JUSTIN VOLLRATH (PHOEBUS DE MARTIN)

Introducing our dashing leading man "Phoebus de Martin," as played by Justin Vollrath!

* Some answers may have been edited for length or clarity.

Justin Vollrath. PHOTO: C the World Photography

JUSTIN VOLLRATH: (Age: 19, GRADE: 2nd Year University)

Favourite Musical: Les Miserables

Guilty Pleasure Musical: The Music Man

Musical I Think Is Underrated: Spring Awakening

Favourite Song From a Musical: "Heaven on Their Minds," Jesus Christ Superstar

Musical Dream Role: Judas Iscariot, Jesus Christ Superstar

Favourite Musical Role I've Played: Marius, Les Miserables

Q1: HOW MANY OTHER PRODUCTIONS HAVE YOU BEEN IN?

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JUSTIN: Too many to count! I’ve been doing shows since I was in elementary school, but this is my fifth show with P&P.

Q2: WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE ROLE YOU'VE PLAYED THUS FAR? WHY?

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JUSTIN: I’ve loved all my roles, so it’s hard to choose. Reverend Hale from The Crucible was a really challenging role I got at a pretty young age, and I enjoyed playing Marius Pontmercy  from Les Miserables because it was a more interesting role than I usually get. 

Q3: WHO IS PHOEBUS DE MARTIN?

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JUSTIN: Phoebus is a charming and flirtatious soldier who is eager to return to Paris from the front. His plans of rest and relaxation are cut short when he meets Esmeralda, a gypsy, and his duty gets in the way of his heart.

(L-R) Kaleigh Wiens, Morgan Isherwood, Michael Pinho, Justin Vollrath

Q4: WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF PLAYING PHOEBUS DE MARTIN?

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JUSTIN: Phoebus is a bit of a womanizer with a flirtatious streak, which I’m absolutely not. There are certain scenes with Esmeralda which, to people who know me, are so uncharacteristic they’ll actually laugh.

Q5: HOW IS THIS CHARACTER DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS THAT YOU HAVE PLAYED IN P&P SHOWS?

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JUSTIN: Phoebus is a character who doesn’t take himself very seriously. He’s quick with a joke, but it’s more of a defense mechanism than anything. Most of my characters have been single-minded and direct, so having that internal contradiction is really fun to toy with.

Q6: IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY OTHER CHARACTER IN 'HUNCHBACK,' WHO WOULD IT BE?

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JUSTIN: I would play Frollo, because his scenes have so much emotion. His character has so much humanity and conflict that it’s hard to call him a villain at some points, and I think that’s a really fascinating dynamic.

Q7: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG IN 'THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME?'

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JUSTIN: My favourite to listen to would be “Hellfire”, especially with Jeremy’s performance of it, but I love the song “Someday” that Piper (Esmeralda) and I perform more and more each time we go through it. It’s really beautiful, and Piper’s such a good actress playing off her is easy.

Q8: HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE?

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JUSTIN: Stress! Stress! More stress!

Q9: HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED ACTING? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST ROLE?

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JUSTIN: My first big role was Lumière in a school production of Beauty and The Beast. I was about nine or ten years old. I had just moved from Quebec, so I felt a little typecast.

(L-R) Michael Pinho, Samuel Reeves, Ethan O'Krafka, Justin Vollrath

Q10: WHY SHOULD AUDIENCES COME AND SEE 'THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME?'

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JUSTIN: Because it’s a criminally underrated show with hauntingly beautiful music and complex characters that you grow to feel for. The show has so much of everything that by the end it feels like you’ve read a good book.

Q11: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ACTORS?

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JUSTIN: Take every part you’re offered! Even if it’s not the part you want, or a lead, you’ll learn from it anyway, and you’ll make some unforgettable memories.

Also, if you’re looking to see some pretty decent actors, come see Hunchback!!

(L-R) Justin Vollrath, Jeremy Vandenhelm