What is your favorite song/scene/moment in Spring Awakening?
I look forward to "None" every night. It comes right after my confrontation scene with my father, which leaves me completely broken and literally in a pile on the floor, so to have the opportunity to immediately channel up all that pent up anger, guilt, whatever, into this punk rock euphoria is truly amazing. Especially towards the end of the song when all of the other guys are singing around me and I decide to rip up the letter, my body starts to shake and I get to just fly. It really is an indescribable feeling for me.
What inspires you to play the role?
I love that Moritz is so far from perfect. He's a character that so many can relate to, in that most people who come to see the show have at some point experienced similar feelings or been in similar (if not as drastic) situations. Such a big part of our rehearsal process was relating what our characters are going through to experiences that we as modern teenagers have gone through, so to have people who come to see the show thank me for being so honest with my character is so incredibly humbling. Even if only one person who comes to the show sees, through my character's mistakes, that there is always hope and a "light at the end of the tunnel", then I'm more than satisfied.
What is it like playing in a new venue almost every night?
Amazing. Every theatre and every audience has its own unique energy, and our show totally feeds off of that excitement. Since we travel so much, we don't have time to stop and realize how exhausted we may be. We just get on that new stage in that new city, and go. It sounds stressful, but I guarantee that the cast is having just as much fun as the audience is. Except for when the theatre is haunted.
Do you have a great Guilty Ones moment/story you can share?
I knew that the show had a huge fan base, but I guess I never really expected to personally have any sort of fan following, so when I got my first fan gift in Dayton (a Moritz license plate cover), it was sort of a weird combination of excitement and "Are you sure you this is for me?". The girl who gave it to me was so so sweet, and after meeting many more Guilty Ones on the road, I have to say that they are some of the coolest and nicest people I have ever met.
Do you have a great Chair of Rock/Stage Seating experience you can share?
I love the moments when I get to sit onstage, although I feel like everyone sitting around me should be given protective padding before the show. I tend to be a little clumsy on stage, and I've developed this bad habit of bumping my chair into the person sitting in front of me when I am rushing in for the classroom scene. I apologize to anyone who has sat in that seat, and apologize in advance to anyone who does in the future :)!
What is the weirdest/coolest thing that happened to you or another cast member on stage/at the stage door?
The two microphones that are used in "Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind" have these really long cords that are expertly coiled at the beginning of the show by Kate, our amazing sound tech. I always manage to get the stage left mic all the way to where it needs to be, but for some reason, a few times I've managed to get the stage right cord tied in such a big knot that I'm not able to get the mic all the way downstage. So I'll be walking with the mic, and then suddenly get jerked backwards and smack into the mic stand. It's really embarrassing, and makes for some interesting staging.
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 out yet so I haven't had a chance to watch the show, but I can say that being in the show when an understudy is in is always so exciting. We're so close as a cast, so when one of the understudies goes on, we're all so proud and eager for them to get a chance to strut their stuff. To be able to cover as many roles as they do as well as they do is truly incredible - they are truly some of the most talented people out there.
What was it like when you performed in front of Steven Sater/Michael Mayer during the rehearsals?
I respect both Mr. Sater and Mr. Mayer so much, so to be able to perform their "brain child" for them was a dream come true. They have both put so much of their hearts into the show, so for them to entrust our cast with carrying on the legacy is such an honor. Not to mention how incredibly supportive and kind they were.
What musical theater role/character outside of the one you are playing now would you most like to play? Why?
I'd love to someday play Leo Frank in Parade. That score is so gorgeous, and I'm a huge JRB fan. Secretly, I'd also love to someday play the plant in Little Shop of Horror. Hands down, that plant has the best songs in that show. If you're reading this and you ever decide to cast a white, Jewish kid as the plant, call me!
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