**Kennedy Kanagawa and Cole Thompson | Photo: Joan Marcus**

By. Kevin Ray Johnson (Staff Writer for OnStage Blog)

I would like you to meet the wonderful Kennedy Kanagawa. This very talented performer is currently making his Broadway debut in the Revival of Into the Woods as Milky White! Before making it to the great white way, Kennedy was seen in Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Adventurephile (Keen Company), Saturday Night (Second Stage), The Good Swimmer (BAM), Lolita, My Love (York Theatre Company), Dinner with Georgette (NYTW Next Door), Last Ship to Proxima Centauri (Portland Stage), and Eastbound (Village Theatre).

Kennedy's puppetry with Milky White was truly top-notch and I can definitely say that he is a true artist of the highest degree. He kept me completely engaged with every movement and I am still blown away by his performance. I am so happy that Kennedy took the time!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a Performer and when did Puppetry come into the picture for you?

I played Chicken Soup in my 4th-grade production of “Really Rosie” in Tokyo, Japan, and I’ve been performing ever since! Puppetry has always fascinated me, but I’ve never had to chance to do it professionally. “Into the Woods” was really my first foray into it, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the experience.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors that helped make you the Wonderful Performer you are today?

I got my Bachelor of Arts at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Going to a small liberal arts school was a really important life experience for me, and I’m very grateful for the time I had there. I’d count Karen Dearborn and Dr. Jim Peck among the many wonderful mentors I had at school there. I would also absolutely consider James Ortiz, the puppet designer for “Into the Woods” as a mentor. He believed in me without my ever having done puppetry, and taught me so much about puppeteering in a wildly short amount of time.

To say that Into the Woods blew me away would be a complete understatement. Such an amazing revival! How has your time been with this Sondheim classic?

I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I’m being honest when I say that “Into the Woods” has been my favorite musical since middle school. It holds the perfect balance of levity and gravity and is chock full of profound messages and gorgeous music. To be a part of this revival has truly been my dream come true.

Are there any other shows, performances, or moments in your career that will always stick out and be near and dear to your heart?

My very first professional job was in 1997, in the off-Broadway revival of William Finn’s Falsettoland, performed with an all-Asian cast. That production will always be near to my heart, as it not only highlighted the incredible talent to be found in the underrepresented AAPI theater community, but also normalized gay relationships for me at a young age, and helped pave the way for me to come out a few years later.

What advice would you give any young artist who would like a career in the performing arts?

Lead with kindness. Everyone is talented. It’s the performers with empathy and compassion who have long, prolific careers.

Into the woods is currently performing on Broadway at The St. James Theatre. For more information please visit -https://intothewoodsbway.com; to learn more about Kennedy, please visit his official website at -www.kennedykanagawa.com

"Lead with Kindness. Everyone is Talented." Chatting w/ Into the Woods' Actor Kennedy Kanagawa!

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