Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #5 Recap

Devon Stone

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #5 on Facebook featured Christopher Wood (Melchior), George E. Salazar (Otto), Devon Stone (Hanschen), and Jamie Rea Billings (Ensemble). Check out some highlights from the December 29th text chat!

Q: What did you have to do for the audition process?
Devon: I went in for Spring Awakening back in April 2010 for an open call. I went in for about 10 seconds for the casting agent. About 2 seconds in, they asked me to sing "All That's Known." I auditioned for the role of Melchior, and I traveled between Boston (where I was attending school) and NYC for about a week and a half. Then I auditioned for Hanschen and got the role!

George E. Salazar

Q: What is the best part about being a part of Spring Awakening on Tour?
George: It's pretty awesome to be a part of a show that touches so many people and changes people's lives.

Q: What has been your favorite state and stage door so far?

All: Minneapolis, Minnesota!

George: The stage door in Minneapolis had a lot of energy. The fans were very eager to meet us at the stage door.

Jamie Rea Billings

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in acting either professionally or regionally? What is the audition process like?
Jamie: Never give up. My audition process for Spring Awakening was over the course of 3 years. So my advice would be: never give up and always keep your passion in the audition room. The audition experience is like walking in and showing a piece of yourself.

Q: What character would you perform as if you had to portray a character of the opposite sex and why?
Chris: I want to be Mama Rose in Gypsy. I think I could bring a lot to that motherly character. It's such a beautiful show.

Christopher Wood

Q: What's your favorite part about being on tour?
Chris: I think it's incredible to be able to see these places that most of us have never have seen before, and it's equally incredible to perform this show where a lot of people haven't been able to see it.

Q: Do you guys have any pre-show rituals/warm ups?
Devon: I play the character of Hanschen, and the character is extremely full of himself. So sometimes before the show I like to sit down in front of the mirror and talk to myself as Hanschen.
Jamie: The girls get together in a little circle and do "Mama Who Bore Me."

Q: When I saw the show in October, one of the best parts was during Song of Purple Summer, when the cast looks directly at the audience. How do you choose who to look at, or is it just random?
Jamie: It's pretty random. For me, it's one of my favorite parts of the show because we get to break the fourth wall and connect with people in the audience. There are people who you'll make eye contact with, and that's always a special moment.

Q: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you on or offstage?
Jamie: There was an incident where Chris knocked George's glasses off and it flew into the band.
George: How did you do it Chris?
Chris: I do some things intentionally sometimes.

Q: If you could trade roles with anyone in the cast, even if it were only for one performance, what role would you choose?
Chris: I would trade with Jeff the drummer because he's awesome.
Devon: I'd want to be Georg for the "Touch Me" solo.
Jamie: Hanschen.

Q: What separates your portrayal of Melchior from the actors who have played him in the past?
Chris: I had only seen the show once before, so what I brought to the show was my personal experiences.

Q: I had the lucky and amazing experience of sitting on stage during the Minneapolis show. What do you think of having new people on stage with you each show and does it ever effect your performance?
Devon: I would say it does affect performances day to day, and sometimes you can tell when a fan has seen the show before, and they look like they're in awe of sitting on stage. As an actor, it gives you a lift in energy and makes you want to perform well for that person.

Q: What do you most look forward to from the audience at each performance?
All: Energy!

Be sure to join us on Facebook next week for the final Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday live text chat at 3 PM Eastern!

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #5

Cast of the national tour of Spring Awakening
(C)2010 Andy Snow

Join us on the Spring Awakening on Tour Facebook page every Wednesday through January 5th at 3:00 PM EST for a live text chat with cast members from the show! It’s your chance to be the reporter and ask the cast anything and everything you want to know about life on the road in Spring Awakening!

This week's Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat is December 29, 2010 at 3:00 PM EST and will feature cast members Christopher Wood (Melchior), George E. Salazar (Otto), Devon Stone (Hanschen), and Jamie Rea Billings (Ensemble).

Submit your questions NOW for Christopher, George, Devon, and Jamie by posting them to our main Facebook wall.

Remember, if you can't be here for the chat on Wednesday at 3 PM, you can submit your question in advance and then check out the cast's answers on Facebook after the chat! Please note: Cast participation is subject to change. Due to the limited time we have with the cast, we may not be able to answer all fan questions, but we will try to get to as many as possible! Thank you!

Q&A with Erin Burniston

Role: Ensemble (Chair of Rock)/female swing/dance captain

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

My favorite song is "Those You've Known." I love how the melody of the song integrates all the different musical themes in the show. It also is the only song that furthers the plot and allows you to see Melchior work through his personal struggle.

What inspires you to play the role?

As a Chair of Rock, I’m inspired simply by the fact that I am performing in the hottest musical of the decade. This show not only changed musical theatre, but also changes the lives of all who come to see it.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

Every night the show is different. I enjoy it because it really keeps us on our toes and allows us to have a new and different energy every time we perform. As a Chair of Rock, it's always interesting to see how the various audiences in different cities react to our role in the show.

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

Every night on stage is a surprise! Some audience members have come right out and asked me if I was in the show. Others have offered to switch seats with me so that I “wouldn’t have to sit by myself." I have also had people talk to me during the middle of a pivotal scene. I love sitting on stage and I love seeing the different reactions from people every single night!

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?

