For those of you who are curious, I posted some questions for Jake on the Totally Trucked blog for his Video Profile. Here’s what I posted:

Hi Jake,

First of all, I just want to say that you are one of my favourite actors! I’ve been a fan since the first time I saw you on The Zack Files, as Cam Dunleavey. It was one of my favourite shows on YTV back then. So of course I was extremely excited when I found out you were joining the cast of Degrassi, because I was already a fan of the show from the first season. I would love to see you in Spring Awakening but the show isn’t  coming anywhere near where I live.

So, on with the questions!

In television, usually (if you exclude soap operas lol) when someone joins the cast of a show after it has been on for a while, they’re playing a new character, like you did as Craig in season 2 of Degrassi. But in large theatre productions, like Spring Awakening, it tends to be different, obviously. When you joined the cast of Spring Awakening you were taking over a character that had previously been played by some very talented actors. Even though most of the audience seeing you in the role may not have seen the previous actors’ take on the character of Melchior, was it intimidating for you in any way taking over the role? How did it affect your way of looking at and preparing for the role?

I was also wondering if you’re planning to do any more work in television or movies in the near future? Or are you just planning to stay focused on Spring Awakening for right now?

And one last question: Since you/Craig were a part of the Degrassi Movie, can you say whether or not Craig will return to Degrassi at all in season 9? Even just a small cameo?

If you want to ask Jake a question, make sure you post them on the Totally Tucked blog post before October 23rd!

Jake will be the next cast member of the Spring Awakening Tour to do a video profile! Here’s the tweet that was posted on Twitter this afternoon:

Our next Profile of the Month is Jake Epstein. Post your question on the Blog. Deadline is 10/23. Here is the blog http://bit.ly/POMJake
http://twitter.com/springtour/status/4663835284

So if you have any questions you want to ask Jake, make sure you post them on the Totally Trucked blog!

I’m going to try and come up with a few to ask too but I’m one of those people who wouldn’t ever know what to say to someone even remotely famous meeting them for the first time, or even in a situation like this where I’m not even talking to them directly. So I would be a terrible interviewer I guess lol. But I’ll see if I can come up with something that hopefully won’t be asked by a million other people.

Just added a bunch of random pictures of Jake. Some old, some new. Here’s a bit of what we got:

A few more (5, to be exact) that I jsut found on a website I’ve never been to before, from the 17th Anual Kids Choice Awards, so these ones are old, but they’re new to the gallery.

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Some, that came from the same website, but they are about a month old. These are from MuchMusic, in Toronto. The cast from Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood on MuchOnDemand.

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A couple more shots from Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood, from The N.

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The photo from the Rolling Stone article I mentioned in the last post.

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A couple of headshots I came across.

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I am very excited about these ones!! They are really old headshots, from Jake’s Zack Files days. I’ve actually been trying to find these for a very long time!! Some of these used to be on Jake’s official website, way back when he had one in the early 2000s, but after his site was taken down I couldn’t find them anywhere. But FINALLY found them!!

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Thanks to Lewis for informing me about this video. So funny!

To see more from the Mavro show, check out themavroshow.com.

Just added a couple pictures of Jake on stage as Melchior in Spring Awakening.

For those of you who are addicted to Twitter, like me, make sure you follow Spring Awakening (@springtour) on Twitter because Jake Epstein will be posting!!

And of course, don’t forget that JakeEpstein.net is on Twitter too: @JakeEpstein_net

Just a quick post! I’m heading to see Transformers 2 right away but I had to post this video. My two favourite guys in the world are in it: Jake Epstein and Kyle Riabko, obviously since its the cast of Spring Awakening.

