Sarah Kleeman - Q&A

Role: Adult Women

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

I love “B***h of Living.” The guys have so much energy. It’s amazing to see every night.

What inspires you to play the role?

Well, in my case I play several roles, which is challenging. Each time I enter the playing space I am a different person. Sometimes I don’t even leave the playing space and I turn into another character. It took some time to find the nuance of each woman. They vary greatly in their outlook, demeanor, background and speaking patterns. It has been fun to continue to find more depth in each of them as time goes on. What inspires me in each role is the belief that each of these women feels that what they are doing is for the best. Some act more hastily than others, but each is just trying to survive in their worlds during a very conservative time.

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

Challenging but exciting. Each venue has a different stage area that poses different benefits/obstacles. It definitely keeps us on our toes. What has been most interesting is the vibe of each audience. Sometimes the difference between them is startling. One day we’ll play for a very young, enthusiastic audience and another day it will be a more conservative, quiet audience.

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

I’m not sure if this guy was a guilty one but it took me by surprise when I got a Facebook friend request by someone with me pictured in his profile pic.

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

I have a feeling I will not be the only one sharing this story! In one of our final performances before the holiday lay off there was an audience member sitting next to me that seemed to be pretty odd. By the second half he was doing the dance moves and mouthing the words in his seat. When he decided to get up and dance during “Totally F***ed”, it was the last straw and the crew had to remove him from the stage.

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

I think the previous story takes the cake for me. :)

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

I’ve never been in the audience but as a cast member on stage what is cool when an understudy goes on is the shift that takes place within the cast. Everyone’s focus is heightened. I know for myself, that being jarred out of normalcy has resulted in fun discoveries.

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

It was both exciting and scary to perform for them. I have such huge respect for both of them. It was such an honor to have them there. I wanted make sure that I was doing the piece justice and that my work honored the story.

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

This is a tough one! It is hard to pick just one. I’d like to play Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. I love the music, I love the dimension in her character, her humor and her grief. The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods is a great role, I love her strength and her humor. And, I would love to play Margaret in The Light in the Piazza someday. I love the depth, insight, and the struggle she has. I also think it would be fulfilling to sing because of my classical background.