First impressions, wearing the right thing, not saying the wrong thing, and all the butterflies, nausea, and chaos that typically accompanies a first date. We’ve had them. (Most of the waking world that is.) Most of us can even remember a disastrous first date. And now Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, for it’s mid-season musical, is premiering First Date that low-key musical that debuted on Broadway a decade ago, starring that young girl who had just finished originating Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family musical. And now it’s at ‘Theatre Under the Stars.’ Sitting down with Director Jake Schwartz, we talk shop— or rather, talk ‘date.’
The beautiful irony is that Jake’s “first date” (first official theatre interview as a performer in his first-ever musical) was seven years ago with TheatreBloom’s Amanda Gunther where he was 17 years old and playing Bret in 13 The Musical with Third Wall Productions. (That interview can be read here.)
Jake, this is so thrilling to get to sit down with you again! Has it really only been seven years!? It feels like so much longer! But I’m so excited to hear about this new project you’re working on! I’ve watched you perform over the years and now you’re directing!
Jake Schwartz: Hi! Yes it has. And yes I am.
This is crazy! You’re officially what 25 now? And I met you when you were 17 and you’ve come such a long way from 13 The Musical, where you were a 17-year-old playing a 13-year-old. Now you’re a 25-year-old playing Director of a main-stage musical production at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre. Now this is your second directed show?
Jake: Actually it’s my fifth. I directed Emma: A Pop Musical at Artistic Synergy. I directed a student production of Hamlet at Towson University. I directed Footloose Jr. at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis and Lion King Jr. at Beth Tfiloh Summer Theatre Program.
That’s quite a roundup of directorial credits for you. Now how did you come to First Date? Was this your passion project or did ASGT put out the director’s call and you thought you might be interested? How did you come to be the director of First Date?
Jake: Basically, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre posted on their social media that they were looking for directors for Head Over Heels and First Date. I really loved First Date the musical. I loved its music. And I kept saying, “Oh my God, I should do that.” But I never filled out an application. But I kept saying “Oh my God, I should do that.” And I said it again to my friend one day and she said, “Oh my God, shut up! And just apply!” So I filled out an application, I interviewed, and I was lucky enough to be selected to direct this very fun and wild show.
What is it about this very fun and wild show that you loved so much that made you want to say “Oh my God, I should direct that” over and over until you applied and got hired?
Jake: So many shows you see have these dark and depressing attributes to them where you’re going to walk away feeling depressed or introspective or some other third negative thing. This is a fun night at the theatre. It’s lighthearted, touches on a few serious topics, but it doesn’t take itself so seriously that it comes across as pretentions. At the end of the day, it is an intimate, small cast working together to put on a fun, lighthearted production. And if something is lighthearted that means you can lean into the comedy, you can lean into the fun and focus on making the best experience for the actors, the crew, and the audience.
You said it’s a small, intimate cast. How many people are we talking?
Jake: It is a seven-person cast. And we have two wonderful understudies.
Seven performers and two understudies.
Jake: Two understudies and seven overstudies, and one of the understudies is actually in the overstudy cast.
Did you just call them the overstudy cast? Is that a thing?
Jake: It is in my show. Overstudy/Understudy. I’ve made it a thing in our rehearsals and I also tell all my actors, “hey they’re not your understudy they’re your character’s understudy so don’t tell them what to do or you’re out of my show.”
That’s incredible and impressive. And Overstudy cast should totally be an official thing. Tell me about the overstudy cast.
