September 26, 2007

Jeremy Kushnier–From Winnipeg to Jersey

September 26th, 2007

Kevin Prokosh on WhatsonWinnipeg.com has a great story on Winnipeg’s Jeremy Kushnier, who plays Tommy DeVito in the San Francisco/Chicago Company of Jersey Boys! This interview, done right before last week’s Emmy Awards, was an exciting time for the 31-year-old Miles Macdonnell Collegiate graduate.

“This is going to be my first big TV experience,” says Kushnier, who headlined the Broadway production of Footloose in 1998. “Over 22 million watch the Emmys every year. Of course, I’m getting more nervous about this the more I think about it.”

A child performer at Rainbow Stage, Kushnier got his big break in 1995 when he was cast as a pinball lout in a Toronto production of The Who’s Tommy, which was also helmed by McAnuff. His career spiked with Footloose, in which he played the Kevin Bacon part, and he has enjoyed top roles in touring versions of Aida and Rent. His development work in promising musical properties The Rhythm Club and Bright Light, Big City died on the road before reaching New York.

Kushnier became one of the Jersey Boys in May, and next month is headed to Chicago, where the 2006 Tony Award winner for best musical begins an indefinite run. His character, DeVito, is one of four blue-collar kids who worked their way from the streets of Newark to pop stardom in the ’60s. His contract is up in May, but the numerous incarnations mean he’ll be one of the Jersey Boys for quite a while. Even a return stint to Broadway as Tommy DeVito is a possibility.

“I’m hoping for that,” says Kushnier. “There’s a lot of talk about a lot of things. I know they want to open a Toronto company and (director) Des (McAnuff) has been very vocal about wanting me to come up and open the Toronto company, which would be kind of fun.”

4 Comments »

  1. Thank you so much for this interview!

    Jeremy is absolutely amazing and he has one of the most beautiful voices =)

    Comment by June — September 26, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

  2. I love Jeremy Kushnier’s singing voice, guitar play (he really gets into “Big Girls Don’t Cry”) and his acting. He makes a great Tommy De Vito. From the moment he steps forward and says, “That’s our song”, he’s got the audience’s attention. I wish him a ton of success with his career.

    Comment by LindaL — September 27, 2007 @ 10:21 am

  3. I agree with the others; I love his voice. His albums are on constant repeat on my iPod.

    Comment by Christy — September 27, 2007 @ 7:27 pm

  4. Jeremy rocks. I know he was busy with JB, but it would have been cool if he could have done a solo show while he was in SF.

    Comment by Mike — September 27, 2007 @ 8:37 pm

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