“You ever feel like the whole decade’s gone by and you haven’t even been in it?”

Such is the question posed in A Walk on the Moon, the new musical adapted from the award-winning 1999 hit film, which sees Pearl Kantrowitz (Talia Suskauer), desperate for a change to her monotonous life, reach out to an unexpected stranger while on a ritualistic summer bungalow vacation in the Catskills… which, in turn, wakes her up to a new life of sorts “beyond [what] she’s always known.”

Broadway and tour alum Max Chernin (2025 National Tour of Parade) plays the lovable Marty Kantrowitz, Pearl’s betrothed, who, despite his best efforts, and though undeniably adored by his wife, unknowingly ends up as the “third wheel” when Pearl’s fling goes into full effect.

Below, Chernin talks about how both Marty and the production clicked for him, why longing for an escape, as Pearl does, is only human, what he considers to be his personal “moon landing” and more.

What drew you to this project? Why was this “the one” to do?

What I connected to right away wasn’t just the bigger story; it was the way family is centered in this piece. Not just the actual family, but their bigger family of friends and community. They poke fun at each other, sure, but they know how to show up and support each other. That’s how my family is, too... so, it felt really familiar to me, and I wanted to be part of telling a story that feels that honest and human.

What’s the key to this character of Marty for you? How does this role compare to others you’ve played? How did your other work inform this character, if at all?

Marty is a guy just trying to do the best he can. He loves his family, but he’s flawed! He’s not larger than life. He’s someone you probably know. I think every role can teach [someone] something about listening and understanding people, and I definitely brought that with me.

Can you speak about your partnership with Talia in this production? How did your work together on Parade inform your working relationship here?

Working with Talia has been amazing. We obviously became really close doing Parade, so there was already a lot of trust there. And that makes a huge difference, because you don’t have to spend time figuring each other out. A lot of the [intimacy] is in the little moments... the teasing... the comfort... the history. Since Talia and I are such good friends, that part came pretty naturally.

This piece, understandably, deals with some heavy topics. Do you think the music element makes the subject matter easier to digest? What do you gain that you might otherwise lose if this piece wasn’t a musical?

Yeah, absolutely. I think music lets you feel things in a different way. A song oftentimes says something that words can’t. It opens you up emotionally, so I think people connect with these characters even more [in that] it enriches them even further.

In your opinion, how is this production different from other works out there? Why should someone come see it?

I think it’s really honest. It tackles [the idea that] nobody’s perfect, and nobody’s completely right or wrong. It’s just about real people trying to grow and learn in a changing world. And it’s also a lot funnier than people might expect!

In the same vein, why is now the perfect time for this show?

I think people are looking for stories that feel real. This one asks a lot of questions without trying to tell you what to think.

In the show, Pearl longs for an escape. While she certainly goes to rather drastic measures, do you think there’s something to the idea of longing for something more for oneself? 

I do. I think that’s part of being human. We all wonder what else is out there or what could have been. The show isn’t saying every choice is the right one, but it asks you to understand where that feeling comes from.

In the spirit of the production, what world event do you consider to be your “moon landing” and how did it change you?

Y2K! New Year’s [Eve], 1999. What a crazy moment! I was a kid and the internet was new, and it was an exciting time when we weren’t sure if technology could keep up with us or not.

Finally, what do you hope to instill in audiences as they come away from this piece? 

I hope people leave with a little more empathy. I hope they recognize themselves or someone they love in these characters... because families are complicated, and that’s okay!

A Walk on the Moon plays the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street) through August 22, 2026. For tickets and/or more information, click here.