We had a huge crowd after both of our shows in Minneapolis. The second night was my birthday, and Christopher Wood (Melchior) announced to the fans that it was my birthday and made everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to me! The funny part was - they all knew my name! At first I thought it was just the cast, but every person at the stage door already knew who I was! It was a fun birthday surprise. It’s very exciting to have people at the stage door that know and care about us.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I have been able to watch understudies go on and also perform as one! To watch my fellow swings get a chance to perform is so thrilling. Four of the five of us performed this fall, and each time was just as exciting as the first. I found myself tearing up, even during the funnier moments of the show because I was so proud. I know how hard we all work and how much we hope for those special shows when we get to go on. Having an understudy perform also brings a new and different energy to the show and allows the cast members to find new moments.

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

Performing for Steven and Michael was a truly special experience, especially because the show holds so much personal significance to them. I was touched how grateful they were to us that we were continuing the journey of their show and how pleased they were with our production.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

I would be honored to play the role of Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza. It would be a great acting challenge to play a part that is so complex and multi-layered. It would be a dream come true to sing the beautiful score, and to take on the challenge of portraying Clara.

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #4 Recap

Elizabeth Judd

Thanks once again to all who participated in Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday! The fourth chat featured Elizabeth Judd (Wendla), Emily Mest (Thea), Michael Linden (Ensemble), and Paris Bradstreet (u/s Adult Women). Check out some highlights from the text chat on December 22!

Q: Have you watched any other Wendlas perform and have you applied any aspects from their performances to your Wendla? Or is your Wendla completely new and fresh?
Elizabeth: I had the honor of watching the original cast on Broadway, so I got to see Lea Michele, who is absolutely brilliant. I am not sure I borrowed anything, but I took things from my personal life and the research we did on the period, so I would say it's pretty fresh.

Michael Linden

Q: What is your favorite song or scene to perform in the show and what is your favorite song or scene to watch?
Michael: To perform would definitely be "Totally F***ed." As the Chair of Rock, it's cool to interact with people face to face, and we're like rock stars. There is such a cool vibe going on in the theatre. To watch, I could watch "Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)" and never get tired of it ever.
Paris: I love watching "Totally F***ed" myself, every chance I can get because there's so much energy on stage, everyone's so committed. I'm usually watching from the wings, I get to see the people's reactions onstage.

Q: Do you have conversations with the people you sit around onstage during intermission? If so, what do you talk about with them?
Michael: Yes! It's one of my favorite parts of the show. Sometimes I can tell whether they've seen the show or not before. It's always interesting to get their take on it during intermission. I think the Chairs of Rock are really unique, and it's really cool to scare people. People ask me things during intermission, and it's great to be a part of their experience that way.

Q: What scene or song do you think is most important to Wendla, and which do you enjoy performing the most?
Elizabeth: I would say the most important for Wendla is "Whispering". She goes through all those different stages of growing up after she's been hit with news. The song goes through so many emotions of confusion and deep sadness and betrayal, and in the end, ends up really hopeful. It's so beautiful for that character. The most fun for me to do is "Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)" which is so empowering for me to sing with all the girls. It's so fun to do that number.

Emily Mest

Q: I always cry during "The Dark I Know Well", "Left Behind" and "The Song of Purple Summer". Do any scenes cause you to cry on stage?
Emily: We're not allowed to, but you do get emotional during the scenes. We all feel it during the show, but we can't cry.
Michael: I get emotional during "Left Behind."
Elizabeth: I always cry -- off stage though -- after "And Then There Were None." I tell myself I can't watch that part or else I'll cry.
Paris: One of the advantages of being an understudy is I can cry in the wings!

Paris Bradstreet

Q: What were your audition songs?
Elizabeth: "Imagine" by John Lennon two years ago and then "Your Song" by Elton John.
Emily: "Anything But Ordinary" by Avril Lavigne
Michael: "Left Behind"
Paris: I didn't have to sing for my audition!

Q: Were you all fans of the show before you auditioned?
Emily: I was a fan of the show when it was on Broadway, and I loved it and hoped to get in the show for the longest time.

Q: What is the most interesting city you've been to so far and to what upcoming city are you most looking forward?
Michael: Minneapolis because the food was awesome. I'm most looking forward to LA because I've never been.
Emily: I love Tennessee and Texas. They were so fun. I'm really excited for LA and I'm excited for my hometown which is Bethlehem, PA.
Michael: Oh yeah! My hometown. I'm from Long Island.

Q: What is the best advice you would give to someone if they want to be on Broadway or on a National Tour?
Michael: Keep working! Never ever stop. If you've think you've reached perfection, just keep going.
Elizabeth: Perseverance. Always put yourself out there. Be kind and be genuine.
Emily: Always keep learning and be positive. Never be negative.
Paris: Be patient.

See you on Facebook for the next Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday text chat!

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #4

Cast of the national tour of Spring Awakening
(C)2010 Andy Snow

Join us on the Spring Awakening on Tour Facebook page every Wednesday through January 5th at 3:00 PM EST for a live text chat with cast members from the show! It’s your chance to be the reporter and ask the cast anything and everything you want to know about life on the road in Spring Awakening!

This week's Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat is December 22, 2010 at 3:00 PM EST and will feature cast members Elizabeth Judd (Wendla), Emily Mest (Thea), Michael Linden (Ensemble), and Paris Bradstreet (u/s Adult Women).

Submit your questions NOW for Elizabeth, Emily, Michael, and Paris by posting them to our main Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/springawakeningontour!