Jake: Our cast is led by the incredible duo of Zac Brightbill, who is playing Aaron, and Cera Baker playing Casey. If you know about Baltimore theatre, you know Zac Brightbill. He’s been everywhere and played everything from JD in Heathers to Prince Topher in Cinderella. We were so lucky to have him audition. And then we have someone who hasn’t done theatre in a while with Cera Baker. She has really fallen into the role and made it her own. She just owns the stage when she’s on it. And of course there are two incredible understudies supporting them. Cameron Walker who played Lonnie in Rock of Ages last summer at ASGT. He brings such a fun, unique dichotomy to Zac’s portrayal of Aaron. It’s so much fun to watch. We also have Sami Peterson, playing the understudy to Casey, who brings a really grounded and naturalistic approach to the character that you very rarely see. Cameron is also playing Gabe in the show (part of the overstudy cast.) Gabe is Aaron’s best friend and he’s kind of a lady’s man. Or at least he thinks he’s a lady’s man. He’s basically every Annapolis douche that you’ve ever met.
And you can’t mention the characters without mentioning Blake Martin’s performance as The Waiter. Blake is 18 years old. They’re just about to go into college and I truly believe that they are a crooner from a past life. You need to hear them sing “I’d Order Love.” I don’t want to spoil anything about it but it’s so awesome to see it and it’s so much fun.
So Blake Martin might be a reincarnation of various members of The Rat Pack, that’s what I’m hearing. That sounds wild.
Jake: Yes, I am very much convinced that they are.
That is fabulous. Cannot wait to hear that. Now, I know that you’ve performed at ASGT before— last summer in Bright Star— what is it like directing a show where you are outdoors and subject to the elements and in a very unique space?
Jake: I am so tired all the time! Seriously though, it’s been a challenge. You’ve got to get acclimated to everything. Once you step into a new space for the first time, it’s always like the first day of school. What am I going to wear? Are people going to listen to me? I’m one of the youngest people there and I’m supposed to be in charge of everything. Now I am older than three cast members, which isn’t even older than half, but so far so good. It’s a process. You go in and you’re nervous but eventually you fall in and you find your rhythm and you find what works. Through trial and error you develop a ‘play and listen’ relationship with the cast and crew. It comes together to be something wonderful and I hope that that answer made sense.
It absolutely made sense. Now I know before we officially got underway with this interview you were mentioning your stage manager and how much an integral part of this whole process they have been. Care to elaborate on that?
Jake: Our stage manager, her name is Beth Rendely. My stage manager is really my partner in crime. After every single rehearsal we would be on the phone for an hour talking about “next steps.” Even days where we didn’t have rehearsal, we’d be calling each other and planning literally every single thing. We planned things months in advance. I know I have harped on this a lot, but she did want me to mention this, so I will mention it. We are the youngest director and youngest stage manager that Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has ever seen in 60 years. And so we’ve kind of had to navigate things in a very different way. And we’ve done every step of it together. She just brings a level of organization and knowledge and care that you absolutely need from a great stage manager. I’d be so stupid not to mention her and not give her the props that she deserves.
I am so thrilled to hear that you have this great working partnership with your stage manager. That isn’t always the case but when it is, I think it lends itself to a much higher caliber of production. Now how is First Date different from other productions that you have directed? I know you mentioned you’d done some student and junior productions.
Jake: This is the only time where I have ever directed a show and had some cast members that were older than me. That has never happened before and I really did not know how that was going to go. I remember walking into my first blocking rehearsal and I was nervous. I was working with just the Aaron and Casey characters at the time and I was so nervous, I didn’t really know if it was going to work or how it was going to go. I remember calling Beth afterwards and just saying, “Oh my God, I can’t do this. I’m in over my head. I need help!” And Beth said, “Alright. Let me be in the room next time with you.” And we split focus— blocking and music. She was in the room and she was watching and she said “I think you’re being overdramatic because that went fine.” It was one of those things, I started uncertain and nervous but as soon as I found my rhythm and my footing, it became so much simpler and straight forward. It went from me thinking ‘I’m this kid telling them what to do’ to ‘we’re a team and I’m just helping put them where they need to go.’
Now we know that you’ve been in Baltimore and points all around throughout Maryland, on stages, directing shows, and all that jazz over the last seven years, and we’ve heard that you may be leaving us in the near-distant future for something like ‘the happiest place on earth.’ What would you say has been the most impactful moment of your performing or directing experience here in the Maryland* area?
