Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Jess Kantorowitz is one of the high-energy ensemble of Surviving the Rosenthals.  Her talents include writing as well as acting and she’s very open to having different experiences.  “I write music and act and write movies and try to do all sorts of different things.” 

Interview by Jen Bush

SURVIVING THE ROSENTHALS introduces us to songwriter Sammy, who enters therapy to heal himself and break free of the childhood shackles, brought on by his overbearing father, that still stifle him as an adult. The musical takes a surreal twist as Sammy meets – Sammy! Adult Sam meets 10-year-old Sammy in a battle to save himself. Surviving the Rosenthals provides real-world hope and outcomes … and does it in 90 minutes … set to music!

I had a wonderful chat with Ms. Kantorowitz to discover how she approaches roles and to talk about this production.

What attracted you to this play?  I read the character description for Gail and really saw myself. I felt that the play was calling to me and I even emailed our director saying just how connected I was. 

What is your creative process in creating a [new] character? I like to look at all the way the character is different from me first. How they react differently than I would, their relationship to anger, to romance. Then after I’ve interrogated our differences, I look at the similarities. 

This is a “serious topic.” Do you find a deeper responsibility in doing such a show? I do. Therapy and mental health has been a huge part of my journey especially over the last few years. We carry so much trauma in our bodies and its taken me a long time to recognize that within myself. I am a huge advocate for therapy and really think the more we can advocate and destigmatize the better. 

What’s next for you? I’m coming out with an album! Check out my music on all streaming platforms (AMI MOON).