Spring Awakening Tour Interview with Jake Epstein
uploaded by PaulLeary

Paul Leary interviews Jake Epstein (Melchior) about the Broadway Tour of Spring Awakening at the Arsht Center May 11-16th.

(Broadcast on WLRN 4/30/10)

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Rites of spring: Teens discover new world in rock musical
By Andrea Blum for thenewsherald.com

Jake Epstein hasn’t shied away from controversial roles during his acting career, and his latest follows that trend.

The 22-year-old from Toronto took over the role of Melchior Gabor in the first national tour of the sexually charged “Spring Awakening” in July 2009.

A fusion of morality, sexuality and rock ’n’ roll, the show won eight Tony awards in 2007 and sparked much talk in the Broadway community.

Set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th-century Germany, the show tells a timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality.

The alternative rock musical adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind features music by rocker Duncan Sheik.

The original play was banned for nearly a century and still sparks controversy with themes ranging from masturbation and rape to abortion and child abuse.

“The whole show is about teenagers discovering their sexuality, but it’s portrayed in a really honest way,” he said. “We don’t just allude to it.”

The groundbreaking show comes to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre April 20 to May 9 for its first Michigan run.

“I’m from Toronto and Detroit is the city closest to that, so it’s exciting for me,” he said. “I have a busload of friends coming.”

Epstein, 22, was born in Toronto and has spent half his life working in theater, film and television.

He’s best known for his role as Craig Manning on the Canadian TV series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” which helped establish him as a teen heartthrob.

After spending four seasons on the show, he decided to change his career’s course.

Epstein bowed out of his role on the hit TV show to go to college.

He recently graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada, where he had the opportunity to work with Canada’s leading directors and artists.

“I sort of did it backwards,” he said. “I was a lead on ‘Degrassi’ and that was going really well. But in the sixth season, I felt like it started repeating things.

“As a young actor, I wasn’t being challenged.”

read more at the source.

Reviews from Dallas:
Theater review: Too bad there's no encore in 'Spring Awakening'
Theater review: Spring Awakening at Winspear Opera House in Dallas
Spring Awakening Puts Teen Angst to a Driving Rock Beat and Lets It Go Buck Wild.

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see more screen captures here.

Jake Epstein and Christy Altomare appeared on wyff4.com to promote Spring Awakening, which was in Greenville, SC at the Peace Center. Check out the video at the source here.

A few photos of Melissa McIntyre modeling can be found here at melissasphotography.ca.

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Jake Epstein: From ’Degrassi’ to ’Spring Awakening’
by Joseph Erbentraut for EDGE

For actor and musician Jake Epstein, the offer to take over the role of Melchior Gabor, the sexually-driven male lead, in the national tour of Spring Awakening, was one he could not refuse. Epstein, best known for his role as Craig Manning on the hit Canadian series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," had long been a fan of the provocative show, which won the 2007 Tony for best musical and is currently touring the nation. It comes to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on March 9 for a week’s run.

The 22-year-old described being part of the national tour as both a "dream come true" and "terrifying." EDGE caught up with the multi-talented performer about his rock star fantasies and the art of performing nude scenes in front of family members.

Right for the role

EDGE: How has the show been going?

Jake Epstein: It’s been amazing. The whole experience for me, joining this tour, has been a dream come true. I’ve been a huge fan of the show since it was on Broadway, and saw it when it came through Toronto. I hung out with the cast there, and literally a month later, to join the tour was incredible.

EDGE: How did the tour opportunity come to be?

JE: I auditioned a year ago for the part and came very close. I was in school at the time, flew down to New York and didn’t end up getting the part and kind of forgot about it. A year later, when Kyle [Riabko] left the tour, they were looking for replacement, a long-term one, and they couldn’t find the right person. Someone in the cast who I’d been spending some time with mentioned me and they brought me in again. I guess I was what they wanted!

Read more at the source.


'Spring Awakening' Interview w/ Jake Epstein (Melchior) on AP-RED
uploaded by ApREDentertainment


See more screen captures in the gallery.

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