The Original "Otto" Brian Charles Johnson reflects on his time in Spring Awakening!

Brian Charles Johnson (Photo Credit - Diana Carrigan)

"Then there's Marianna Wheelan, As if she'd return my call!".

Spring Awakening was one of those Musicals that every theatre kid of the Mid 2000's early 2010s remembers where they were when they first heard the music. I was in a friend's car heading back to Montgomery College in Rockville to get to a Urinetown rehearsal. When I saw it later that year it instantly became my favorite musical of all time. It felt like something I have never heard before and truly opened up a part of my brain when it comes to how to create a show and realized that it is vital to think outside the box when creating. Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, and Michael Mayor truly outdid themselves with this piece of Art and everyone on that stage truly delivered a story and performance that will be remembered forever!

And the cast? Wow!

The Original Broadway Cast of Spring Awakening.

You look at all the names that were in the original cast and it almost doesn't seem real. When you went to see the show at the time you truly didn't realize that you were in some ways witnessing the future landscape of Broadway. From Jonathan Groff, Tony Winner John Gallagher Jr., Lea Michele, Lilli Cooper, Skyler Astin, Gideon Glick, Jonathan B. Wright, Jennifer Damiano, Krysta Rodriguez, Lauren Pritchard, Remy Zaken, Phoebe Strole, Robert Hagar, Gerard Canonico, Stephen Spinella, Christine Estabrook and the amazingly talented actor I am featuring today in Brian Charles Johnson who originated the role of Otto in the 2007 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical. Brian would later be seen in the Original Broadway Cast of Green Day's American Idiot as well. Brian in my opinion is truly one of the faces and voices of the musical having some of my favorite lines, like the one I started the article with, as well as - But the thing that makes you really jump, is that the weirdest shit is still to come, you can ask yourself, "Hey what have I done?", You're just a fly, the little guys, they kill for fun.

15 years later the original cast and creative reunited for aone-night-only reunion concert to benefit The Actors Fund and it can be seen in an upcoming documentary titled "Spring Awakening: Those You've Known", which is set to air this Mayon HBO. Brian truly has left his mark in the theatre world and is also someone who makes any show and performance better with his talent, presence, and professionalism. Listening to the soundtrack right now while writing this, I am truly getting all the nostalgia feels. I am beyond thankful that Brian took the time and I am so grateful to have the chance to feature him!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?

I’ve always loved making people laugh and smile. My mom had season tickets to Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, and she would take me to see all of the national tours that came into town. I fell in love with it all. It wasn’t until high school that I discovered my singing voice (after my mom forced me to audition for the high school chorus… which I am thankful that she did!). As I was preparing to start applying to colleges and figure out what I wanted to major in, my heart led me to decide to major in Theater. Performing for others, seeing how you can affect the emotions of an audience through words and song, is one of the greatest joys I’ve ever known. To answer your question, I think I’ve always known to some extent, but I certainly could never have imagined getting to be a part of shows like Spring Awakening and American Idiot. Life as a performer isn’t all sunshine and rainbows of course, but whenever I get to do it, life is good.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped you become the amazing performer you are today?

I studied at Atlantic Theater Company for my BFA in Theater at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. As fate would have it, Atlantic Theater Company was where Spring Awakening debuted Off-Broadway! I owe every opportunity that I’ve ever had to the entire staff at the Atlantic. Every single teacher that I had throughout my time there changed my life in different ways. Collectively they prepared me to enter every opportunity with confidence and quite literally made my dreams come true when I was the only student from the program to be cast in Spring Awakening.

Spring Awakening was a true gamechanger for me as an artist and the industry as a whole. What does Spring Awakening mean to you and how did it feel to reunite with the Original Broadway Cast for the concert and upcoming documentary on HBO?

They’re my second family. That show changed all of our lives forever. We may not get to see each other as much as we’d like, but we’ve kept a text chain going for over a decade, and it’s still going strong! The reunion was such an incredible experience. We laughed, we cried, and we all picked up right where we left off. I think we were all a little nervous about the reunion in our own ways, but from the very first rehearsal, all of that washed away, and we had the most amazing, surreal week together. One thing I hadn’t thought about going into it was how the show would affect me now that I’m 15 years older. The way I view the themes throughout the play hit a little differently now, but they’re still as powerful and relevant as they were 15 years ago.

Brian performing in the Reunion Concert that will be seen this May on HBO. PHOTO CREDIT: SARAH SHATZ

Are there any moments, stories, or memories during your time in the show that sticks out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

Man, there’s a million of them. It was like the greatest summer camp of all time but on Broadway! I’ve cherished the whole experience, every single moment. But if I had to choose one moment, I’d have to go with Gideon Glick’s last performance. He was one of the first OBC members to leave, so it was incredibly emotional. We all were bawling so much during “Purple Summer”, I’m not sure we got all of the words out! After the show, we all got on a bus and headed to Jonathan Groff’s parent’s farm in Lancaster, PA to get away from the city and just have one last hang. We camped out on the land together and had an absolute blast. There’s a ton of other stories, but there was just something so special about that trip.

What advice would you give any aspiring artist who wants a career in the performing arts?

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t. Make sure you bring a little bit of yourself to each role you are given. Characters are interesting, but it’s you that’s giving life to the character, not the other way around. If this is your passion, and you believe in your talents, then the sky is the limit! When you walk into an audition, focus on the things that you can control. Once you have finished your scene or song, thank them for their time, and try to leave that audition in the room. That’s easier said than done, but you’ll drive yourself crazy overthinking about something that is no longer in your control. If something didn’t go exactly the way you wanted it, make note of that, and correct it for the next one! Oh, and remember to have fun! Good luck!

Spring Awakening: Those You've Known is directed by Michael John Warren and produced by ​Radical Media (HBO’s “David Byrne’s American Utopia”) is set to Air May 3rdon HBO. for more information please visit -https://www.hbo.com/movies/spring-awakening-those-youve-known

A little blast from the Mid 2000s. Check out the "Bitch of Living" Music Video featuring Brian as well as Original Cast Members - John Gallagher Jr, Jonathan Groff, Jonathan B Wright, Skyler Astin, and Gideon Glick - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JCoA92y24A