Spotlight On...Jef Canter

Name: Jef Canter (Jef with one F)

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

Education: BS Marketing Florida State University; Young Actors Studio

Select Credits: I loved playing Dr. Watson in the East Coast Premier of Watson at Gretna Theatre and playing 21 different roles in Around the World in 80 Days. I’ve also had the privilege to play Clarence the Angel in two different productions of It’s a Wonderful Life and to return to my hometown to perform Bottom the Weaver in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Southern Shakespeare Festival.

Why theater?: Theatre is my love because of the audience. You have the ability to interact with them, to play off their energy, to make them laugh, cry or think. Nothing beats it because each show is a living breathing creation that is special and unique each time you perform it.

Who do you play in Giovanni The Fearless?: I play Jacopo Bombasto, (pronounced Ya-co-po), the patriarch and leader of a family troupe of commedia dell’arte actors.

Tell us about Giovanni The Fearless: Giovanni The Fearless is a wonderful new show with something for everyone. We describe it as a family-friendly commedia dell’arte folk opera. It’s a story about love, a troupe of travelling actors, a deserted castle and a couple of ghosts. This is the first full professional production of this work with book and lyrics by Carolyn Balducci and music composed by Mira J. Spektor. It’s directed by Lissa Moira, whom I’m pleased to be working with for the second time. The music is beautiful and it will be a treat for kids and adults as well. We will be performing at the iconic Theater for the New City in the Village from May 12 – 21.

What is it like being a part of Giovanni The Fearless?: It’s a thrill to be able to originate a new role and bring new works to life. The show has wonderful music and the style of the acting is very playful. It will be the first time I’ve ever gotten to play a giant ghost puppet on stage which should be a lot of fun!

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love it all from straight plays to musicals, classics to contemporary. There are so many amazing stories to be told. But I love and live for the comedic roles and making people laugh. I am inspired by great performances and there are so many to see it would be hard to choose just one.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Dave in Full Monty, Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Billis in South Pacific, Thernardier in Les Mis. I also played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof in my community theater days and would love to play the role professionally.

What’s your favorite showtune?: That’s a hard one. Maybe “There is Nothing Like a Dame” from South Pacific or “Big Ass Rock” from The Full Monty.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Wow… writers like Tim Minchen, Alan Menken, Lin Manuel Miranda… directors like Casey Nicholaw, John Doyle, Jack O’Brian… Anyone who wants me for their Broadway show!

Who would play you in a movie about yourself, and what would it be called?: If I couldn’t play myself, I think maybe Jack Black or Zach Galifianakis. It would be called “Jump and You’ll Find the Net” which is one of the philosophies I try to live by.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I’d love to see the original production of Fiddler with Zero Mostel.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I can’t say enough good things about Groundhog Day!

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and buffalo wings!

What’s up next?: Earlier in the year, I played Michael Larson in a staged reading of a new musical called Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal. It’s an amazing new piece of work, written by Brandon Sturiale, and I’m excited to be going into the recording studio to record some demo tracks to help take the show to a full-staged production. I’m looking for my next immediate gig… so if you’re looking?

For more on Jef, visit www.jefcanter.com

Spotlight On...Kimberley Bechtold

Name:  Kimberley Bechtold

Hometown:  Menominee, Michigan (the Upper Peninsula for those of you who have heard of it). Yes, I am a Yooper!

Education: I recently graduated with a Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance from the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. My undergrad degree was also in Vocal Performance, from Georgia State University.

Select Credits:  Most recently I performed the role of Brigitta in Iolanta with the New York Opera Theater. While at Brooklyn College, I performed the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus, Gilda in Rigoletto (scenes), Mary in G Train the Musical, Tchervyakov’s Wife (and 4 other characters!) in Death of an Underling, and Hillary Hickory in the children’s opera Mambo. Recently, I participated in an Italian immersion opera program called Si Parla, Si Canta in Urbana, Italy. While there, I performed the roles of Sandrina in La finta giardiniera, Beatrice in Beatrice di Tenda, Eternità in La Calisto, and Jouvenot in Adriana Lecouvreur (scenes).

Why theater?: A few years ago, I attempted to get a “real job,” and let’s just say that didn’t last…. There is this longing inside of me that has to be expressed. I grew up taking piano lessons and acting in community theater productions. Then I went home and enjoyed singing along and acting out every song and scene in The Sound of Music. I like to pretend that Julie Andrews taught me how to sing.

Who do you play in Giovanni the Fearless?: I play Columbina, the eldest of two daughters in the Bombasto family. Columbina dreams of love, and she finds it with Giovanni.

Tell us about Giovanni the Fearless: Giovanni the Fearless is a silly, funny, and witty story about a family of traveling performers (actors, singers, musicians, acrobats) referencing the Commedia dell’arte form of theater. This is a show will take you on an adventure to a haunted castle, will absolutely makes you laugh (there is literally a song about pasta), and also will invoke feelings both of romantic love, but also love of family, and of course the love of theater!

What is it like being a part of Giovanni the Fearless?: Every day is an adventure! Seriously… Our director has thought about every detail of this show and each character. We are all reaching deep within ourselves to make this show as exciting as possible. In what other show could I sing, tango, play the trombone, and dance with pasta??!

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I have always been drawn first to those with a beautiful mastery of vocal technique.  Beyond that, I am drawn to those who have a mastery of comedy, especially those who use this mastery in a creative way. As far as a mastery of vocal technique, and expressing emotion through this, my teacher, Anna Skibinsky, inspires me the most. She has such an effortless, beautiful tone, and the most gorgeous high pianissimo notes you have ever heard! As far as comedy, my inspiration is absolutely Carol Burnett. Who else can sing alongside opera singers such as Beverly Sills, and then produce elaborate music scenes that make you roll on the floor laughing? She is truly one of a kind.

Any roles you are king to play?: Honestly, Cunegonde in Candide. Also, I have to play Maria in The Sound of Music before I die.

What is your favorite showtune?: I literally can not pick just one… I grew up singing The Sound of Music, so that song holds a special place in my heart. The music in West Side Story is so unbelievable though. Literally every song in that show… I also occasionally geek out to The Last Five Years and Les Miserables. I told you I couldn’t pick just one show tune.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I think I would want to meet and work with Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews. I have difficulty choosing just one…

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The actress would be Amy Adams, and I feel like it was already made… Have you heard of "Enchanted"? I feel like a movie about me would feature me singing every word (instead of speaking) in an operatic way, and then everyone else would just start at me awkwardly.

If you could go back in time and see any play or music you missed, what would it be?: I wish I could go back and see/hear Julie Andrews sing while she was in good vocal health.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Which friends?

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I think one of my favorite things to do in life is sing all of the parts to “One Day More” from Les Miserables.

What’s up next?: I produced and performed in 10 singing variety shows called Les Chanteuses. We are currently working on the 11th, which should debut this summer in Brooklyn. Details coming…