Meet Our Theatre and Dance Class of 2022 Senior Spotlight Series: Ethan May in “Spring Awakening”

We’re back with another Senior Spotlight for "Spring Awakening,” this time featuring Etan May (He/Him/His) playing Melchior Gabor. Ethan is a fourth-year BFA Theatre Major with a Minor in Musical Theatre. 
 
Don’t miss your opportunity to see Ethan as Melchior Gabor in "Spring Awakening", a production of our Underground Series this semester. 
Performance dates for "Spring Awakening" are Friday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. 
For tickets and more information, visit: https://theatreanddance.wayne.edu/2021-2022/underground 
 
Ethan as Cord Elam in Oklahoma at Stagecrafters in 2019
Ethan as Cord Elam in "Oklahoma" at Stagecrafters in 2019
Ethan as Harry Houdini in the Ragtime at Stagecrafter’s in 2019
Ethan as Harry Houdini in the "Ragtime" at Stagecrafter’s in 2019

 


What has your experience been like working on this show? 

Working on Spring Awakening has been an absolutely incredible experience from beginning to end. The show is put together entirely by students (aside the lovely contributions of our faculty advisor, Danielle Wright), and it has made the entire process so much more exciting. I feel so loved and supported by the cast and the creative team, and I’ve never been more proud to be a part of a show. 
 
What has been your favorite part of the process? 
Honestly, my favorite part of the process has just been working with my peers. There’s an extra layer of trust and safety when you know that your directors and all of the people making this show happen are also your friends. The show is really heavy, and I’m glad I’ve been able to experience all of the emotion that comes with performing it with people I really love and trust. 
 
What advice would you give to students in our college? 
I think the only advice that I really feel qualified to give is to just keep pushing through adversity. Because of the pandemic, this will be my first time performing in-person at Wayne State. It’s been tough waiting all this time to be on stage, but now that I’m here, I’m so glad that I never stopped working. 
 
What are your future plans? 
I try not to have too many expectations of what will happen after I’m done with school, but as long as I find a way to keep doing theater, I’ll be happy. 
 
What is your favorite WSU memory? 
My favorite WSU memory was when I was running the projection cues for A Christmas Carol my sophomore year. Every time Tyler Black came on stage as Jacob Marley, everyone in the booth would recite his lines from memory as he delivered them. It was so much fun and I still remember all of the lines. 
 
What is your favorite show from the past at WSU? 
Favorite WSU show I’ve seen was Heathers my sophomore year. Absolute game-changer. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen. 
 
What is something interesting about you? 
I don’t fancy myself very interesting, but I can juggle! 
 
What is Spring Awakening about? 
Spring Awakening is a difficult show to summarize. The characters are German teenagers living in the nineteenth century, but their thoughts and emotions are portrayed through rock music. It’s a show about love, loss, sex, angst, rebellion, and standing up for what you think is right.

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