George Abud
Joining us On The Couch this week is George Abud. The award-winning actor, playwright, director, musician, and proud Lebanese-American has made his mark on and off Broadway, including our personal favorite performances: The Band’s Visit, Lempicka, and Emojiland. Starting this November, Abud will be singing the song of purple summer as the Adult Men in Spring Awakening at Studio Seaview. We caught up with him to talk family, philosophy, and making Stephen Sondheim cry.
What do you consider to be your best asset?
Not taking shit from anyone. And maybe, my eyelashes, which you don’t like hearing about when you’re a little boy, but now it’s quite nice.
What was your proudest moment?
As a professional moment, making Stephen Sondheim cry. As a personal moment, I’d say anytime someone leaves me, and feels better, lighter, or more empowered from our time together.
What is your favorite drink?
Oh, you know what I really like lately? Limeade. Limeade is so good.
What is your favorite food?
Warak Areesh (Lebanese Grapeleaves). Grapeleaves are Lebanese as hell, and I like feeling Lebanese as hell.
What is your favorite condiment?
Garlic butter. But you can’t eat that too often, or no one wants to talk to you too closely.
What is your current obsession?
United States Senator-Elect Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed of Michigan. No one who’s ever looked like me or cared about the things I care about has ever been a senator. I mean, except Bernie Sanders… and he only looked like me for a short while back in the late 80’s.
If you could give up one of your vices, what would it be?
Probably eating copious amounts of junk food for hours into my insomnia-riddled nights. But oh how I love the night and all its many snacks.
What is the one professional accomplishment you long for most?
I would say I want my adaptation of 3Penny Opera that I produced earlier this year with Katrina Lenk, Barbara Walsh, and Mary Testa, to find a commercial Off-Broadway home for production. I mean, don’t you want to hear Barbara Walsh and Mary Testa sing ‘The Jealousy Duet’?
What is the one thing you waste too much money on?
Probably 19th century tonalist landscape paintings. Or, french fries. Depends on the day.
What is the one activity you waste too much time doing?
Thinking. But that is no waste.
What do you consider to be the single greatest threat to your health?
Capitalism.
What’s the single best trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
From my father, smiling. From my mother, wit. From both, listening.
What’s the single worst trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
Maybe not being able to hide my emotions.
What in the world most thrills you?
Om Kolthoum. Look her up 🙂
What current trend in popular culture most irritates you?
All of it. Let’s go back to the 90’s when everything was purple and orange and had lightning bolts on it.
What was the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever experienced on the job?
I don’t know… I don’t really get embarrassed per se. Horrified, yes. Probably more so moments in auditions are the most embarrassing or aggravating because of the circumstances of what actors are put through. But you know I can’t talk about such things here, because I’d have to name names of people who are very disrespectful and condescending to actors, and I would never, ever do such a thing. Especially that total miserable jerk… no, I’d better not 😉
What is your favorite place in the world?
Home. New York City. Always.
What is the most important trait you seek in a romantic partner?
Lovingness. Humanity. Empathy. Ease. Humor. Smiling. Silliness. A lot of these things go together.
Do you prefer the company of dogs or cats?
I’m Arab. Cats. We love cats. I’m probably a cat. I have all the hallmarks of one.
What would have to happen to make today the best day of your life?
If something very good or deeply meaningful happened for all the people I love most, then I would truly have the best day. Like, if my phenomenal actress wife got an amazing role in a play, or my middle brother, who’s my favorite composer, got some incredible acknowledgement for his music, or my eldest brother… well he’s killing it so I don’t know what he needs, but he definitely deserves it, or if my parents won the lottery and didn’t have to think about money. And if that all happened simultaneously, I’d be a very happy fella. And that they’re all healthy and safe.
What is your personal motto?
I am very much a disciple of the preeminent Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, and his philosophies. I love mottos, or rather nourishing pieces of substance or meaning, so it could be any number of ideas. But for now I will offer this most beautiful line of his:
“Life is a procession. The slow of foot finds it too swift and he steps out; And the swift of foot finds it too slow and he too steps out.”