Trevor Einhorn – Dirty Dancing

By starrymag | May 24, 2017

By: Sharon Kurack

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

 

A) So, Dirty Dancing, obviously comes out May 24. I just did an episode of “The Last Tycoon” on Amazon. That’s going to be coming out I think sometime this summer. And that was really cool because it’s just such a great cast: Kelsey Grammer and Matt Bomer. I got to work with Kelsey Grammar. And then “The Magicians” is gearing up for Season Three in a couple months, so pretty excited about that.

 

Q) For those born in the late 90s to 2000s, could you talk about some of the plot of Dirty Dancing?

 

A) The original story tells what happened to the Houseman Family when they go away in 1963 to a Catskills resort. The youngest of the family, “Baby,” falls in love with one of the dance instructors that works at the Catskills. It’s basically their love story— one summer in 1963. What’s great is this newer version dives into a little bit more of the characters in the world. You get to know about the mom and dad, sister and a little bit more about Neil (my character). So, it’s just a little bit more fleshed out in the world than a family summer trip to the Catskills and how one of the members falls in love with someone who works there.

 

Q) Who is your character and what role does he play in the story? How does he relate to the main character, “Baby”?

 

A) My character is Neil Kellerman. The resort the family stays at is the Kellerman Resort and Neil Kellerman is the grandson of Max Kellerman, who owns the whole resort. Basically, he’s the heir to the throne. So, he is looking to take over this place because it’s the family business and it’s his job this one summer to step it up and make sure that all the activities are going on. He fills everybody’s “cup of entertainment.” If there is something going on at the Catskills, he is the one to organize it. He’s around the same age as Baby so there’s almost that instant connection that the two should be friends…maybe something more than friends. We play into that a little bit and it becomes just a really nice relationship, almost a confidant for her, someone to talk to when she’s away from her family.

 

Q) The original was released in 1987 and was extremely successful. Was there any pressure felt by you and the cast on doing the remake?

 

A) Obviously, when you hear the title Dirty Dancing, it’s sort of like on this “Holy Grail” of things not to touch so there was a little bit of hesitation. But when we read the script, and [knowing the talent] of the cast in it, it was sort of a “no-brainer” that we were going to add something to it, not try to just remake it or touch it. We were going to just make a fresh, reimagined take on it. Still set in the 60s, but it has a very modern feel to it. There’s now this musical element to it, which is great, and the cast is just so talented that when you have all those pieces all the worries go away [immediately]. As soon as we started, we were having so much fun and we knew that it was a “tip of the hat” to the original, not trying to step on anyone’s toes. (No pun intended.)

 

Q) Did you get a chance to talk to Lonny Price (who played Neil Kellerman originally)? Did he offer any advice?

 

A) I didn’t get a chance to talk to Lonny. There were talks when we first started of hopefully someone from the original [being around], but there were no cameos or anything like that. I was such a fan of what he did; it was a really good inspiration and a big part to fill because he was so good at it. Also, I’m a really big fan of Lonny as well. He’s a great theater director and had a documentary that was recently released on Netflix about an experience he had with Stephen Sondheim. He’s just a really fascinating guy. I don’t know what happens post-Dirty Dancing musical remake, but hopefully there’s a chance we can get together. But I haven’t talked to him; he’s so great. An honor to play his part.

 

Q) Dirty Dancing (as clear by the title) involves a lot of choreography and intense practice. Do you have a background or much experience in dance? How often did you practice?

 

A) I have a background in bar mitzvah dancing, mostly just swaying back and forth. [laughs] We had dance rehearsals, but luckily Neil didn’t have a huge amount of dancing that I had to do. But I did learn how to tango and I learned the Foxtrot. So, I learned these fun partner dances that can add to the repertoire of my skill set. It was a lot of fun. In terms of dance background, that mostly comes from being drunk at parties, but I think I have enough rhythm to fake it. (Fake it until you make it.) There’s a lot of rehearsal that went into this. My wife actually is a dancer so we knew a little bit. I know so much of that world that I appreciate all of it. It is complicated, but some of these people make it look so effortless that it’s so fun to watch. I did have a lot of fun dancing— we all did.

 

Q) The original film was called “a metaphor for America in the summer of 1963” by the Times. Could the 2017 version also be a metaphor, and if so, for what time in American history?

 

A) Oh, that’s really a good question. I think what’s nice is that we dive into a little bit more of the social issues. It’s a really versatile cast and there’s a lot of different things we touch on. There’s an interracial relationship that gets played, there’s also the political aspect of the 60s. So, we definitely lean into it a little bit more, but I don’t know if it represents any other time period in history. There’s always that 80s vibe of Dirty Dancing and we play into that as little bit, too, but I think it stays pretty true to the original in that 1960-time frame.

 

Q) The original film was shot in 1987 but depicted the 1960s. What has changed (if anything) for a 2017 production to keep it relevant?

 

A) Basically the biggest difference is that it’s a modernized version and it’s got the same iconic songs that you remember from the original, but it’s just done in a new musical twist. So, some of your favorite songs will be sung by the cast members, but not in traditional format. It just doesn’t feel like anything other than it was meant to be that way. I really enjoy the musical aspect of this version and also that we get to learn a little bit more about the future of what happened to Baby and Johnny, which is kind of cool. We dive a little bit into post summer of ’63.

