The young and talented cast members of Spring Awakening  share their dream roles, advice for students, and favorite pop/punk songs in honor of the rock musical! 

Tonya Beckman (Adult Women)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?  
Just one?! I have so many favorites. But for today let's say, I'd love to play the Dauphin in Henry V. So deliciously horrible.

2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006?  
I wasn't terribly tuned into the original production in 2006, but our conversations about consent have certainly changed since then, and it pops up in interesting ways throughout the story.

3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?  
I tell all my students the same two things, over and over: 1) Actors need to stop believing we are powerless. It's a lie that unscrupulous gatekeepers have convinced us of; and 2) it's called a play for a reason.

4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?  
I had a drama teacher in high school who really helped me discover that acting was a thing I loved and that I could have a future with it in my life, even if I didn't choose to pursue it as a career.

5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?  
I'm not entirely sure why, but I've been listening to a lot of Hole during this rehearsal process. Especially “Violet” and “Beautiful Son.”
 

JANE BERNHARD (Ilse)
1.    Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen. 
 
2.    What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
Recognizing the importance of the teenage voice, taking mental health issues seriously, not ignoring cries for help, and coming at these issues more openly from an empathetic point of view.
 
3.    What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
Find yourself a well-rounded group of friends who support you no matter what. Be specific about your goals and the type of career you want to have. The cliché “it’s a marathon not a sprint” also really holds up.
 
4.    Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
I went to French Woods Performing Arts camp as teenager, and that camp is the reason I am a performer today. Every director I worked with gave me artistic freedom and helped light a fire in me to want to pursue this.
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
“Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore.
 
 
KATIE REY BOGDAN (Anna)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
I could play any role in Les Mis for the rest of my life and be happy! 
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
I think the idea of the generation gap and the lack of communication between adults and teenagers will be the most resonant theme for the audiences of today. Whether it be a child seeing their own struggle played out or an adult confronting a harsh truth about themselves, this text leaves no stone unturned in reflecting the unfortunate reality of our world.
 
3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
Do things that scare you. You do yourself a disservice by doing the same things over and over again. Opening yourself up to new experiences and new ways of creating art is the best way to become a better theatre artist.
 
4. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
I’m from Baltimore, which is the hometown of the band All Time Low. My friends and I were obsessed with them through middle and high school (had the band shirts and everything!). They have a great song called “Lost in Stereo” that is my go-to song when I need to just rock out. 
 
 
Carson Collins (Georg/Dieter)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
One of my dream roles is Ado Annie in Oklahoma! 
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
Today’s world is much more willing to discuss matters of mental health and suicide than in 2006. Though always a hard scene to watch, our production specifically highlights the inner struggle of someone contemplating suicide and gives an inside look at the anguish that accompanies it.

3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
I would give them the advice that I was once told. If you can’t find the type of art that inspires you, then do everything in your power to create it. 
 
4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
One of my biggest mentors in high school was the administrative assistant of the Math and Science Center that I attended. She never failed to cheer us on, and she made each of the students feel like they were more than capable of doing whatever they wanted to in life. 
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
“Overpass” by Panic! at the Disco Is definitely a go-to pop song for me!
 
 
EVAN DAVES (Melchior)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
Elder Cunningham in Book of Mormon.
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
I think what’s great about the show is how timeless it feels, but I think the conversations about all of the themes in Spring Awakening have only deepened since the original production. Our society is still struggling with issues surrounding sex, sexual orientation, religion, and its effect on politics, so I think the show still can illuminate these issues for audiences and continue the conversation surrounding these things. 
 
3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
I think fearlessness is a big part of it—it isn’t going to be easy. Also it’s very competitive, so wrapping your head around who you are and what makes you unique early on is very important. Don’t hold back who you are, embrace it and let it work for you. 
 
4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
I grew up in New York City and attended a performing arts high school, so I was really lucky not only to have professional opportunities growing up, but to also have a really solid support system of teachers and teaching artists who helped me immerse myself in performing. I learned so much from their experiences, and having access to people who were working in the industry and passing on their knowledge to me was so beneficial. I’m really grateful for them.
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
I was very into pop punk growing up, but I think the song that I’ll still revisit is “Grand Theft Autumn” by Fall Out Boy. 
 

CHRISTIAN MONTGOMERY (Hanschen/Rupert) 
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?  
A role I would love to play on stage is the stepsister in Into The Woods who gets her heel cut off and has to hobble offstage. It is gold, give me an inch and I’ll go a mile, and everyone would say it was far too much and I would say, you’re welcome. 

2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006?  
I would say some themes in Spring Awakening that resonate now more than in 2006 are shame and teenage suicide. According to the CDC the suicide rate of young people between the ages of 10-17 increased 70% from 2006 to 2016. Many more audience members will have experienced this trauma personally and it is clearly something we need to have more conversations about in 2020. As for the theme of shame, I would say it is way easier to afflict and feel shame today then it was in 2006. Twitter was only just created in 2006, and Instagram wasn’t created until 2010. With all the benefits social media brings, it also has its downfalls.  Between cyber bullying and the habit of comparing yourself to others online who make life look perfect, I think shame is a theme that creeps into our everyday life today. 