For those of you who don’t already know (this is somewhat old news now), Jake will be joining the cast of Spring Awakening. Jake will be taking over the role of Melchior, currently being played by Kyle Riabko, beginning July 7, 2009 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

June 2, 2009 – The producers of Spring Awakening announced today that Jake Esptein, best known for his work as “Craig” on the hit television series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” will take over the lead role of “Melchior Gabor” in the national touring production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, beginning July 7 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A 22-year-old, Toronto-born actor, Epstein has already been working in theatre, film and television for more than a decade. Theatre credits include Cameron MacKintosh’s Oliver! (Artful Dodger), Dog Sees God, Cinderella, Dangerous Liaisons and Our Town. Television and Film credits include leading roles on “The Zack Files,” and “Degrassi: The Next Generation (Gemini Award)” as well as appearances on “Charlie Bartlett,” “Crown Heights,” “Quints,” “Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire,” “Paradise Falls,” “Angela’s Eyes,” “Radio Free Roscoe,” “The Eleventh Hour”and “Being Erica.” He recently graduated from the prestigious National Theatre School of Canada, where he had the opportunity to work with Canada’s leading directors and artists. In addition to acting, Epstein is an accomplished songwriter and musician.

Spring Awakening is based on the 1891 Frank Wedekind play of the same name, and features an electrifying score by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, direction by Michael Mayer, and choreography by the award-winning Bill T. Jones. The production won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical (2007).

Set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the timeless story of adolescent self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers. Haunting and provocative, Spring Awakening celebrates an unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget.

For more information, visit SpringAwakening.com.

A video promo for Dog Sees God was added to YouTube by thetvaddict. Check out the video here.

I’ve also added an article to the press section: Former Degrassi star Jake Epstein moves into more exploratory realm.

Jake will be appearing in Ross Petty’s production of Cinderella: The Sillylicious Family Musical, November 29, 2008 to January 4, 2009 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. The show also features fellow Degrassi star Paula Brancati. For more information about this production visit Ross Petty’s website and check out this short article.

Also, there will apparently be a new Degrassi Mini coming soon, featuring Jake. The N held a contest for viewers to vote for ideas about “What if…”. The winner was Yasmin3121 who wanted a story about “What if… Craig DID marry Ashley?” We will keep you posted on this story. For more information, check out The N’s What If.. Contest Page.

I have one other appearance to tell you about, although its not really “Upcoming” now. Jake appeared in a recent “Live at E-Talk” which was focusing on the career of Linda Schuyler (Co-Creater and Executive Producer of Degrassi: The Next Generation and Instant Star). Jake was in the audience with co-star Lauren Collins. They did a “lightning round” where they asked Linda a few questions mainly about Degrassi and she had to say the first thing that came to mind.

My favourite personal was the first question Jake asked, which was Downtown Sasquatch or The Zit Remedy? Linda couldn’t choose, so she said both. They let her get away with that one. For those of you who don’t know, The Zit Remedy was Joey’s band on the old Degrassi show, and of course Downtown Sasquatch was Craig’s band.

I have added a few images to the gallery:

• Press – Degrassi Stars to Headline Toronto Cinderella
• Stage – Cinderella: The Sillylicuous Family Musical
• Appearances – Award Shows and Red Carpets – Nickelodeon’s 17th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards

I am trying to find some video and/or photos of Jake at the Live at Etalk session with Linda Schuyler. So if anyone has any footage or comes across of any, please let me (Keira) know.

Jake Epstein took a break from acting to learn how to act.

Updated Tue. Dec. 11 2007 5:14 PM ET
Saira Peesker, CTV.ca News

After several seasons on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Jake Epstein decided to trade in his life for its mirror image: instead of acting like he was in school, he headed to school to learn to act.

Fast forward three years to his impending graduation from the National Theatre School’s acting program, an exclusive school admitting only 12 students a year.

“For me, personally, I felt like I couldn’t say that I was an actor without going to school,” said Epstein, who plays Craig Manning on Degrassi. “If you’re going to study acting, you’re going to study theatre. If you can do theatre, you can do anything.”

From the set of his final play at school, titled “Restoration,” Epstein told CTV’s “eTalk” that despite his desire to head to school, it was still a tough decision to leave Degrassi after five seasons.

That said, he hasn’t disappeared altogether, with some appearances in the upcoming seventh season, which hits CTV’s airwaves in the New Year.

“My character on Degrassi was in rehab with cocaine addiction,” he said, describing the plotline that allowed for his scholarly leave.

“You see him on Season 7 on tour with his band… They gave me a call and asked me to come back and play some music.”