'Spring Awakening' star saw role coming
By Keith J. O'Connor

Three years ago when Jake Epstein saw "Spring Awakening" on Broadway, he knew instantly the lead role was made for him.

"I fell in love with the show and said to myself, 'Yeah, I can totally do that.' Of course, it's ridiculous and far fetched to pick out your own role and think you're going to get it. But, in my case, I really did," said Epstein, who portrays Melchior in the play's national touring production opening at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford on Tuesday.

Based on the infamous banned 1891 Frank Wedekind play and featuring an original indie rock score by Grammy-nominated recording star Duncan Sheik with book and lyrics by Steve Sater, "Spring Awakening" is about kids trying to break loose and adults trying to hold on. The story centers around a brilliant young student named Melchior, his troubled friend Moritz, and Wendla, a beautiful young girl on the verge of womanhood.

The coming of age tale told through rock music had its off-Broadway premiere at the Atlantic Theatre Company on May 19, 2006 before opening on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Dec. 10, 2006, closing last January after nearly 1,000 performances.

"Spring Awakening" is the winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Director, Best Book of a Musical, Best Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, and won John Gallagher Jr. an award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. It is directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by the award-winning Bill T. Jones.

The play boldly depicts a dozen young people and how they make their way through the thrilling, complicated, confusing and mysterious time of their sexual awakening. Sheik and Sater's score features songs that illuminate the urgency of adolescent self-discovery, the burning intensity of teen friendships, and the innate suspicion of the uncomprehending adult world.

"I think the show is amazing and unlike anything else out there. "It's so unique and innovative and people of all ages can relate to it," said Epstein.

The 23-year-old actor, a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, honed his acting skills for his first national tour with roles in film and television, including "The Zack Files" which ran on ABC Family and "Degrassi: The Next Generation" seen on TeenNick. He also performed on stage in Canada in "Cinderella," Cameron MacKintosh's "Oliver!" and "Dog Sees God."

"Funnily enough, the 'Spring Awakening' tour was in Toronto and the cast came to see 'Dog Sees God,' and by some miracle they were looking for a replacement for the show's lead. They saw me and talked to their director, and the next thing I knew I was on my way to New York to audition, and I got the role," he said.

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Another jolt of Jump, Jive & Wail
...Jump, Jive & Wail 2 debuted in 2004 and was another made-in-Niagara hit. The story takes us back to the first show's magical diner, which is slated for demolition much to the chagrin of its longtime customers. But another fateful nickel in the jukebox brings the songs — and memories — flooding back.

Reaching past the '50s, there's a Motown medley, a taste of the psychedelic era, and late '60s rock. It all leads to Don McLean's American Pie — the day the music died.

Niagara actress Melissa McIntyre is back for her fifth straight show at Oh Canada Eh, including Jump, Jive & Jingle.

"I love the music," she says. "This one especially, the music and dancing is really amazing. I'm so excited for my family to come and see it."

The former star of Degrassi: The Next Generation had to do some homework, however.

"The one I had to YouTube and research the most was Cher," she says.
Read more at the source at wellandtribune.ca

There is another mention at niagarathisweek.com: Jump, Jive & Wail 2 hits Oh Canada Eh. Check it out for ticket information. Jump, Jive and Wail 2 will be running at Oh Canada Eh dinner theatre from Feb. 11 to March 27.

Gallery Updates:

See the full size versions and one additional promotional image of Jake's appearance in Being Erica (episode Battle Royale) here.


See the gorgeous, HQ versions from Spring Awakening here.

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Spring Awakening's Jake (Melchior) and Christy (Wendla) stopped by do to an interview with WFAE 90.7 FM. The original streaming source can be found in the "Charlotte Talks" archives here. It's also uploaded to Youtube at ACESonline:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I've also put an MP3 download of the interview up for download here.

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On the Season 3 DVDs, there’s a deleted scene from the TNG episode “Take On Me” (the Breakfast Club parody) that shows you getting hot and heavy with Ms. Hatzilakos (Melissa DiMarco). You’ve got to be annoyed that this scene was left out of the episode. Why do you think it was cut? Is it because it was too hot for TV, or because it would have finally given us definitive proof that Raditch is not gay?

That scene is on the DVD? Really? Damn, I’ve got to pick up a copy! I’m not certain why it was cut. I gave that scene everything I had. Just ask Melissa! That was my one and only onscreen kiss! Not a bad way to start, eh? I think I did it so well that Melissa hasn’t had another one since. Grrrr, baby!

Actually, we did play around with Raditch’s sexuality over the years. When I was on set for the first day of TNG, the props department had placed a picture of a woman and some kids on the desk, and I asked them to take them down. We blatantly played around with the possibility of him being gay. I’m not sure how the Speed Channel audience would have reacted to that.

In one episode, the father of one of the kids announced that he was gay. Melissa (McIntyre, who played Ashley) had no idea, and it made her question her judgment of people. When she’s sent to my office, I’m in the middle of having lunch at my desk, which was laid out in a very prissy manner with dollies, fine china for tea, etc. Bruce (McDonald, the director) had them put a number of sexually ambiguous items in the office to add to her confusion. There was a rainbow pen in the pen holder, and a photo of me dressed in fishing gear with my arm around another man. It could all have been very innocent... or not!

read more at the source.

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