Epraim Sykes
The
“Hairspray Live!” Interview
with
Kam Williams
L’Chiam
Ephraim!
Seaweed J. Stubbs is a hip and kindhearted dancer who befriends Tracy Turnblad in detention and teaches her some new moves. He is also the son of Motormouth Maybelle (Jennifer Hudson) who falls in love with Tracy’s best friend, Penny (Ariana Grande).
Ephraim was an original cast member of “Hamilton” when the 11 Tony Award-winning musical opened on Broadway in August 2015. Prior to that, he appeared in four other Broadway musicals — “Motown the Musical,” “Newsies,” “Memphis” and “The Little Mermaid.”
His television credits include “Vinyl,” “Smash” and the Emmy Award-winning comedy “30 Rock,” and he can be seen in the upcoming Woody Allen series “Crisis in Six Scenes.”
Kam
Williams: Hi
Ephraim, thanks for the interview.
Ephraim
Sykes:
No,
thanks for having me, Kam.
KW:
What
was it like working on such an historic show like Hamilton?
ES:
Omigosh!
It was a trip! An incredible journey, to say the least. I started
working with it two or three years ago when it was just a reading,
all the way though Off-Broadway and then on Broadway. It's an honor
and a blessing to be a part of something that's become a part of
American culture, changed theater and touched so many people
KW:
Tell me
a little about your character in Hamilton, George Eacker?
ES:
He's
the guy who killed Alexander Hamilton's son, Philip, in a duel close
to the same spot where Hamilton himself was slain by Aaron Burr.
KW:
Wow!
What a coincidence!
ES:
Yeah,
it's kind of weird.
KW:
Why did
you leave Hamilton?
ES:
I
needed to take a break because my body was kind of beaten down from
having done such a strenuous show for almost two years. I'd been on
Broadway non stop for almost a decade. so, my body was kinda tired.
And literally, on the day that I started my medical leave, I heard
about Hairspray.
KW:
Seems
like you've done a lot on the stage. How did you get from St.
Petersburg, Florida to Broadway. What's your background?
ES:
To be
honest, I came more from a concert, dance and music background. I did
ballet, jazz and modern dance in a performing arts high school. I
also studied a musical instrument and grew up singing in the church
choir. After high school, I entered Fordham's Alvin Ailey program, so
I was really concentrating on dance. After I got my degree and
finished dancing with the Ailey Company, I got my first Broadway
audition, which really altered the trajectory of my career.
KW:
Which
is your preference, the stage, TV or film?
ES:
There's
nothing like live theater where you can actually feel an audience
react to you in real time. But I really do have a love for the film
and TV worlds as well.
KW:
Tell me
a little about your approach to playing Seaweed in Hairspray? Did you
watch a video of the original Broadway production?
ES:
Absolutely!
But I have to approach it differently, just because I'm a different
person. However, I did study Corey Reynolds, Elijah Kelley, Clayton
Prince and everybody else who's played Seaweed in order to better
develop my version of him.
KW:
What's
it like working opposite a couple of powerhouses like Jennifer
Hudson, who plays your mom, Motormouth Maybelle, and Ariana Grande,
who plays your love interest, Penny?
ES:
I have
to admit it's a bit nerve-wracking coming into the studio with some
giants like them, but it's exciting overall to be a part of it,
because they are not only talented but down-to-earth, sweet loving
people who love their work. I'm excited to see what we all cook up
together.
KW:
It
seems like this production has the most star-studded cast of all,
including a return of Harvey Fierstein who originated the role of
Edna Turnblad on Broadway.
ES:
I think
it's going to be a fun time. The great thing about Hairspray is that,
like Hamilton, the show's the star. The story itself is extremely
timely and relevant.
KW:
What
message do you think people will take away from Hairspray?
ES:
The
power of the story is that sometimes, when our words fail, music
prevails. Music can breakdown barriers!
KW:
Ling-Ju Yen asks: What
is your earliest childhood memory?
ES:
Walking into the doors of the church where my father was pastoring. I
got to experience God at a young age.
KW:
Was the
church a meaningful spiritual component of your formative years which
shaped you?
ES:
Yes, and it remains a driving
force in my life to this day. It's a constant that's helped me combat
anything that's come against me, especially my own fears.
KW:
Who
loved you unconditionally in childhood?
ES:
My family, my parents, my sisters, my grandparents, and even my
church family, my first dance teachers and my theater family .
KW:
When
you look in the mirror, what do you see?
ES:
I see
Ephraim. Someone who's never been before and will never be again.
Something that's perfectly and uniquely me. Something that God
created on purpose.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
ES:
I'm not that great a cook. [Laughs] But I do really enjoy my own
spaghetti.
KW:
The
Morris Chestnut question: Was there any particular moment in your
childhood that inspired you to become the person you are today?
ES:
Watching my father unite a city
with love during a race riot. I still really admire and look up to
him, and try to be like him. That brought out my heart for the
community.
KW:
If you
could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
ES:
Oh,
that's easy. I'd like to see Michael Jackson perform live while in
his prime.
KW:
What is
your guiltiest pleasure?
ES:
It's
somewhere between eating really good food and binge-watching really
great movies and Netflix type of stuff.
KW:
The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who
you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?
ES:
I try to be as funny and extroverted both places, but I can
actually be introverted and pretty shy on the red carpet. At home,
I'm always cracking jokes and saying ridiculous things. I can be my
full self at home.
KW:
Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone,
is there a remake you'd like to star in?
ES:
That's
another great question. What comes to mind is one of my favorites,
West Side Story.
KW:
Larry
Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
ES:
Wow! The flying dog from The NeverEnding Story. And the huge, monster
dog from The Sandlot.
KW:
Judyth
Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people
share?
ES:
Self-assurance. They know how unique and special they are.
KW:
The
Pastor Alex Kendrick question: When do you feel the most content?
ES:
When I'm around great live
music.
KW:
The
Dana Perino question: What keeps you up at night?
ES:
My goals. My big ideas and my
dreams.
KW:
Teri Emerson asks: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
ES:
I had a really great one last
night with my girlfriend.
KW:
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your
footsteps?
ES:
Find
what it is you love to do and run non-stop at it, and the doors will
open up for you.
KW:
The
Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?
ES:
As
somebody who tried to bring people together.
KW:
Finally,
what’s in your wallet?
ES:
Not
much! [LOL] An MTA Metro card for New York City that takes up too
much of my money.
KW:
Thanks
again for the time, Ephraim, and best of luck with Hairspray Live!
ES:
Thank
you very much, Kam.
To
see a trailer for Hairspray Live!, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S0rGGs3v1k
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