Remember, if you can't be here for the chat on Wednesday at 3 PM, you can submit your question in advance and then check out all the answers on Facebook after the chat! Please note: Due to the limited time we have with the cast, we may not be able to answer all fan questions, but we will try to get to as many as possible! Thank you!

Happy Holidays from the cast of Spring Awakening!

The cast of Spring Awakening would like to wish you happy holidays! Check out their photos below!

Erin Burniston (Ensemble) and Sunny

Elizabeth Judd (Wendla) and Yogi

Aliya Bowles (Martha)

Michael Linden (Ensemble), Rachel Geisler (Anna), and George E. Salazar (Otto)

Mark Poppleton, David, and their girls

Jamie Rea Billings (Ensemble)

Paris Bradstreet (u/s Adult Women)

Daniel Plimpton (Ernst)

See you on the road in 2011! For upcoming tour dates and ticket information, please visit www.springawakening.com.

Jim Hogan Q&A

Role: Georg

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

I'm going to double answer this... my favorite moment to watch has got to be the “Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind” combination and my favorite song to perform is a tie between “Bitch of Living” and “Totally F***ed” - there's absolutely no way to describe how incredible and liberating it is to be singing your heart out and jumping around the way we do on that stage.

What inspires you to play the role?

Georg is such a ball of energy waiting to explode. Getting to play with all different kinds of objectives and goals really keeps me engaged with him. It doesn't hurt that there's so much hilarity written into him as a person as well.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

It's incredible! I wasn't sure how I would like it at first but now I love getting to new venues because everything stays fresh for us as actors - new venue, new show. Each city has a completely different attitude and appreciation toward the show so traveling so often really keeps us on our toes.

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

I'll never forget this. After our first show in Minneapolis, a group of us actors were sitting at a nearby restaurant waiting to order food. A man and his wife (or girlfriend, etc.) came right up to our table and said, "You guys were incredible! We've never seen the show before and we loved it - well done. Best of luck with everything, your first round is on us." He then placed forty dollars on the table. Before we could even respond to this gift and tell him that we were simply actors doing our job, he and his wife were gone. For the rest of the night we all couldn't help but talk about this guy, how nice he was, and how truly moved he had to be to approach us with a gift of any kind let alone forty dollars in a recession.

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

This isn't too exciting but one night during “Totally F***ed” I decided that my traffic pattern upstage right should include a moment to rock out with Michael Linden. Not only did I rock out with Michael, I decided that it was a good idea to stand directly on the open chair in front of him. (I still have no idea how this happened, it was all so quick and in the moment that I barely even remember it happening.) Once finished rocking out with Michael, I jumped off said chair completely knocking it over, missed the appropriate timing of my jump through Adult Male and Female which put Devon (Hanschen) directly in front of me because he was doing his track correctly. This then meant that I had to physically push Devon out of the way in an attempt to make up my loss of time. The push helped a little bit and I thought I would be OK to finish out the number when suddenly I stepped directly on a patron's foot down stage left. This completely took me out of the moment and made me miss the appropriate of my final pose in "Totally F***ed." Instead of giving a strong final pose directly downstage center to paint the picture for everyone behind me, I sunk into the pose after the music had already finished. Worst “Totally F***ed” of my life. Ask anyone and they will make fun of me for it.

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?

One of our closing nights in Wichita there was a patron sitting on stage in the upstage right front row seat. He seemed like a regular guy who just happened to be rocking out a little bit more than most patrons but we as a cast enjoy enthusiasm because we feel that, for that person, our show is being delivered well. We then realized at the start of Act II that this guy was not any normal patron. During "The Guilty Ones" he attempted (and failed) to do the choreography with us while we were in our chairs. It was actually hilarious to watch him try. Then he broke the cardinal rule of being a patron on stage at Spring Awakening: he stood up! I literally was afraid that he was going to walk on stage and try to disrupt the show somehow. Luckily, he did not and at some point during T.G.O. he sat down again. He seemed fine throughout all of “Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind” and didn't make a sound during “Left Behind.” However, when “Totally F***ed” started, he was off to the races again. “Totally F***ed” is always a whirlwind for me but I had enough consciousness to realize that he was in his chair when I ran downstage right to watch Melchior answer Adult Males question with a big fat YES and by the time the song was over he was gone. I later found out that our head carpenter, Seth, came to the rescue and threw this crazy cat off stage. This was definitely the weirdest thing that's happened to me in my history of being on stage.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I've never watched the show from the house but I obviously got to watch through playing Georg when Michael went on for Ernst, Jeff went on for Otto, Billy went on for Hanschen, Erin went on for Thea and Jeff went on for Melchior. It was so much fun! I was not scared at all, I knew that everyone was prepared and extremely talented which meant I just got to watch a different person put their spin on the role(s). Everyone was incredible as we knew they would be and it put a new spin on the show for the rest of us which was great!

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

Performing for Michael and Steven (also Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, the original producers) was breathtaking. We were all well aware that these men had been with the show since its inception so we were extremely excited to show them our incarnation of the show. However, the best thing about them attending our final rehearsals in NYC was to get to talk to them about the meaning of the show. They each gave us a different piece of information relating to why we need to do this show for ourselves but more importantly for the people out there who need it the most. It was truly a life changing experience that I won't soon forget.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

I'd absolutely love to play Tony in West Side Story. He's one of the most challenging roles to play in the American Musical Theatre Repertoire and I'd love the chance to sink my teeth into such a character. Although it doesn't seem plausible since the current Broadway revival is closing in January, I guess that's why they call it a dream role.

