A Luminous Presence in the Darkness of "Spring Awakening"
Part of the cast of “Spring Awakening”: Clockwise from upper left: Justine Rafael, Mia Sempertegui, Madison Grepo, Kay Sibal and Leianna Weaver (Photo by TJ Ramirez)
Warning: The sublime music of Spring Awakening isn’t a varnish to soften an unflinching view of adolescence that was based on an eponymous German play from the deceptively optimistic Belle Époque era of the 1890s. The Broadway cast soundtrack comes with a parental advisory.
Entertainment for All Survivors of Puberty
Against a backdrop of desperation, bad choices, and flickering hope, Justine Rafael plays the role of Thea. At age 24, she is not far removed from her teenage character. “Being a young woman who went through puberty, I connect with the girl who wants to be a grown woman, who wants to find out things about sexuality and boys,” relates Ms. Rafael. “Puberty can be an uplifting experience. I identify with the turning and yearning that happens before womanhood.”
Ms. Rafael is the daughter of Shirley Trinidad and stepfather Angelo Trinidad. She was born in Riverside, California. Her mother and her biological father, Arturo Rafael, immigrated from Manila.
Spring Awakening is a calming departure from her role as the female understudy in the East West Players critically acclaimed production On this Side of the World. “I was always in ‘work’ mode because I had to learn all the roles just in case one person couldn’t perform,” she recalls. Now that she fills a single part in “Spring Awakening,” she says, “My mind and heart are in touch with the story. I have a strong emotional connection when I sing and dance.”
Within the songbook, she highlights “My Junk” as her favorite. She performs the solo number alongside the character of Anna played by her real-life friend, Leianna Weaver.
An Entertaining Family
Ms. Rafael is the youngest of three siblings who, together, perpetuate the stereotype of Filipinos singing and dancing since the cradle. Her brother, AJ Rafael, is a prominent YouTuber and TikToker, and Jasmine Rafael, plays Imogen in the original Broadway cast of & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
(L-R) Siblings Justine, Jasmine and AJ Rafael (Photo courtesy of Justine Rafael)
The term “stage fright” wasn’t in her vocabulary when she began performing for an audience. “I’ve been singing all my life.” She was in the church choir when her father was the pianist and composer. She adds, “My mom made me sing and dance at Filipino parties.”
She explains, “I zone in on my work so I never get nervous. I’m in the mindset of ‘why should I get nervous?’ I’m doing what I’ve always loved.”
While she has a BFA in Music Theatre from University of California, Irvine, she doesn’t advise that all actors earn a college degree. “While I loved my experience in higher education, I believe you can have just as rich an experience in drama right out of high school. Your success depends more on how you carry yourself in the theater world.”
The Futility of Beauty to Defeat All-consuming Hate
As much as she puts her faith in her skill and talent, she believes music and art aren’t the panacea for all of society’s ills. Despite the end of the pandemic, she states, “I don’t think things will ever go back to normal. I think many people have always had a prejudice against Asians. They were using Covid as an excuse to show their hatred against Asians, especially against Asian women. Nothing I do will change this.”
Closed minds will miss out on a generational talent. She admits, “I have so many things to figure out. One thing I know for sure is this opportunity to connect with Positively Filipino readers is a great honor.”
Anthony Maddela has a master’s degree from USC, but he’s rooting louder for the football team of his University of Washington Huskies.
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