Musical 'Spring Awakening' Expands Range Of Possibilities For Artists, Audiences
By Frank Rizzo for courant.com

..."I remember when I first saw the show," says Jake Epstein, the 22-year-old actor who plays the romantic male lead Melchior on tour. The actor, who is best known for his six-year run on TV's "Degrassi: The Next Generation," says he was not a particular fan of the traditional Broadway musical, though he got his start in a Toronto production of "Oliver!" when he was 13.

"But when I saw 'Spring Awakening' when the tour came to Toronto, I was at the edge of my seat," he says. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing: a Broadway musical that was like a rock concert."

Also adding to the power of the show, Epstein says, were the themes, subject matter and intense teenage characters. "It's a pretty naked role [Melchior] and not just literally," he says with a nod to the brief nudity that is required for one scene.

Read the full article at the source.

Spring Awakening is currently in Hartford CT at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Check out the source for performance times and ticket information.

Gallery Updates:

Screen captures for Being Erica - Battle Royale can be found here.


Seven new promotional images for Being Erica - Battle Royale can be found here.

If you missed his episode you can check it out at ACESonline:
Part 1
Part 2

A couple photos from the Toronto Star have been added here.

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Up first in a slew of gallery updates is screen captures of a young Jake Epstein in Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire. Check out the album here.

Hopefully I'll get around to capping Jake's appearance in the Being Erica episode "Battle Royale." Then onto tackling the Totally Trucked! webisodes.

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'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.

Read more at the source.

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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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