Q&A with Aliya Bowles

Role: Martha Bessel

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

My favorite moment in the show is when we perform the song “My Junk.” It is such a fun upbeat number. I love interacting with everyone onstage.

What inspires you to play the role?

I think of the people that have told me at the stage door how long they have loved this show but have never gotten to see it because they couldn't get to New York or because the show never came around to their town. So to know that people finally get to see a show that means so much to them is great.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

I love playing a new venue almost every night, it keeps the show fresh. Every theatre has a different feel to it. Having a different audience every night is so much fun, you never know what their reaction will be to the show.

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

We had one girl who made each cast member a card and she baked cupcakes for all of us.

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

Sometimes during the show after certain numbers the audience members that have sat next to me have whispered "that was great" to me after the songs. It’s great to know how much they are enjoying the show.

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?

The weirdest thing that happened to me while I was onstage was in Memphis. We were told that the theatre we were in is haunted. During “The Dark I Know Well” my microphone wasn't working so in the middle of the song our sound technician had to run onstage and hand me a hand-held microphone. Apparently my microphone became unplugged so some of the cast thinks the ghost of the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis unplugged it.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I haven’t been able to watch from the audience when an understudy goes on, but it is fun for everyone when they get to go on. It adds a new energy to the show and they work so hard memorizing so many roles, so when they get to perform it’s great!

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

It was surreal performing in front of Steven Sater and Michael Mayer. I remember seeing this show on Broadway and how moved I was, so to perform for the people who made all that happen was awesome. This show means so much to them and to know that they have seen how much we love performing this show and how much it means to us as well was amazing.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

I would love to play Mimi in Rent. Rent was one of the first musicals I ever listened to and I fell in love with it. It is such a fun show and it has such a great message. It is one of my dream shows.

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #3 Recap

Thank you to each and every fan who participated during our third Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat on Facebook, featuring cast members Coby Getzug (Moritz), William "Billy" J. Lewis (Ensemble), and Sarah Kleeman (Adult Women). Below are some highlights from the text chat on December 15!

Q: What's it like being a swing? Do you have more fun jamming with the audience in the Chair of Rock or being on stage performing as one of the students?
Billy: There are two different amazing feelings. I love being a swing because when I watch the show, I always want to start singing as me, Billy, but being able to play a character is a lot of fun!

Q: What is your favorite song to perform in Spring Awakening and why?
Coby: I really enjoy "And Then There Were None" because I really get to rock out on the song and I really feel the energy of the cast at the end. I think that's the most electrifying song for me.

Q: Which one of the characters in the show do you most identify with? What music do you rock out to on the tour bus?
Coby: I think Moritz -- I'm always hyperactive, and when I was younger I was really jumpy, and I think that I can relate to his frantic, all-over-the-place energy. I have a pretty eclectic mix of music on my iPod. On the tour bus, I rock out with Aaliyah, and I'm really into Janelle Monae.

Q: Sarah, is it really difficult playing so many roles at once and how do you handle it?
Sarah: At first, it was hard to get the hang of it, trying to remember who I am in which scenes and getting the right props. It took a little getting used to, but it's actually been really fun!

Q: Do you guys have any crazy pre-show rituals or just cast traditions in general?
Sarah: We'll do a huddle backstage the majority of nights and get centered and end with hands in the center.
Coby: I have a good one! Chris Wood and I rap "Mary Had A Little Lamb" before the show.

Q: I'm assuming all three of you were fans of the show before your auditioned and got cast, so is it weird to have so many fans asking you for pictures and autographs at stage door?
Billy: Yes, I saw the show 3 times on Broadway, and I was one of those fans screaming at the stage door, but it's still weird to be on the other side.

Q: Were you a fan of Spring Awakening/Did you see Spring Awakening before you were cast?
Sarah: I actually had never seen it. I lived in New York for 5 years, and I never thought I'd play a part in it. It's just kind of crazy that I'm doing this now, and I'm having the time of my life. I wish now that I had seen it in New York.

Q: What has been your favorite experience through touring with Spring Awakening?
Billy: The people I've met and the friends I've made. I'm excited to return to the road on January 14.
Sarah: I agree.

Q: What tour stop are you looking forward to?
Sarah: My hometown! San Luis Obispo, January 30!
Coby: My hometown, Los Angeles!
Billy: My hometown on Long Island!

Don't miss next week's Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday on December 22!

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #3

Cast of the national tour of Spring Awakening
(C)2010 Andy Snow

Join us on the Spring Awakening on Tour Facebook page every Wednesday through January 5th at 3:00 PM EST for a live text chat with cast members from the show! It’s your chance to be the reporter and ask the cast anything and everything you want to know about life on the road in Spring Awakening!

This week's Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat is December 15, 2010 at 3:00 PM EST and will feature cast members Coby Getzug (Moritz), William J. Lewis (Ensemble), and Sarah Kleeman (Adult Women). If you've seen the Spring Awakening rehearsals video on YouTube, then you know that William J. Lewis is none other than Billy Lewis, a Chair of Rock!

Submit your questions NOW for Coby, Billy, and Sarah by posting them to our main Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/springawakeningontour!

Remember, if you can't be here for the chat on Wednesday at 3 PM, you can submit your question in advance and then check out all the answers on Facebook after the chat! Please note: Due to the limited time we have with the cast, we may not be able to answer all fan questions, but we will try to get to as many as possible! Thank you!

