranging from light ballads to edgy rock and roll.- Angel light
- Randi
- The ride's on me
- Brooklyn baby
- Your little tragedy
- In time
- Back away
- Feminenemy
- Here for you
- The smile in her eyes
Kushnier's second album "Jeremy Kushnier" in 2006 (produced by Jonathan Dinklage) is a more grounded look at life through clearer glasses. This EP conceived and produced with his friend and musical director Jonathan Dinklage is an acoustic blend of rock and pop that gleans its inspiration from an era of analog tape and tube warmth. A time when one good take could make an album. This album was recorded with a group of musicians with the feel and talent to pull this inspiration together in a truly creative and original way. There is an honesty in this recording that keeps it grounded without taking itself too seriously. Jeremy's writing continues to fuse his love of singer songwriters with his self proclaimed pop addiction. From the moody Allison to the B52's - esque Lullaby this follow up to his first release "In Time" is sure to leave you wanting more.
- Why
- Lullaby
- Allison
- The one about Drew
- Stars
Soundtrack:
- "One Tree Hill" (one episode, 2006)
- Can't Stop This Thing We've Started (2006) TV episode (performer: "Allison")