Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Rothenberg

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

A lot of my story is in my previous Canvas Rebel article, but I will give a brief summary here.

I am the host of the entertainment platform Call Me Adam.com, and podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, where I interview celebrities from the worlds of Film, Television, Theatre, and Music. With over 2,000 interviews under my belt, I make my guests feel comfortable and at ease which allows them to talk about life behind-the-curtain.

Growing up, I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry, though I didn’t exactly know what I would do. I just assumed I’d be an actor or singer, but never really did much to pursue either. Once I got into college, I tried everything. I performed in two theatre shows, hosted a 50s/60s radio show, a 70s/80s radio show, and helped program the on-campus activities. After graduating college, I auditioned for a few plays in the Boston area, where I was living, but never got cast.

At that time, I was also volunteering with AIDS Action Committee, and all of the volunteers decided to host an open mic night. I performed 5 minutes of stand-up comedy, and people laughed. I was bit by the comedy bug, and started to look for more ways to perform stand-up comedy. After about 7 or 8 years on the comedy circuit in Boston & New York, I decided it was time to sit down.

While pursuing my comedy career, I was also working a 9-5 job at a Broadway ad agency, and had been reading a lot of interviews with Broadway stars. One day at lunch, I was talking to my colleague about these interviews and how I had questions I wanted to ask these Broadway performers. She suggested I start my own blog and post my interviews there. And that’s just what I did.

In the past 15 years, I been very fortunate to speak with some extraordinary humans in the entertainment industry including Olivia Newton John (Sandy from the movie musical Grease, 4-time Grammy Award winner), Marc Summers (TV Host – Nickelodeon’s Double Dare, Food Network’s Unwrapped), Leslie Jordan (Emmy Award winner, Will & Grace, Call Me Kat), Gloria Reuben (NBC’s ER, Back-Up Singer for Tina Turner’s 24/7 Tour), Jo Dee Messina (Two-Time Grammy Nominee), Deana Carter (Three-Time Grammy Nominee), and Jodi Benson (Singing voice of Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid).

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It has not been a smooth road to get to where I am today. I have had to pivot a lot throughout the years, but every new path has led me somewhere exciting.

When I was performing on the comedy circuit, my biggest obstacle was getting above the bringer level, where you had to bring people in order to perform. It got to a point where I was spending more time trying to get people to attend my shows, than being able to work on new material. Once I hit that wall, I decided it was time to sit down.

My interviewing journey has been an adventurous one. I don’t want to talk too much about the specifics here because I am getting ready tell that story in my forthcoming book, publishing this summer, Behind The Curtain: The Mistakes, Lessons Learned & Triumphs of Interviewing Celebrities.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I interview celebrities from the worlds of Film, Television, Theatre, and Music. I am known for conducting a different kind of interview. I am not asking the salacious/gossipy questions. I want to know the everyday details about the stars I interview.

I am most proud of interviewing over 2,000 artists, performers, and celebrities in the past 15 years. I have had many of them come back for a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th interview with me. I am also proud of being able to bring out a wide range of emotions during my interviews. One minute we could be talking about the project my guest is working on, the next minute we can be laughing, and in the next moment, our conversation can tap into a deep emotion of my guest, and at times, move them to tears. These are what I call my “Oprah Moments.” I am very proud of them.

I feel what sets me apart from other journalists are the kinds of questions I ask. I believe I have questions that are unique to me that I don’t see other interviewers asking.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?

The Covid-19 Crisis further showed me just how fragile life is, how the world I know can turn on a dime, and don’t wait to do something you’ve always wanted to because there could come a time when you don’t get to do it.

On the positive side, it showed me how caring and compassionate people can be when in a world crisis. I also saw how everyone needs that human connection. It showed me how social media, and video chat can bring people together, when you can’t be physically together in person.

It also gave me new ways to conduct my interviews that I have continued to do even after the world opened up again.

Finally, it reinforced why the world needs Dolly Parton & just how amazing she is, not only for her music and songwriting, but for her humanitarian efforts. By donating $1 million to help find a vaccine, Dolly once again showed how much she truly cares about every human being.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.callmeadam.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/callmeadamnyc
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/callmeadamnyc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/callmeadamnyc

Image Credits

Main Photo – Adam Rothenberg – Abingdon Theatre Company 2018 Gala

Additional Photo 1 – Adam Rothenberg and Gloria Reuben – 54 Below 2018 (Adam in blue shirt, Gloria in black dress)

Additional Photo 2 – Angelo Noto, Deana Carter, Adam Rothenberg – NYC Winery 2023 (Angelo – Blue Flannel shirt, Deana – White/Gold Dress, Adam – Red Flannel)

Additional Photo 3 – Jo Dee Messina and Adam Rothenberg – Feinstein’s at the Regency 2010 (Jo Dee on left, Adam on the right in suit no tie)

Additional Photo 4 – Jodi Benson and Adam Rothenberg – Carnegie Hall 2018 (Jodi on left in blue dress, Adam on right in blue suit & tie)

Additional Photo 5 – Adam Rothenberg and Leslie Jordan – Comix NY 2009 (Adam on left in black jacket, Leslie on right in suit)

Additional Photo 6 – Adam Rothenberg – 2015 NYIT Awards (Adam in grey shirt)

Additional Photo 7 – Marc Summers and Adam Rothenberg – 54 Below 2018 (Marc on left in black shirt, Adam on right in multi-color striped shirt)