Gideon Glick Goes Wild

Gideon Glick made his Broadway debut as Ernst in Spring Awakening in 2006, after which he went on to perform in Roundabout Underground’s production of Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate and Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, until his role was cut during the musical’s lengthy preview period.

Now, Glick returns to the stage as Jacob in MCC Theater’s world premiere of Thomas Higgins’ Wild Animals You Should Know, co-starring Tony Award winner Alice Ripley, which begins previews on November 3 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. TheaterMania spoke with Glick in between rehearsals about his career.

THEATERMANIA: How does it feel to be back on stage?
GIDEON GLICK: It’s lovely. Spider-Man was a great experience. Julie Taymor’s passion and creative energy was great. I enjoyed being in the room and speaking with her. The public response was difficult, but it makes you tougher. It was my first show that was not well received by the public. I remember Julie always saying, “What’s the point of doing anything if you’re not afraid of it?” I also feel that way with Wild Animals You Should Know.

TM: Did you have a feeling the Geek Chorus, which you were part of, might get cut once a new creative team came in?
GG: I had a feeling when Julie was let go. But what excited me about Spider-Man was Julie’s version, so when we were let go, I was ready for it.

TM: What did you do after Spider-Man ended?
GG: I went to Europe, came back and shot my first indie feature film, Gods Behaving Badly. I play the God of Love, which is a large part. It’s a great film. Christopher Walken is in it, along with Alicia Silverstone, Edie Falco, Phylicia Rashad, and Sharon Stone.

TM: What interested you about Wild Animals?
GG: I felt I needed to play this part. I thought the relationship between the two boys is fascinating, and I was also drawn to how realistic and extraordinary the writing is. I feel fortunate that I’m able to do new work.

TM: How would you describe your character, Jacob?
GG: He is very sensitive, but is strong as well. Jacob is thoughtful and sweet, but is an outcast. He came out in middle school and he knows who he is. He is in love with Matthew, whom he used to be friends with when they were younger.

TM: What is his relationship like with Matthew?
GG: This is Jacob’s first love. He becomes intoxicated and blinded by it. It is a subdominant relationship. Jacob is insecure and worships Matthew. He allows Matthew to get away with a lot of things. Jacob gets trampled on a bit. Matthew needs Jacob because he feeds off of it.

TM: What kind of journey do these characters go on?
GG: Each character goes on a different journey. Jacob’s journey is seeing who Matthew is. I enjoy every moment of this play. Trip Cullman, our director, has helped me create something that is very nuanced.

TM: Jacob was a Boy Scout as a child. Were you?
GG: Yes, I was a Jewish Boy Scout! But I quit the Boy Scouts. I also quit karate and soccer. The only thing I stuck with was theater. It was the only thing that spoke to me.