Jake Epstein: From ’Degrassi’ to ’Spring Awakening’
Overcoming challenges
EDGE: How do you overcome those challenges?
JE: You turn off your brain. If you’re thinking about it, you’ll be too scared something will go wrong. At the end of the day, you have to just trust yourself and jump.
EDGE: How has the feedback been for the show?
JE: It’s been amazing, there’s a loyal fan base for the show... It’s been nothing but packed houses and we’re lucky enough to be getting standing ovations every night. It’s been a really warm reception. People come to the stage door and talk with us every night and that’s been a lot of fun.
EDGE: How did your family respond to the sexual themes in the show? Have they gotten a chance to see it?
JE: They loved it! It was a little awkward. I think I purposely put them in the audience on the opposite side of where my behind is shown on the stage, but they’re supportive. I’m so lucky to have my family support me the way they do. They came up for the opening and I think my mom cried the whole way through. My dad loved it, and my sister is a singer and she also loved it.
EDGE: Spring Awakening, as well as Degrassi, touch on many controversial issues surrounding sexuality for young people, also including gay plot lines. What are your thoughts on that?
JE: Well, the original play was banned for 50 years! On one hand, it’s really important for everyone, especially teenagers, to have things to relate to, especially when they’re going through something really difficult. To know that it’s normal and that everyone goes through those things is great.
I think the controversy’s what makes for great art and great theater. To show things that are very safe doesn’t excite me as a performer, but to do something really relevant and topical can serve as a conversation starter between parents and kids who see the show. I think it’s great.
EDGE: How does all of this compare to Degrassi? Do you keep in touch with your castmates from that and do you miss it?
JE: Some more than others, but I definitely keep in touch with a bunch of them. That was my high school. I went to a real high school, but I spent most of my time on set at this made-up high school, so it’ll always have a huge importance in my life.
EDGE: You’ve been doing theater for some time, but you said in another interview that you were originally a jock. Could you tell me about making that transition? Did you receive flak from schoolmates from getting involved with theater?
JE: I was pretty fortunate because I went to an arts elementary school and high school. My switch from being a "jock" was when I auditioned for the arts high school, and I only auditioned because you got to miss days of school. I thought it was sweet. I got in ... and I fell in love with the arts and theater. Because I was in an art school, I was never made fun of for it, everyone loved it, even though some of my friends on the soccer team didn’t totally understand it.
EDGE: You seem to carry a lot of passion for this role and show, what do you feel has drawn you to it so intensely?
JE: I love that it is a rock concert. I always had a love of musical theater, but found it a little cheesy. Some of the stories are really sugar-coated. Here was this show that - yes, there’s some choreography - but it feels like performers up there rocking out, with the band on stage. I love that. I love that the story line didn’t talk down to its audience and didn’t shy away from showing intense things that happen in peoples’ lives. When I first saw it in New York, everyone was screaming and freaking out. It was such an exciting feeling being in the audience and it was really special, unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
EDGE: It’s almost like living out a rock star fantasy.
JE: Yeah, a total rock star fantasy! Come on, you whip out a mic from under your jacket and just go. I have to pinch myself; it’s unbelievable.
EDGE: What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing the show?
JE: The play deals with all these serious issues and I hope there’s discussions that may be provoked because audiences relate to it and are moved by it. But at the end of the day, I want them to be entertained by the show. It’s really funny, you can laugh, cry and rock your head out to the songs. I hope audiences will see it as special more than just a Monday night at the theater.
Spring Awakening plays March 9 through 14 at the Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia. For show times, tickets and other information, visit the Fox Theatre website.
