#74 - Ari Axelrod: Jewish Identities in Show Business

This episode is special. I mean… really special. Ari Axelrod is an
artist and I’ve seen him in action, growing throughout the years.
The episode is sort of broken down into three parts. What crafts a
great cabaret? Our views on the multi-hyphenate. And Jewish
identities in showbusiness, which is a huge topic of conversation
right now.  When it comes to cabaret, according to Axelrod,
cabaret should be perfectly imperfect. It is the art of being
yourself on purpose. So what are the pitfalls an artist creating a
concert or cabaret can run into? What is the purpose for which
you’re doing one? How can you best prepare? And what does it really
mean when you choose not to memorize your lyrics…   “I
want to hear the lyrics as you. I don’t want to hear it as the song
because I’ll tune out. It’s the difference between being a tour
guide and a travel agent. A tour guide says, “Let me show you all
of the things. Let me facilitate your journey. The travel agent
says, ‘Where do you want to go? I will help you go to wherever you
need to go.’” When it comes to the multi-hyphenate, it’s simple to
Ari. “It reminds me of what you said before. Straight, cis, white
men – they have the keys to the door,” says Axelrod. “People who
come from marginalized communities, and whatever marginalization
that is, they have to find other ways into the building. And
sometimes it means having multiple ways in because the front door
is locked for them. So we have to climb through the window, or go
through the chimney, or building another building. It’s exactly
what you’re saying, that’s what being a multi-hyphenate is. It’s
telling our stories in all of the ways, flexing all of our artistic
muscles and integrity, to be able to reflect the full capacity of
our world.” And the most important topic of this episode – what it
means and feels like to be Jewish today. And how does that relate
to our work in the industry? Anti-semitism, unfortunately, is
rearing its ugly head once again. So, how do respond to it? And
more importantly – how do we stop it? “Anti-semitism looks
different on the left than on the right. It looks different here.
Everywhere. I think the thing that people don’t understand – the
main problem, specifically, within our industry is that there is a
lack of education in terms of what a Jew looks like. What a Jew
is.” Ari is an actor, director, singer, and Jewish activist. He
recently received the 2022 Bistro Award for Theatrical Performance
in Song for his show, "Ari's Arias." His award-winning show, "A
Place For Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway," began with a
sold-out run at the historic Birdland Jazz Club, featuring six-time
Emmy & Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh, and has since grown to
international acclaim performing to sold-out audiences around the
world. In 2020, he received a MAC Award nomination for Best Male
Vocalist and won the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Live Zoom
Performance. Ari Axelrod's first solo show, "Taking the Wheel,"
directed by Tony Award winner Faith Prince, and music directed by
multiple MAC Award winner Alex Rybeck, has been performed in
numerous cities around the country. Ari's work as a director has
been seen at the Tony Award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse, Birdland
Jazz Club, 54 Below, and The Green Room 42. Ari is a recipient of
The Jewish Week's prestigious 36 Under 36 Award, which "honors 36
noteworthy Jewish leaders, all 36 years old or younger, who make
New York — and its many Jewish communities — better. These
entrepreneurs, young leaders, and changemakers bring remarkable
energy and new ideas to religion, philanthropy, the arts, Jewish
learning, campus life, social action, inclusion, and justice. Learn
more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices