Early life and education
Kushner has said he began performing at age 9. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, graduating in 2013.2 In 2020, Ithaca College recognized him with its Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and he served as keynote speaker for Florida Thespians that same year.23
Career
Acting
Kushner is a member of Actors' Equity Association. His film credits include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) and Castles in the Air (2014).4 On stage, his credits include the pre-Broadway production of On the Town at Barrington Stage (directed by John Rando), Much Ado About Nothing at Barrington Stage (directed by Julie Boyd), Sons of the Prophet at GableStage (directed by Joe Adler), and Toxic If Swallowed at Ars Nova (directed by Charles Quittner).3 He also created and performed the one-man show Moo With Me and performed the cabaret Michael Kushner Sings His Hits for Pride at 54 Below in June 2021.3
Photography
Kushner founded The Dressing Room Project, a photographic journal capturing actors as they prepare for their roles on and off Broadway. His photographs have appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, Playbill, and coverage of the Tony Awards. His subjects include Hillary Clinton, Tom Hanks, Patti LuPone, Julie Andrews, and Idina Menzel.3
Producing
As executive producer, Kushner shepherded the web series Indoor Boys to a Daytime Emmy nomination.1 He also produced XaveMePlease, which screened at Frameline43,5 and has served on the board of Core Theatre Group in Warwick, New York. He formerly served as Director of Programming for The Green Room 42, a cabaret venue at the Yotel New York in Midtown, where he developed sold-out programming in the post-pandemic period.3
Writing and publishing
In February 2023, Routledge published his book How to Be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business, a practical guide for performers navigating multiple creative roles simultaneously.6 He is also a contributing writer to Backstage and maintains a Substack newsletter addressing access and sustainability in the entertainment industry.3
Podcasting and broadcasting
Kushner hosts Dear Multi-Hyphenate, a podcast featuring conversations with performers and industry figures including Carol Burnett and Rachel Brosnahan.6 He also hosts My Broadway Memory, a weekly live talk show produced by Broadway Podcast Network.7
Teaching
He teaches theatre business and related subjects at NYU's Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and at the New York Film Academy.3
Musical Theatre Factory
Kushner is a founding member of Musical Theatre Factory, a New York organization dedicated to developing new musical theatre work.3
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), Kushner was cast as a Tourist Looking at a Map alongside his husband Remy Germinario, the two together forming the Tourist Couple Looking at Map. According to both actors, they came to the role through a self-tape audition and, upon booking it, canceled a planned trip because they would be filming downtown. Their scene was set on Eldridge Street in Chinatown, where the couple are shown lost and consulting a map as the Death Chill begins to spread through the neighborhood. The deleted scene had the characters running from the spreading cold, with a high-speed fan blowing into the actors' faces to simulate the heat and urgency of the situation. The scene was cut from the theatrical release, though both actors retained their screen credits.
Personal life
Kushner is married to actor Remy Germinario. He is an active volunteer with Covenant House, an organization serving homeless youth.3
References
Some content on this page was researched using the Ghostbusters Wiki on Fandom.
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Broadway World, "Veanne Cox Nominated For Daytime Emmy For INDOOR BOYS" (May 21, 2020), https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Veanne-Cox-Nominated-For-Daytime-Emmy-For-INDOOR-BOYS-20200521. Michael Kushner is listed as executive producer of the series alongside Jim Kierstead, Jim Head, and Cody Lassen; Veanne Cox received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Digital Series.
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Ithaca College, "Alumni Weekend Brings Honors and Memories" (October 2, 2021), https://www.ithaca.edu/news/alumni-weekend-brings-honors-and-memories
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Michael Kushner official website, accessed 2026-06-13, https://michaelkushneronline.com/
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"Michael Kushner," IMDb, accessed 2026-06-13, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9799055/
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Frameline Festival Archive, "XaveMePlease," Frameline43 Film Guide (2019), https://www.frameline.org/festival-archive/festival2019/film-guide/xavemeplease
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Broadway World, "Michael Kushner to Release New Book HOW TO BE A MULTI-HYPHENATE IN THE THEATRE BUSINESS" (January 19, 2023), https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Michael-Kushner-to-Release-New-Book-HOW-TO-BE-A-MULTI-HYPHENATE-IN-THE-THEATRE-BUSINESS-20230119. The book, published February 10, 2023, draws from three seasons of Kushner's podcast and is published by Routledge/CRC Press.
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Broadway Podcast Network, "Michael Kushner," accessed 2026-06-13, https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/people/michael-kushner