Rachel Geisler: Q&A

Role: Anna

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

My favorite song to perform is “Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)”. It’s such a fun way to start the show and it never fails to give me the goose bumps—I absolutely love it! My favorite scene/song to watch is the final scene into “Those You’ve Known”. It made me sob when I saw it on Broadway and I think Chris, Elizabeth and Coby do such an amazing job, it’s both heartbreaking and hopeful. I will never get tired of watching that scene.

What inspires you to play the role?

When we first got cast and our names went up on the website I got a lot of Facebook messages from fans of the show saying congratulations and that they were so excited for the show to be back. The fact that on the 3rd reincarnation of the show people are still excited about it really let me know that I was a part of something special and makes me excited to do the show every night.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

It’s absolutely insane! It is exhausting moving around as much as we do, that is for sure, but it also allows us to bring the show to people who wouldn’t necessarily have access to it if we only hit major cities. We have played some amazingly beautiful theaters and it always keeps us on our toes because the show feels brand new every night.

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

Well, when we were in Lexington, KY we got our first fan gift which was really exciting! It was a box of homemade cookies and they had decorated the box with about a million quotes from the show. It was awesome, and the cookies were delicious! And then the same two boys (Tanner and Jordan, I believe are their names) came to see the show at another venue and brought us cookies again! It felt great to know that people who were such big fans of the show loved our version and supported us. If you are reading this, you guys rock!

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

Unfortunately, I don’t sit next to any audience members until the 2nd act, but one of my favorite parts of the show is when the Chairs of Rock stand up for the first time in “Touch Me”. I happen to be at a perfect angle onstage to watch the Stage Right female Chair of Rock stand up and I absolutely love watching the audience’s faces. I also think one of the most powerful moments in the show is when the female Chairs of Rock stand and sing at the end of “The Dark I Know Well”. It gives me the chills every time.

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage?

Well, we had a pretty intense/hilarious performance towards the end of our first leg. There was a man onstage in Wichita who was getting really into the show and the music, which is always encouraged. However, he took it one step too far and starting dancing around with us during “Totally F***ed” and had to be escorted off the stage. Billy Lewis was the boy Chair of Rock next to me that night and the man was sitting directly in front of us and both of us were a little on edge for that whole performance just waiting for him to do something crazy. It makes for a good story now, but it was a little terrifying while it was happening.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

It is SO much fun! Michael Linden was the first understudy to get to go on (he went in for Ernst) and it was really amazing watching him just step into the part and make it his own, and every understudy has done just that. I am consistently in awe of them; they are all so insanely talented. When Erin went on for Thea I felt all of the girls really try to match her excitement and energy and that performance felt really special, and is probably one of my favorites thus far. Jamie is the only understudy who has not gone on yet, but I got to watch her in an understudy rehearsal and she absolutely blew my mind. I cannot wait until she gets to go on!

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

It could not have been more amazing! They were both so supportive of us and getting to hear their notes and comments was extremely helpful. This show is their baby and they spent so many years working on it, so having them come in and give us such positive feedback on what we were doing made the whole experience feel complete. They made us feel like a part of the Spring Awakening family.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

This is always a difficult question and my answer changes a lot, but one of my favorite shows ever is Sondheim’s Assassins. I would love, love, love to play either Squeaky Fromme or Sarah Jane Moore in that show. I think it is such a smart and interesting musical and would just love to be able to perform it someday.

Q&A with Courtney Markowitz

Role: Ilse 

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

Favorite to perform is definitely the scene leading into “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind.” We hit so many highs and lows in that scene and regardless of how my show has been going up until that point, it is the first time I really get to shed everything. It is definitely Ilse's and Moritz's most "raw" moment, and it is so much fun to share that moment together on stage every night. We are both extremely vulnerable in that scene, which I think is why it is so easy for so many people to perhaps relate to our characters.

Favorite to watch is probably "Touch Me" - I'm in the scene, but very much as an observer. It is the most sensual and beautiful number in the show, I think - and a song where a few of our cast mates really get to let loose and show off vocally. The music combined with the amazing lighting in that scene creates such a beautiful part of our show.

What inspires you to play the role?

Ilse is a girl who, despite some really horrible and difficult struggles in her life, does everything she can to take control back. Not very many people in the show or in real life for that matter get that chance. She is a girl who is totally broken, but can still find the beauty in life and can find opportunity in every situation. I think it's prevalent that she begins "The Song of Purple Summer". It is a song about hope and the promise of our future, especially when in the hands of children - this next generation. If I can give even a little bit of that hope and inspiration to any of our younger audiences, I've done my job.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

So much fun. Every audience we have is so excited to have us because this is their only chance! And you would not believe the differences we see everywhere we go. We get different laughs, different awkward silences, but the same uproar at the end of the show. All audiences appreciate the show in different ways, and getting to know them during the run of our show is part of what makes it so fun. We never know what to expect.

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

I had a boy at a talk-back tell me that he was in love with me, and his friends backed him up, assuring me it was true. I thanked him, but promised that long distance relationships never work out.

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

I'm sure you've heard about the man who had to be escorted off stage.

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?

In Minneapolis we went to a restaurant right after the show and had a lot of people come up to our table thanking us for the show and saying how much they loved it. Then, a couple came up to us, thanked us so much for our performances and put $40.00 down on the table for whatever we wanted to eat. It was so cool!

