Spring Awakening to Launch National Tour in Fall 2008

By Andrew Gans
and Zachary Pincus-Roth
30 Apr 2007

Jonathan Groff in Spring Awakening.
Jonathan Groff in Spring Awakening.
photo by Joan Marcus

A national tour of the acclaimed new musical Spring Awakening — which features a book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik — will launch in the fall of 2008.

An April 30 press statement also says there are plans for productions in the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea and Australia.

Spring Awakening, which plays the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, features direction by Michael Mayer and choreography by Bill T. Jones. The musical is based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play, which was scandalous in its day for addressing sex, violence and suicide.

Two actors play all the adult roles, and the others in the ensemble cast plays teenagers. Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele play the lead roles of two teens drawn to each other in a world where parents, ministers and teachers create an atmosphere of shame, silence and ignorance.

The complete Broadway cast comprises Skylar Astin, Gerard Canonico, Lilli Cooper, Jennifer Damiano, Matt Doyle, Christine Estabrook, John Gallagher, Jr., Gideon Glick, Jonathan Groff, Robert Hager, Brian Charles Johnson, Ken Marks, Frances Mercanti-Anthony, Lea Michele, Lauren Pritchard, Krysta Rodriguez, Stephen Spinella, Phoebe Strole, Jonathan B. Wright, and Remy Zaken.

Spring Awakening began previews at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Nov. 16, 2006, and opened Dec. 10, 2006. Its world premiere was Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company, where it opened June 15, 2006.

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is at 230 West 49th Street. For more information on the show visit springawakening.com.