 

Q) Controversial issues of abortion as well as economic status tensions were tackled in the 1987 version. These were issues that were head-turning in both the setting’s time period as well as the production period. Are these issues still relevant and controversial today and also shown in the 2017 production?

 

A) Yes, I think we lean into it even more. You tackle social issues like race, women’s rights, socio-economic division of the country in that time and it’s kind of crazy that we can relate a lot of that in today’s political climate. It’s no better time than to dive into it with a fresh perspective so we definitely continued to play into that. The script was done so beautifully, it felt like it was a perfect combination with this new version.

 

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from this version of Dirty Dancing?

 

A) I hope they have that nostalgic feeling that their favorite characters from the original are a little bit more expanded and that it’s a fun musical. I hope that they like the music as much as they did in the original. Now that it’s sort of a musical twist, it’s fun to have everyone sing along to it. I think the talent in this version just steps it up and is so great that I hope everyone watching has as much a good time as we had making it. We really did go to summer camp. To get a job where you get to go to summer camp for a couple months and then make these great friends, it was really just a fun experience and I hope that it shows.

 

Q) Could you say you hope they have the time of their live?

 

A) [laughs] I was going to say it, but I said in my mind, “Don’t do it. Don’t do it, Trevor.” Yes, they’re going to have the time of their life.

 

Q) You are also known by Fillorians as Josh Hoberman, part of the class of vanished Brakebills’ students from Syfy’s tv show “The Magicians.” Are there any similarities between Neil Kellerman and Josh Hoberman?

 

A) They’re both pretty positive guys. I will say the nice part about Neil Kellerman in this newer version is that he is sort of like a little more lovable version than in the original. There’s a lot of comic relief where I got lucky enough to have. I feel like Josh has that sort of same element. The drama isn’t heightened with him; he’s mostly there for a good joke and not take everything so seriously. So, I feel like the balance of both of them is that they just try to bring a lot of joy and laughter to both elements. They have that same positive energy and layered character that brighten the plot. Josh is really fun to play and the world of “The Magicians” is so much fun to dive into the crazier it gets with Josh, it just works. He’s a werewolf one week, he’s ripping out the bong the next like it’s nothing and in between he became a naked rat and is totally fine with all of it. That’s kind of great that there’s a character that rolls with the punches.

 

Q) Your character Josh is also in the novels. Have you read them? (If so, can you compare and contrast Book Josh vs TV Josh? If not, have you heard any comparisons by avid readers?)

 

A) Yeah, the books are fantastic. I met up with Lev Grossman (the author) and he was really complimentary, telling me he didn’t know if I was the exact thing he had in mind for Josh. But the version they’re creating in this television series is so much fun. To get his blessing on it is sort of like the ultimate compliment because I think the character in the book is also the comedic relief; he’s really fun-loving. But we take a lot of liberties in the show. We don’t follow the books word for word. The story takes a lot of liberties and the fans seems to really be okay with that. Like most books made into television shows, you have to take a little creative liberty. So, I think Josh is sprinkled in and out of the books so that the character comes in and out of pivotal moments. I think we do a good job of attacking that in the TV show.

 

Q) The novel describes Josh as the least natural in magical skills, but has untapped power. Does this hold true in the show? (He -does- have some culinary skills, though.)

 

A) It holds true to Trevor. [laughs] I don’t know what my power is and it’s definitely untapped. When we find it, look out. We know that there’s “chef Josh,” who really is like a foodie. At the end of the day, Josh is really perfect with getting everybody really high. His major magic power is he knows how to party; he’ll get you the best drugs and he’ll get you the best meal. I can’t wait to find out what other powers Josh has that are untapped.

 

Q) Hopefully we’ll get to see it in Season Three.

 

A) I hope so, too. That’ll be a lot of fun.

 

Q) So, in the season finale Josh and Margo (Summer Bishil) travel between Fillory and the Fairy Realm. Margo pays a high price for travel (her eye). Did Josh have to pay anything or did Margo end up paying for both?

 

A) I kind of got out of there unscathed. There was a line, I can’t remember if it made it into the finale or not, but the Faerie Queen was just like, “Him you can take, but we’re going to have to talk about Fen (Brittany Curran).” And it was a moment of “I don’t really care about Josh.” Like, “you can get him out of here no problem.” So, I can’t remember if it was kept in or not, but it was a moment of “yeah, no, we don’t want anything from him.” He just sort of skated on by no problem. So, yeah, I didn’t have to pay anything other than a bruise from traveling realm to realm. Josh is totally cool. Maybe that’s his untapped power: just skating on by.

 

Q) Now that Eliot (Hale Appleman) is back in Fillory, is Josh still considered a High King of Fillory? (Like how “once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia?)

 

A) I think Josh’s reign of Kingdom is done. Once “Hakuna Matata” failed, he passed the crown on really quick. But if they need a substitute king, I’m sure he’s like fifth on the list.

 

Q) Can you tell us any teaser of something in store for Hoberman in Season Three?

 

A) God, you know I can’t do that. There’s no way to do that only for the reason as I don’t know. [laughs] I tried to play it cool for a second, was like “oh my God, wait til you find out,” but literally I have no idea. That I really can’t tell you even if I wanted to. I will say that all of the same writers are coming back and the amazing team of producers and writers that we have on the show if they continue down the same road they’ve done so well with Season One and Season Two, we’re in for a great Season Three. The fans can trust they’re not going to be let down.