Jake: Can I give two answers? I want to say that it was so many people coming out and seeing Footloose (Landless Theatre Company’s Footloose, May 2023 in Frederick, MD) and getting that moment that I’ve wanted ever since I was a kid where I get to take that last bow. Of course, since then, I’ve learned that every role is just as important and you don’t need ‘the last bow’ to have a great time. These past six months have really felt like a good “series finale” almost. I started out in the area, thinking “I’m going to be on stage.” And that’s going to be my thing. I was never good at it when I first started. I started when I was 11. When I was 11 I was lucky to be cast as a tree.
Now wait a minute, I didn’t see you when you were eleven, but you were fabulous by the time I met you at seventeen. And come on, don’t most 11-year-olds start off as trees or scenery or chorus-kid number 22? We can’t all be Little Cosette or Gavroche, some of us have to be trees.
Jake: True. I couldn’t play little orphan Annie, no matter how much I wanted! But working my way up through this community to play the lead role in Footloose at Landless Theatre— I had so many people from all throughout my life who had been a part of my theatre journey come out to see it. They drove an hour or two just to see me do that. And that has always been so magical. And getting that moment that I’ve always wanted ever since I was a little kid of just being “the last bow” and I know that’s so cheesy and corny and it’s actually not that important— but it was something that I had wanted as a kid and I fulfilled that little childhood dream and it felt deeply satisfying.
The other answer to that question is really this pivotal moment that has been the production of this show. Like you said, I’ve worked so many places over the past over the past eight years and I’ve met so many people. And so many of those people that I met years ago, that I haven’t talked to in years, that I met recently, or people that I still talk to have stepped in and offered to help, donated props, given advice, come in and worked as an intimacy choreographer. They’ve done all these different things for me and it feels like a collaboration of friends I’ve made along the way and it’s going to be put up on stage in five** days for everyone to see. While my name is on First Date as the Director, it’s way more than just me.
That makes you an incredibly smart and humble director. I can see that you recognize that no man is an island and that it takes a village to achieve greatness when it comes to theatre.
Jake: Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre always says it takes a community. And I know how that sounds and I didn’t really see it until I was on this side of it. It really does take a community to come together and put on a show as wild and fun and lighthearted— and a show that’s going to make you have that feel-good ending, that hopeful ending. It truly takes the community.
As you continue to pursue theatre throughout the lands— be it here in Maryland or in sunny, magical happiest-place-on-earth-land— what is the ultimate dream role for you?
Jake: My ultimate dream role? I’d like to return to teaching someday. For those that do not know, for the last two years I was a high school and then middle school teacher. Some health problems came up and I had to step away. I’m in that interesting phase where I’m trying to figure myself out but I’ve always known since I was a little kid that I wanted to teach and work with kids. I know you were probably expecting Broadway or Marvel Movie or something like that—
Actually, yeah, I was sort of expecting “Nick Bottom in Something Rotten” but this is a really fantastic, unexpected out-of-the-box answer that I’m loving.
Jake: Ultimately my big goal is to teach again. That being said, I did see Something Rotten recently at Second Start Productions and now I want to play Shakespeare really bad. And you know, it’s funny. I always thought Aaron from First Date was a dream role for me. But now, I cannot imagine playing him. I also want to play JD in Heathers. I’ve come close a few times. I’ve been second choice six times for that role. Maybe it’s not meant to be. We’ll see.
What is it that you are hoping audiences are going to take away from coming out to see First Date? I know you said it’s going to be a good, fun evening and I also heard you say that it’s going to be about 90 minutes! That’s always a win in my book.
Jake: I want people to watch First Date and to realize that we’ve all been there. We’ve all been on that awkward first date where we just overanalyzed everything. Every single awkward pause, who’s going to pay the check, what’s my first impression like, all of those things. We hyper analyze. I think it’s going to be a nice treat to watch this show with that lens. It’s hard not to smile when you realize, even though the show is campy and silly, there’s a little bit of truth in it.