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I have no idea how they do it. Every time an understudy gets to a random part of the show I never would have even considered, it amazes me.

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

Anyone in our cast can probably tell you that I'm the "emotional one" - but I definitely cried all during their talks with us. What an amazing opportunity, to perform a show that is SO incredibly important to the two of them, not to mention the thousands of people this show has touched. They were two of the fathers of this show, and here we were - about to spread their baby around America, and we had their stamp of approval - brought them to tears even. That was an unbelievable moment. And as sick as you'd think they were of the show, they assured us that this show, almost more than ever - is so important to be spreading around America. If they can still find that dire importance, how could we not?

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

I'd love to play "Dot" in Sunday in the Park with George. I think Sondheim is totally brilliant, and being allowed to put his piece on stage should be an honor and something that has to be worked up to. I remember how inspired I was when I saw that show for the first time on Broadway, and I would love to take on that challenge and perhaps share my same experience with someone else.

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #2 Recap

Thanks once again to all fans who participated during our second Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat on Facebook, featuring cast members Erin Burniston (Ensemble/Dance Captain), Rachel Geisler (Anna), and Jim Hogan (Georg).  Below are some highlights from the text chat on December 8!

Q: You all understudy at least one other role (and Erin, of course, covers five, haha). How is that like? Is it diffiicult to learn and be expected to perform two different roles?
Erin: It is a tough job. I am consistently thinking of everything at once and learning the boys' choreography as well, as I am the dance captain. Now that we're on tour, I've been able to focus on one person each night as we've been able to do the show.
Jim: It's difficult, but it's a different kind of difficult. We get to perform every night. During the rehearsal process, I focused on Georg, my character, but throughout the performing process, I got to think more about Melchior.

Q: Erin, what is your favourite role to go on as? And which swing dress do you get to wear? For Rachel and Jim, what is it like being double cast? Have any of you had the chance to go on yet?
Rachel: I didn't find out I was understudying for Ilse until about halfway through the rehearsal process in New York. Jim and I have not gone on yet, but that's probably for the best, since we've needed the time to focus on the characters we play every night.
Erin: This fall, I was able to perform as Thea which was such a blast. I think Thea is the girl with the most personality. And my swing dress is pink and brown.

Q: Rachel - Have you received any gifts from fans? If so, what has been your favorite?
Erin - What is it like to sit through the show each night and just SING? It looks like tons of fun!!!
Jim - What's your favorite song to sing? You are amazing during "Touch Me" :)
Rachel: We were in Lexington, and we got a box of cookies, and they decorated a box with quotes from the show. The cookies were pretty awesome too.
Erin: Singing is my first love, so I really love sitting onstage and singing the group numbers. Holding the handheld mic is lots of fun, and it feels like I'm giving my own concert every night.
Jim: My favorite song to sing is -- I mean, I don't want to be cliche about it -- but it's definitely "Touch Me." To be able to just get up there and freely sing my favorite song is incredible.

Q: What songs did you three audition with?
Rachel: I sang "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane.
Erin: "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles
Jim: "Evaporated" by Ben Folds

Q: Hello! First off, you guys seriously rock! My question for all of you is what are all the backstage rituals you like to do before/during/after the show? Also, do you enjoy it when audience members in the stage seats rock out with you guys during the show?
Jim: Before the show, we circle up with all the cast members that we can, and we talk about what we're going to do with the show, and we end it with a little quote that was given to us by Michael Mayer. In terms of the audience members, they *have* to rock out with us!

Q: What was the audition process like? Was there ever a point where you were positive you had the role?
Erin: It was a long process of callbacks. It took about a week and a half. I was never positive that I was going to be cast, but it was a fun process to be able to sing the music and have a chance at all.

Q: If you saw the show before you were cast in it, what cast did you see and what were your impressions of the show?
Rachel: I saw the original Broadway cast in previews and absolutely fell in love with it. I saw it more times on Broadway than I want to admit.

Q: Were all of you involved in high school drama classes and productions? If you were, what was your favorite role that you portrayed? Thank you! :)
Erin: I was very involved with my high school musicals and in chorus. My favorite roles were Ciinderella in Into the Woods and Laurie in Oklahoma!, and I would love play both of them again sometime.
Jim: Yes, I was involved with my high school's productions and other high schools' productions. My favorite roles were Bobby Child in Crazy for You and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Rachel: My favorite roles in high school were Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown and Eileen Sherwood in Wonderful Town. A lot of "towns"!

See you next week for Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #3!

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #2

Cast of the national tour of Spring Awakening
(C)2010 Andy Snow

Join us on the Spring Awakening on Tour Facebook page every Wednesday through January 5th at 3:00 PM EST for a live text chat with cast members from the show! It’s your chance to be the reporter and ask the cast anything and everything you want to know about life on the road in Spring Awakening!

This week's Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat will take place on December 8, 2010 at 3:00 PM EST and will feature cast members Erin Burniston (Ensemble [Chair of Rock]/female swing/dance captain), Rachel Geisler (Anna), and Jim Hogan (Georg)!

Submit your questions NOW for Erin, Rachel, and Jim by posting them to our main Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/springawakeningontour!

Remember, if you can't be here for the chat on Wednesday at 3 PM, you can submit your questions in advance and then check out the answers on Facebook after the chat!

Q&A with George E. Salazar

Role: Otto Lammermeier!!

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

Hands down rocking out with my boys during “Bitch of Living.” It's the first chance we get to really interact with our on-stage audiences. The energy is insane!