3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?  
 I would say do it! Theatre is awesome. One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was just be yourself. No one is more you than you, that is the one thing you can do better than anyone else in the world, so use that. And have fun!

4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?  
A mentor that helped influence my high school experience was my dance teacher Mrs. Murphy. She taught me the value of hard work, and how I could accomplish anything if I put my mind to it. She also showed me how moving and important theatre is. To this day I hear her in my mind every time I need to be somewhere at a certain time, saying “early is on time, on time is late, and if you’re late you’re fired.” People like punctual people. 

5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?  
My go to pop/punk song would have to be “Welcome The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance. It’s the bee’s knees. 
 
 
Kalen Robinson (Thea)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
I would love to be Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
In this age of social media and internet at our fingertips, it is still common for parents to not want to talk to their kids about sex or any other taboo topic because they assume that they already know. The hard conversations aren’t had between a parent and a child. 
 
3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
As long as you love it, it will work out. It’s a difficult field with uncertainty, but if you love to do it and work hard at it, you will succeed. 
 
4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
In high school, my drama teacher’s name was Mrs. Lambert. She pushed me and helped convince me to continue to do Theatre in college. Anytime I needed advice, a monologue, or someone to look at my song, she was there. 
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
“Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne.
 

CRISTINA SASTRE (Wendla)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
I would love to play Natalie in Next to Normal, and I think either Jesus or Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar would be really fun. One of my life dreams is to be the voice of a Disney princess!
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
As a culture, we have opened up the conversation surrounding consent and women’s rights since 2006. This story carries a different weight in light of the Me Too movement, and I think many of the show’s themes (sexuality, shame, abuse) are especially relevant in today’s political climate. 
 
3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
Your life experiences and world views are what make you interesting. Lean into what makes you different and let that influence your work. It is so much more exciting to watch a real person than someone’s idea of one.
 
4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
In high school I participated in community theatre around the Bay Area rather than through my school. The artistic director at CMT San Jose, Kevin Hauge, was a wonderful mentor to me and so many others. He encouraged and supported young artists, created a safe learning space, and challenged me with roles he knew I was ready for even when I wasn’t sure. It’s because of Kevin that I decided to pursue a career in theatre. 
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
“In Bloom” by Nirvana, “Just a Girl” by No Doubt, or any old school Avril Lavigne—the original punk princess!!
 
 
CHANI WERELEY (Martha)
1. Regardless of gender, age, race, etc., what role would you love to play on stage?
Honestly this changes all the time, but I'm really into Eurydice in Hadestown at the moment. I think the show is so beautiful, and the score also consistently slaps. I just want to sing through that entire show and let it rip. 
 
2. What themes from the musical do you think resonate with audiences more today than when it originally premiered in 2006? 
Okay, so I typed and deleted and retyped and deleted this answer SO many times, because I have so many feelings about this question. It's such an important show, filled with so many important themes. I feel like in 2006, these themes were blasted into our pop culture, and they were things we weren't necessarily openly talking about, and nowadays I think we have that awareness that we didn't have then, but we hesitate to synthesize those themes and that awareness into action. If that makes sense. I just feel like these themes are all still so important and will all resonate, but because our culture and political climate has changed so much in the past 14 years, the way the themes and the material itself will resonate will be completely different. My hope is that audiences take what they see on this stage, deeply think about it, and then use it to effect change in their own lives and communities. I have a lot more I want to say and dig into, but I don't want to bore you to death. 
 
3. What advice would you give to young students who want to pursue a career in theatre?
I'd say keep going. And really love it. There's this huge cliché that people say - don't do this if you could do something else. And I don't know, I feel like we're all human beings who have many interests and many things that we are good at, and I feel like that saying boxes you in and limits you. You're allowed to be able to do other things, to be good at other things, to want to do other things. And I think you can love those other things! But like, if not doing this would create a huge void in your soul - then maybe do this. So you don't have, you know, a huge void in your soul. Just keep learning and living and growing into your place in this industry and this world and trust the process.
 
4. Who was a mentor or teacher who helped influence your high school experience?
I used to work with Young Artists of America back in the day. Rolando Sanz started YAA with his brother, Kris Sanz, who is also a lovely and spectacularly talented human, and I was in their inaugural concert and worked with them for a couple years before I went to college. Rolando is one of my superheroes - he has been a pillar of support for me since day one. He gives so much love and kindness to all of his students, and having that through some of the formative years of my love for theatre is something for which I'll always be grateful. He believed in me so much, and he still does, and knowing that he always has my back is wonderful. I went back to YAA a couple of years ago as a guest artist, and seeing him work with those teenagers as an adult was really inspiring and nourishing as an artist. He really, really, cares. And I will always love him and be grateful to him for that. 
 
5. What is your go-to pop/punk song?
Pop/punk and punk in general are my jam, so it really depends on my mood, but the only one I can think of right now is “Rose Colored Boy” by Paramore, probably because I'm listening to it as I type this. It's a bop.