Spring Awakening Sets Official Broadway Opening for December 10; Gallagher, Groff, Michele, et al. to Star

The Broadway production of the musical Spring Awakening will open at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on December 10, with previews slated to begin on November 17. The show, which is based on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play of the same name about teenagers coming of age in Germany, has music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. It was first presented earlier this year by the Atlantic Theatre Company.

As at the Atlantic, the show will be directed by Michael Mayer and features choreography by Bill T. Jones. The Atlantic creative team has also been re-assembled: Christine Jones (set), Susan Hilferty (costumes), and Kevin Adams (lighting).

As expected, the entire youth ensemble of the Atlantic production will be on board for the Broadway run, including Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele, who played the leading roles of Melchior Gabor and Wendla Bergman, as well as Rabbit Hole star John Gallagher, Jr. as Mortiz. The cast also includes Skylar Astin (Georg), Lilli Cooper (Martha), Gideon Glick (Ernst), Brian Johnson (Otto), Lauren Pritchard (Ilse), Phoebe Strole (Anna), Jonathan B. Wright (Hanschen), and Remy Zaken (Thea). No annoucment has been made about the casting of the two adults who play numerous roles in the show; Tony Award winner Frank Wood and Mary McCann played those parts at the Atlantic.

In order to do Spring Awakening, Michele has dropped out of the upcoming Broadway revival of Les Miserables, in which she was set to play Eponine. Her replacement will be named shortly, according to a production spokesperson. In addition, Groff bowed out of the Paper Mill production of Godspell and has since been replaced by Dan Kohler.