Theater News

Deaf West's Spring Awakening Brings Its West Coast Student Body to Broadway

Former ”Smash” costars Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus transfer with the company.

Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus return to Broadway as Ilse and Hanschen in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening.
Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus return to Broadway as Ilse and Hanschen in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening.
(© David Gordon)

The revival of Spring Awakening, returning to Broadway this fall for a limited run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, will feature the company of rebellious students from its original Deaf West production.

The cast will feature Broadway veterans and former Smash castmates Krysta Rodriguez (First Date) as Ilse and Andy Mientus (Les Misérables) as Hanschen — both of whom performed the show at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, prior to its Broadway transfer. As previously announced, Oscar winner Marlee Matlin also joins the cast for her Broadway debut.

Members of the original Deaf West company now slated to make their Broadway debuts include Miles Barbee (Otto), Katie Boeck (Voice of Wendla / Guitars, Piano), Alex Boniello (Voice of Moritz / Guitar), Joshua Castille (Ernst), Daniel Durant (Moritz), Treshelle Edmond (Martha), Sandra Mae Frank (Wendla), Kathryn Gallagher (Voice of Martha / Guitar), Sean Grandillo (Voice of Otto / Bass), Amelia Hensley (Thea), Lauren Luiz (Heidi / Voice of Thea), Austin McKenzie (Melchior), Daniel David Stewart (Voice of Ernst), Ali Stroker (Anna), Alexandra Winter (Harp / Gretl), and Alex Wyse (Georg). The Los Angeles cast is also joined by swings Robert Ariza, Lizzy Cuesta, Van Hughes, Ren, and one more to be announced.

Produced by Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold, and Deaf West Theatre, this is the New York transfer of Michael Arden's acclaimed 2014 revival, which is performed simultaneously in English and American Sign Language. Based on the 1891 Frank Wedekind play, and set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late-19th-century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers.

With book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, the production features choreography by Spencer Liff. The creative team includes Dane Laffrey (scenic and costume design), Ben Stanton (lighting design), Gareth Owen (sound design), and Lucy Mackinnon (projection design).

Final casting of the adult roles will be announced at a later date.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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