To most Canadians of a certain age, multi-talented Canadian Jewish actor Jake Epstein is known for playing a troubled teenage heartthrob on the TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation. But even back then, Epstein had dreams of starring on Broadway. After leaving his hit show to study acting and theatre in Montreal, he went on to realize those lofty aspirations.

In an engaging one-person performance, with an excellent backup band, Epstein bares his soul in storytelling and hit songs (from A Chorus Line, Chicago, Oliver, Les Misérables, original songs, and more), peeling back the layers of showbiz in a heartfelt, joyful, and moving way. Boy Falls From The Sky is a must-see for anyone who’s ever chased their dreams and you can see it at the Segal Centre until Dec. 10.

“He may ‘fall from the sky’ but I can guarantee that you will fall for the charismatic and engaging Jake Epstein,” Segal Centre Executive and Artistic Director Lisa Rubin has been telling fans for weeks. “Whether you’re an artist or an art lover, Jake takes you on the rarely-seen or talked-about journey of what it takes behind the scenes to become a Broadway star. His story will have you on the edge of your seat.”

What a brilliant idea for show! He talks about Broadway and shows that he appeared in like Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (where he originated the part of lyricist Gerry Goffin).

On Degrassi he looks out at the audience and says: “Yes I know Drake. I went to his Bar Mitzvah.”

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, is Jewish.

Yes, Epstein does indeed take audience behind the scenes about how he met the likes of Carole King, Paul McCartney, Billy Crystal and more. Was it really dangerous to portray Spiderman on Broadway? Epstein summarizes all of the lead who got injured, himself included.

I asked Epstein how he stays in such good physical condition. “I get my workout each show,” he says. Indeed he does!

Epstein says he was introduced to theatre early in life. “That’s how we spent our family vacations,” he says. “For nine years in a row, we’d drive to New York and see one show. My sister Gabi and I would research which one to see. We’d usually choose productions that had kids in them, like Les Miz or Lion King or Big. It was an expensive trip, and so generous of my father to give us that opportunity to experience Broadway. During the drive, we played Broadway albums, and Gabi and I would imitate every voice we heard. We had this weird dream of being on the stage one day.”

How did Boy Falls From Sky come to be? “I was asked to perform my act in Lennox, Massachusetts, but I didn’t have an act, so I worked up something that became this show,” he explains. “One of the sources was storytelling. My wife, Vanessa Smythe, who is an actor/writer, hosted monthly storytelling evenings at Crow’s Theatre where people told real stories about their own lives. This encouraged me to start writing down some of my experiences. Robert McQueen is my favorite director, and I pitched him the idea of me being a musical theatre actor who hated musicals. I suggested a show that went deeper than a cabaret, but was not a therapy session, and that’s where we began.

Bravo to Director/Developer Robert McQueen, Music Supervisor Daniel Abrahamson, Srikanth Narayanan on Upright and Electric Bass and Christina Beaudry Cardenas in drums.

Epstein said he wants spectators to leave each show feeling like they just experienced a good story. “It’s a piece of entertainment that is comedic and joyful,” he says. “It’s me letting go of expectations. It’s me healing and making peace with life.”
For ticket information log on to: https://www.segalcentre.org/en/shows/2023-2024/boy-falls-from-the-sky or call the box office at 514-739-7944.

By Mike Cohen