Amihai Kipnis is a newer member of the JET community. He has directed and acted in two Crossroads Theater Shed Young Playwrights and Performers Festivals. He has also been part of the recent Encore productions of Hello Dolly and H.M.S. Pinafore. We have asked Amihai some questions and would like to share his responses with you.
JET: Why did you get involved in acting?
AK: It’s a great artistic and expressive pursuit. I have always enjoyed putting on a spectacle, and have had a tendency to explore the drama of different situations in my life. Thinking back, theater provided a platform for me to explore my creativity, and to involve myself in projects which allowed it to flourish.
JET: What is your favorite theater memory?
AK: It was my first all out production, in high school, and I was heavily invested in it. After months of working on it, getting used to all the jokes, the plot, and the character dynamics, getting on stage and bringing all that hard work in front of an audience felt incredible. I will never forget the rush when I got on stage, and the way the audience reacted to our show and to my character. It felt incredible that our hard work resonated with so many people.
JET: What is the hardest part about being an actor?
AK: The sincerity and openness it requires. When I act, I have to be completely emotionally open with myself, and allow myself to be vulnerable. It’s about trusting myself with the character and open[ing] myself up to it. It’s extremely challenging and never ending. You always have to feel, you cannot just shut yourself out. But as hard as it is, it is worth it. It’s so rewarding to see both you and your character grow and become intertwined. You get to learn from it, and to understand people better, because of the openness it requires from you. Oh, and scheduling is terrible, it’s definitely a challenge.
JET: What was the most rewarding show you have done?
AK: I think I’d have to go back to that high school production. It was the biggest, most complex role I’d ever played, and it was the most challenging and required the most work to get down. But it taught me so much, and I will forever cherish that old, cynical, stubborn character that helped me learn so much about myself.
JET: How do you prepare for different roles?
I usually start by going over the lines and identifying the wants, and the motivation behind them. Then, through the process of rehearsal, I develop certain characteristics about the character: how they walk, how they talk, how they conduct themselves and so on. During all of that process, I bring myself into the character, and try to imagine myself as them – how would I act, what would my reactions be, how would I feel, taking into account the difference between me and that character. Oh and never watch another iteration beforehand unless you are confident in your [portrayal]: [you’ll] end up copying and not acting.
JET: What is your pre-show routine?
AK: Spend time with the rest of the cast, hype each other up, and keep the energy up. That? And pooping, which I’ve learned is important before hours on stage.
JET: How have you changed as an actor throughout your career?
AK: I’ve definitely become more compassionate and patient with other people. It’s also become easier for me to express myself both socially and artistically.
JET: What is your dream role and why?
AK: Ariel from the Little Mermaid, because there is something about that wide eyed naïvete that’s appealing to me. Other than that, I think I’d go with Othello. He’s charismatic, yet complex, and his story is sooo tragic. I also would love to play Macbeth, as I think it would be so rewarding to play a character that’s plotting his own demise, and is constantly scared and worried.
JET: Feel free to share anything else about your experience with the JET community!
AK: You guys rock!
