Talking to Broadway star Casey Likes about directing and starring in SPRING AWAKENING at Scottsdale Community Players

Casey Likes in Back to the Future: The Musical
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

by Gil Benbrook

The past two years have been a whirlwind for actor and Phoenix native Casey Likes. From making his Broadway debut in the  musical Almost Famous, playing Marty McFly for a year and a half in the Broadway musical adaptation of Back to the Future, and collaborating with Lin-Manuel Miranda on the concept album for his new musical The Warriors, Likes has been busy making a name for himself in the Broadway theatre world. But even with all of his success in New York, he has remained connected to his Arizona roots, recently taking part in a New York based reading for the upcoming play Bob & Jean: A Love Story for Arizona Theatre Company that they're presenting next month. Now, he’s stepping into a new challenge—both directing and starring as Melchior Gabor in a production of Spring Awakening for Scottsdale Community Players in April  

Despite his growing Broadway career, Likes has maintained strong ties to his home state where he co-directed and co-starred in Rent at Scottsdale Community Players last year during his Back to the Future vacation. Now, he’s taking things even further with his upcoming production of Spring Awakening, a project that not only showcases his skills as a performer but also marks his directorial debut on a major scale.  

While in the middle of planning for the upcoming production, and all of the other things Likes has on his plate, he took a few minutes to sit down to reflect on the past year—his lengthy Back to the Future run, his experience working with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and his excitement for what’s to come. He also shares his insights on directing Spring Awakening, how he became friends with the show’s book writer and lyricist Steven Sater, and why this show is so meaningful to him. 

Casey Likes with Roger Bart and EH Petropolus backstage at
 Back to the Future: The Musical
photo by Michael Kushner

You just came off a year and a half run playing Marty McFly in Back to the Future on Broadway. What was it like stepping into such an iconic role, and how did you balance paying homage to Michael J. Fox’s performance while making the character your own? 

Likes: "Yes I did, and it was the experience of a lifetime. Honestly the whole past 3 years of Almost Famous and Back to the Future has been really unbelievable. But specifically getting to be Marty for so much of that was surreal, getting to meet kids at the stage door who reminded me of me, and were dressed as Marty and they would tell me that I was their first Marty. To just try to make them feel the way that Michael made me feel was really the whole goal. There were some things you just know you have to do to do that, certain inflections, voice traits, but otherwise it was special to get to combine myself with Michael and what Marty is on the page and to see how those same kids (and adults) reacted to the show."

The production of Back to the Future features incredible special effects and requires non-stop high energy. What were some of the most challenging or exciting parts of performing in a show with such a high level of technical wizardry and demanding physical requirements? 

"The whole show was truly a huge marker in the sand for me in terms of pretty much showcasing the absolute most amount of physical exertion possible. It was absolutely thrilling to prove to myself that I could get my body and mind to keep up with running, punching, diving, dancing, driving (wink wink), all while singing and keeping up with Roger Bart. It felt like my Running Man some days but the product and the magic it was I thought made it all worth it."

You recently worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda on the studio recording of his musical adaptation of The Warriors. What was that experience like, and what can you tell us about the music and your role in the project?  

"Aw man I’m so glad you asked. This project is really just so special and funny to me because what I have put online about it truly is true, he just Dm’d me one day and I was in a studio with him a couple days later to record it. And the bonus part is months later it came out! I play “Jesse” who is a member of the rival new york gang “The Orphans” and I get to sing this song with Utkarsh Ambudkar opposite Jasmine Jones and Phillipa Soo. It’s a concept album, which means he and Eisa Davis got crazy names like Coleman Domingo and Nas on it but so far that's what it is…"

Casey Likes and cast in Back to the Future: The Musical
photo by Matt Petosa

Last Fall you also took part in a reading of a world premiere play for Arizona Theatre Company that they are presenting this spring, Bob & Jean: A Love Story. What was that experience like?

"Another really special project! I just thought it was so exciting to work on something Arizona bred in New York after all this time. The piece is a really personal and such a sweet story and I was so happy to be in the room with the great playwright Robert Shenkkan and Matt August. Really looking forward to watching that show's journey."

Now you’re taking on a new challenge by directing and starring as Melchior in Spring Awakening. What drew you to this project, and how do you balance being both the director and the lead actor?  

"Spring Awakening is in my top 3 favorite musicals of all time. From a very young age I was affected by the music and the way the words the characters used were the words I needed and hey, still need as a young person. I’ve been closing in on a way to involve myself with it in any way, but I never quite realized the way I’d eventually have to do it was in EVERY way. I always have had an idea of what Spring Awakening should look like and feel like, if you don’t know the show takes place in 1891 Germany, and to reimagine a show that I thought was great wasn’t something I imagined doing, until eventually I realized a vision for this show that I knew I had to take full responsibility for, and I had to to do it now, and now we are here. I am thrilled, the whole show feels like an artistic release of pretty much everything I have to offer right now as an actor, singer, dancer, director, filmmaker, producer, and more."

Spring Awakening is such a raw and emotional show. What aspects of the story or themes are you most excited to explore in your production?  

"When I was first introduced to the show the themes of forbidden love and exploration and the rebellious nature of Melchior always resonated strongly with me. As I’ve grown older I have begun to really recognize the themes of oppression, generational, and situational divide within the show. Also I am just so excited to explore those themes with powerhouse actors and singers who can examine every nook of that material."

Casey Likes and Steven Sater
photo courtesy Casey Likes

You’ve become friends with the show's book writer and lyricist Steven Sater. How did that relationship come about, and has he given you any advice or insight that has influenced your approach to the show?  

"I actually became friends with Steven as he asked me to be a part of a reading of his new show Murder at the Gates, which we quickly recognized an artistic understanding in each other as well as just generally laughing and getting along. Then we started doing Tik toks together because he's quite successful on it, and our videos started doing really well, so we kept doing them. So finally by the time that Spring came up, his blessing and excitement was so meaningful to me. In terms of his involvement with my approach, I made sure I ran a few ideas across him to make sure I was on the right track and not interfering with his vision as well for his piece. It’s been so key to my process but beyond that I didn't want to spoil too much in case he ever sees the production. "

I know you'll be including a short video introduction by Sater for this production, but as the show's director, what other themes in the play resonate with you the most and are there any other fresh ideas you hope to bring to the production to make it your own? 

"Well Gil, you know how I am about secrets. What I will say is that I have been directing this show in my head for years really but have especially focused on this production since last summer. This is a BIG and BOLD and MODERN musical revival with a big starry broadway and tv filled cast and a rocking band, and how often does that happen?"

Spring Awakening has had a huge impact on audiences since it premiered. What do you hope your production will bring to both longtime fans and those experiencing it for the first time?  

"I hope to do something with Spring Awakening that my favorite musical revivals have done, make a version that respects and does not try to improve on the original, but do something completely different and also completely valid. I hope this production affects me the same way the original Spring Awakening affected me; in a deep, rock and roll, sometimes sexy, fun, and real way."

You’ve had such an exciting career so far, from Broadway to films, recording projects and directing. What’s next on your horizon after Spring Awakening. and is there a dream role or project you’d love to take on in the future?

"A million Gil. But overall, I hope AZ and NYC keep taking me back to tell my stories along the way."

CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets for Spring Awakening, which runs April 4-13