Do you have an awkward first date or awkward date story that you want to share?
Jake: I guess my weirdest first date was my first date with my ex was at my brother’s wedding. I mean I have others but I think we’ll stick with that.
Totally fair! What would you say has been your biggest challenge in working on First Date?
Jake: As corny of an answer as this is, I think my biggest challenge was getting out of my own head. There were a lot of points in this process where I had some imposter syndrome, I had some nerves. But it truly was the talent of this cast and crew that kept my head on straight and made me come in as a leader and director because they deserved the best. I want to give them everything that they deserve. They were putting in the work and if they’re putting in the work that means that they believe in me. And if they believe in me why am I not believing in me?
That’s not corny at all, that’s actually really endearing. Now you mentioned cast and crew— who’s your choreographer? And your music director?
Jake: Our choreographer is the incredible Tia Silver. I met her through Rocky Horror Show at Stand Up For… Theatre. I was Brad. She was Janet. She would often help with the choreography and in that show there were a couple of choreography things that I needed help with. Tia would always go out of her way to help me. When she would start teaching me dance moves, I would pick them up instantly because she would explain them so well. I was applying to the show at the same time and I figured if she could teach me she could teach anyone. I asked her and she of course said yes.
Then, our music director is the incredible Paige Austin-Rammelkamp. If you know Maryland theatre, you know Paige. She’s one of the best there is. I met her through Bright Star here at ASGT last summer. She was the very first person I asked to be my music director because she truly is one of if not my favorite music director that I’ve ever worked with. I think she’s so smart and good at her craft. She’s so talented and she’s such a good teacher, she had to be the first person I asked. But she said she didn’t know when I asked her, so I started reaching out to other people but as soon as she said “Jake, I can do it.” Absolutely. Period. Welcome home.
This all sounds fantastic. All-star cast and crew, 90-minutes with no intermission, it’s a feel-good show, and people will be able to relate. And it’s going to be flanked on either side of the ASGT season by big flashy-smashy musicals (Head Over Heels & Footloose) but why should people come out to see First Date?
Jake: Because it’s fun! I don’t know much more of an answer. Right now I think a lot of people just want to have fun. This is a great chance to just sit down, turn your brain off for 90 minutes and enjoy some beautiful music and funny performances. You get to laugh really hard and just let go. You’ll get to reminisce about your own first date experiences and have a great, easy night out at the theatre.
If you had to organize your own version of “the perfect first date” with someone, where would you go, what would you do?
Jake: Doesn’t matter as long as it’s with the person I’m thinking about right now.
Aww. That’s perfect, adorable, and too cute. That’s a celebrity-quality answer. Every person who’s ever thought about going on a date with you is going to assume you’re talking about them. Well done! Now, if you had to sum up your experience of working on First Date here at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre in just one word, which word would you use?
Jake: Can I look up a word? Oh, I’ve got it. Ask me again!
Sum up your First Date experience with ASGT in just one word.
Jake: Growth.
Fantastic! Any last words you’d like to say about the experience, about ASGT, about your amazing cast, crew, and creatives?
Jake: I just want to take a second thank Zac Brightbill, Cera Baker, Cameron Walker, Sami Peterson, Blake Martin, Rose Hutchison, Emily Decker, Geraden Ward, and Fred Fletcher-Jackson. I also want to take a second to thank my incredible team Tia Silver, Paige Austin-Rammelkamp, and Beth Rendely. And I want to thank you guys for reading this and for coming to see the show!
First Date plays through July 22nd 2023 at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre— 143 Compromise Street in Historic Annapolis, MD. For tickets call the box office at (410) 268-9212 or purchase them online.
*Maryland and surrounding areas like DC and Northern Virginia
**five days from the time at which the interview was conducted in person
