Q&A with Emily Mest

Role: Thea

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

“My Junk” is my favorite! It is so much fun to dance around and be able to sing and interact with the other cast members and the audience. “My Junk” is such a playful song we can really just be ourselves!

What inspires you to play the role?

How much this musical means to the audiences. Hearing people’s appreciation and stories after the show is what drives me to want to tell the story every night. The story is relevant and universal to any time period. This show brings up issues, starts a discussion, and needs to be seen by audiences everywhere.

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

It exciting! No show is ever the same. It’s fun to see how certain audiences in certain states react to the show. I think having the audience onstage makes it so much more personal that we feel like we've really connected with every audience. And they love to dance and rock out with us too, which is fun!

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

The Guilty Ones are awesome! They are so supportive and bake us nice things! I love looking out into the audience and seeing the Guilty Ones rocking out and singing along with all of the words.

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

Well, one time during the final scene in the graveyard, as soon as I sat down in my chair the guy next to me loudly said that the cast was great in my ear and stared, waiting for me to respond! So I just kept a straight face and was laughing to myself until I could whisper thank you at the end of the show. I saw him after the show and he said he understood why we couldn't talk to him onstage!

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

Well, at the stage door it's all about the boys! Everyone at the stage door only wants to know about which boy is single! HAH! So, sometimes we end up giving information about the boys more than ourselves at the stage door! My favorite thing that happened was that one time the stage door was so packed and crazy with people that when I came out of the door I almost immediately got lost in the crowd and was being pushed around by everyone and almost sunk to the floor. It was hilarious and scary because I don't think anyone saw me nearly collapsing to the floor!

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

I was very sick in October and I sat out and got to see Erin in the show as Thea. She was wonderful!!!!!! It was so strange to see the show from a whole new perspective and as an audience member. I found myself really wanting to get up on stage with everyone and do the show! It reminded me of how I felt seeing the show before I was cast, so passionate and wanting to be in Spring Awakening more than anything.

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

It was amazing, but so nerve-wracking. I am such a huge fan of the show I couldn't dream of meeting them and performing for them. It was unreal having them there at rehearsals and it helped the process because we really felt the support for our tour from the original creative team. Also, hearing them react and laugh at parts of the show that they wrote was wonderful.

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

Natalie in Next to Normal. But, in a straight play I really want to play Abigail in The Crucible.