What inspires you to play the role?

Otto's the underdog. Mariana Wheelan won't return my call. I do it for all those who wait by a phone that never rings.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

The show is ALWAYS fresh, which is exciting for our audiences. There are new discoveries happening nightly and during the day, the cast explores a new town. Livin' the life! :)

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

“The Guilty Ones” are AMAZING! A few fans have baked cupcakes and cookies for us during the first leg of the tour. Halloween was especially awesome. We spent Halloween in Lexington, KY and we were surprised at the stage door by loads of candy and cookies from our Guilty Friends. Thanks again, guys!!

Do you have a great Chair of
Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

I ALWAYS have fun sitting next to audience members who rock out with me during numbers like "Don't Do Sadness." There are certain numbers that are impossible to sit still during and I always appreciate an energetic audience member. :)

What is the weirdest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage?

An onstage audience member who sat next to me got a little carried away and ended up getting escorted out of the theatre. He was really in tune to what was happening on stage... a little too in tune.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I sat in the house and watched the Sioux Falls, SD show. Jeff Ostermueller went on for me that night. He was INCREDIBLE and the show BLEW ME AWAY. It's a completely different experience seeing it on stage vs. out in the house.

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

It was INCREDIBLE! We also rehearsed with Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, the original producers. They were all incredibly nice people and it was great to hear that they enjoyed what they saw. :)

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

At the moment, I'd play anything in American Idiot. I was a big Green Day fan growing up and love the high octane energy in that show. I would LOVE to be a part of that.

Q&A with Christopher Wood

Role: Melchior

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

My favorite moment in the show would have to be "Those You've Known." I think the song is simply beautiful, and the way it presents each character is fascinating. It is an extremely emotional scene, and it is heartbreaking to watch Melchior go through those re-connections with his friends. The scene is vitally important, as we see Melchior's struggle to survive these things he is realizing are mostly his responsibility. He has to overcome all of this and decide to move forward and carry those people he loves with him. As a performer, that scene is a wonderful release. A lot of the music in the show breaks out of the story to comment on the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and in this scene the music works alongside the plot progression perfectly. I think it is a scene that everyone has some way to connect to; whether they themselves have felt utter aloneness, or have experienced any loss or grief, or been there for someone who has; it carries the essence of humanity. I love this scene because, to me, finding a way to carry on is really the message of the show. And "Those You've Known" is that.

What inspires you to play the role?

Every night there is going to be someone in the audience who absolutely, beyond any doubt, needs to hear this story. The show has an importance to it. The story needs to be told because it is, in many ways, a story about each and every one of us. We've all felt and been exposed to all these things that the characters are dealing with (hopefully further from some than others). Especially when looking at the world around us and seeing people experiencing grief and trying to cope with it every day, it is easy to see that this story is needed. It is filled with loss, and Melchior experiences a harsh amount of it, even feeling responsible for the losses. And it is important for people who are going through similar things to see that it is possible to rise above that, and to continue on. Of course, the show is also one of the most exhilarating shows I've ever been a part of. That doesn't hurt.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

It's always a surprise. There is usually an "x" factor of some sort, usually the way the backstage space is arranged or the acoustics in the house. It definitely keeps us on our toes.

Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?

Sometimes I will get messages from people who saw the show, and they will share their personal experience and how the show moved them. These messages serve as little reminders of how important our story is, and it helps me stay focused and enthused about the show every single day. Teens and young adults everywhere are definitely still going through situations similar to the story. Usually they find comfort through experiencing the show, and it is one of the best parts of my job getting to hear how important it was to them.

Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?

There was one night where we had an audience member getting a little too into the show, and he began joining in on the group choreography. He even started to get up and join the final picture at the end of "Totally F***ed". Turns out he wasn't just enjoying himself, but had 'other factors' playing into his behavior. Maybe he thought he was seeing Hair. Needless to say, when I sat down in the chair on the wall after the applause, the blur of clothing I had seen out of the corner of my eye left us one onstage audience member short. I guess one of our crew members used his best judgment and saved us from having to introduce a new character into our already fully developed story.

What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage?

The weirdest thing that happened to me was in Wichita, Kansas on our first performance in the venue. I was running off after the "Word of Your Body" scene, and I usually pass the other guys entering just in time to turn upstage and walk around the back of the onstage seats, put my jacket on, and enter the new scene. Well, this night something was different about our timing, and the distance from the edge of the curtain to the seats, and I collided with the last person in the entrance line. I tried to avoid tripping him by side-stepping around his back, but I stepped on my jacket (which was in my hand) and preceded to fully face-plant into a forward roll, all expertly done in front of our cello player, who watched the whole thing. I think he gave me a perfect 10. In any case, when I re-entered again, I was seeing spots, and I proceeded to perform the rest of the act with tunnel vision and the rest of the show with a mild concussion (you can imagine I was a little off). Although, I did notice the lighting in "Totally F***ed" looked cooler than ever.

Have you been able to watch the show when an understudy was on? What did you think? What was it like?

I came down with a pretty bad sinus infection and had to miss a few shows, and I had the opportunity to sit in the house and experience it from the audience's perspective. It was surreal. It got me so amped up to get back out there and perform again, and I really found a new appreciation for our production after watching it.

