Groff and Michele Will Stay with Spring Awakening Through May 2008

By Andrew Gans
and Adam Hetrick
11 Dec 2007

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele
Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele, who play, respectively, Melchior and Wendla in Spring Awakening, have extended their contracts in the Tony-winning musical at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre for six months.

According to a press statement, Groff and Michele will stay with the Steven Sater-Duncan Sheik musical through May 18, 2008.

As previously reported, Blake Bashoff ("Lost") and three-time Tony nominee Kate Burton will join the cast of Spring Awakening on, respectively, Dec. 18 and Dec. 21. Bashoff will succeed Tony winner Jonathan Gallagher, Jr. in the role of Moritz; Burton will take over The Adult Women roles through March 2, 2008.

In addition to his Tony-nominated performance in Spring Awakening, Jonathan Groff has also been seen on Broadway in In My Life. His other theatrical credits include productions of The Sound of Music, Fame, Bat Boy, Honk! and Godspell. Groff recently starred in the Public Theater's anniversary concerts of Hair.

Lea Michele received a Drama Desk nomination for her performance as Wendla in Spring Awakening; she also created that role in the show's Off-Broadway mounting. The actress' other Broadway credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Ragtime and Les Misérables. Michele also appeared in a regional production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Based on the 1891 expressionist play by Frank Wedekind, Spring Awakening won eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Spring Awakening features direction by Michael Mayer, choreography by Bill T. Jones, book and lyrics by Steven Sater and a score by Duncan Sheik.

The musical made its world premiere Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in June 2006. Spring Awakening transferred to Broadway the following November, where it continues to play at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

In 2008 Spring Awakening will launch a national tour beginning in San Francisco. International productions are currently in development in London, Japan and Germany. Casting is expected shortly.

Spring Awakening currently plays the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. For tickets call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.