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

It was really great to talk with them and soak up a bit of their insight. They were both very encouraging and their passion was evident, and contagious. Steven came out to Evansville, Indiana for our final dress rehearsal, as it is his hometown, and that made the event special for all of us. He devoted not only his time and energy, but his whole heart to this show, because he was certain of its power and of the possibility to move souls with the piece. Talking with him and hearing his thoughts on the show only deepened my appreciation of the work, and really helped us understand that the most important element of the show is finding the heartbeat. It doesn't come easily and you can't search it out, but in living with the show for a while and letting it affect you, you inevitably come to find it. For me, that's part of what makes this show so special.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

I'm a traditional musical theatre junkie, and a role I would really love to play is another young man searching to understand the world, but handling it in an entirely different way. Carousel is one of my favorite shows, and I think Billy Bigelow is a fascinating character study. Like Melchior, his actions deeply affect those around him, and he is forced to deal with them in his own way. He's not nearly as smart as Melchior, but in a lot of ways his strange process only makes the role more exciting to tackle.

Q&A with Elizabeth Judd

Role: Wendla

What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?

Singing “Purple Summer.” It is amazing to come together as a cast at the end of the show, look the audience in the eye, and tell them about a future filled with communication where compassion overrules anger, love conquers hate, and hope dominates despair.

What inspires you to play the role?

The responses from adults and teens are why I can’t wait to walk out of the curtain each night. Telling a story that people can relate to in such deep ways is incredible. Before most shows the cast huddles up backstage and to pump us up we say that someone out there needs this show. When you get a letter or hear from that person after the show who says the show changed their life, that’s our inspiration.

What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?

It's a blast! It definitely keeps everyone on their toes and the show nice and fresh.

What is the coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?

A girl who was currently dealing with some of the more serious issues discussed in the show came up to one of the cast members and shared that seeing this issue talked and sung about on stage made her feel like she wasn't so alone. That is why we do the show, because for some it's informative, for others it's eye opening, and for some it's their own life and it brings them comfort to see they are not alone.

What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?

It was incredible to have the original creative team in the room and to hear what they had to say about the importance of the message of this show today. It could have been very intimidating but they were extremely uplifting and gave us confidence in the work we were doing.

What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?

Kim from Miss Saigon. I got to play the role in high school and now being a couple years older I would love to go back and really dive into the role and fall in love with the character even more. I think the story and music is incredible and extremely moving, it's an epic musical.

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday #1 Recap

Thanks to all our fans who participated in our first-ever Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat on wwww.facebook.com/springawakeningontour featuring cast members Aliya Bowles (Martha), Mark Poppleton (Adult Men), and Travis Stroessenreuther (u/s Adult Men).

Here are some highlights from the text chat.

Q: What do you think makes this production a different experience than the last tour? From your perspective and from the audiences perspective?
Aliya: I think just having a new cast makes it different from the last tour, and we are going to different cities than the last tour, so people get a chance to finally see it.
Mark: The personal energy from each cast member brings something different.

Q: What are some changes that were made between the Original Broadway run and first tour to this tour? And does the cast plan to post any videos like the first tour so that fans can get to know you better?
Travis: While the set has been scaled down to work with the venues we are playing, it makes it more intimate for the audience.
Aliya: The only difference is a couple of set pieces, but it makes it something new to see if you've seen the original Broadway show or the first tour.
Be on the look-out for new videos right here on Still Totally Truckin'!

Q: Which character do you most identify with?
Aliya: I think I most identify with Anna because she is very much the mother and likes to make sure that everyone is OK. I like to make sure my friends are taken care of.

Q: Aliya your character has such a heart breaking story line how do you become that character emotionally and does it affect you to see audience members that can connect with your or any other characters story lines?
Aliya: I go with the moment, and the words and the music are enough. I just listen to what all the characters around me are saying, and it helps me to get into the character. I've had some people come up to me after the show and tell me that they've gone through similar experiences.

Q: Even though their are risque parts in the show, do you still encourage your friends and family members to see the show? Also, how old were you when you decided that you wanted to pursue acting?
Mark: Yes, I still encourage friends and family to see the show. The "risque" parts are done so tastefully, that I don't see it as "risque." Theatre should spark conversation and that's what this show does. I've always wanted to do acting.

Q: What's your favorite song in the show?
Mark: Totally F***ed. The energy is amazing.
Travis: Purple Summer
Aliya: My Junk. It's fun, upbeat, and I get to interact with the other cast members.

Q: For whoever feels like answering: Who is the funniest person on the tour?
Unanimous answer: George!

Q: What is your favorite scene to watch?
Aliya: My favorite scene to watch is "And Then There Were None." There is something about that scene is so heartbreaking.

See you next week for Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday!

Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesdays

Cast of the national tour of Spring Awakening
(C)2010 Andy Snow

Join us on the Spring Awakening on Tour Facebook page every Wednesday through January 5th at 3:00 PM EST for a live text chat with cast members from the show! It’s your chance to be the reporter and ask the cast anything and everything you want to know about life on the road in Spring Awakening!

The inaugural Blah, Blah, Blah Wednesday chat on December 1, 2010 at 3:00 PM EST will be with Aliya Bowles and Travis Stoessenreuther!

Submit your questions now for Aliya and Travis by posting them to our main Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/springawakeningontour!

Welcome

Welcome to Still Totally Truckin' -- the official blog for the 2010-2011 Spring Awakening national tour!

Elizabeth Judd and Christopher Wood
(c) 2010 Andy Snow

If you haven't already, be sure to check out these videos of the cast!







For tickets and more information about Spring Awakening on tour, visit www.springawakening.com.