"Degrassi" Star Epstein to Succeed Riabko in Spring Awakening National Tour

By Adam Hetrick
June 2, 2009

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" star Jake Epstein will assume the role of Melchior Gabor in the national tour of the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening in July.

Riabko, who originated the role in the national tour following his Broadway debut in the musical, will exit Spring Awakening at the conclusion of the Philadelphia engagement on June 28.

The national touring company of Spring Awakening includes Blake Bashoff (Moritz), Christy Altomare (Wendla), Steffi D (Ilse), Krystina Alabado (Ensemble), Julie Benko (Ensemble), Todd Cerveris (Understudy Adult Men), Chase Davidson (Swing), Steffi D, Kate Fuglei (Understudy Adult Women), Gabrielle Garza (Anna), Kimiko Glenn (Thea), Kate Hampton (Adult Women), Sarah Hunt (Martha), Anthony Lee Medina (Otto), Andy Mientus (Hanschen), Ben Moss (Ernst), Krista Pioppi (Swing), Angela Reed (Adult Women), Perry Sherman (Ensemble), Matt Shingledecker (Georg), Claire Sparks (Ensemble), Henry Stram (Adult Men) and Lucas A. Wells (Ensemble).

As on Broadway, Michael Mayer directs; the touring production also reunites the entire creative team from the award-winning New York production.

Additional tour engagements for Spring Awakening include:
Louisville, KY (June 2-7 at the Kentucky Center)
Baltimore, MD (June 9-21 at the France Merrick Center)
Philadelphia, PA (June 23-28 at the Kimmel Center)
Washington, D.C. (July 7-Aug. 2 at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater)
Chicago, IL (Aug. 4-1, at the Cadillac Palace)
Milwaukee, WI (Oct. 6-11 at the Marcus Center)
Kansas City, MO (Oct. 13-18 at the Music Hall)
Austin, TX (Oct. 20-25 at Bass Hall)
Costa Mesa, CA (Nov. 17-29 at the Orange County PAC)
Denver CO (Dec. 1-19 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts)
Hershey, PA (Jan. 5-10, 2010 at the Hershey Theatre)
Cincinnati, OH (Jan. 12-24, 2010 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts)
Charlotte, NC (Feb. 2-7, 2010 at the Blumenthal PAC)
Rochester NY (Feb. 9-14, 2010 at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League)
Atlanta, GA (March 9-14, 2010 at the Fox Theatre)
Dallas, TX (March 23-April 4, 2010 at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts)
Miami, FL (May 11-16, 2010 at the Arsht Center)
Orlando, FL (May 18-23, 2010 at the Carr PAC)

Based on the 1891 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.

Songs featured in the Tony-winning score are "All That's Known," "And Then There Were None," "Blue Wind/Don't Do Sadness," "Left Behind," "Mamma Who Bore Me," "My Junk, "The Bitch of Living," "The Dark I Know Well," "The Guilty Ones," "The Song of Purple Summer," "The Word of Your Body," "Those You've Known," "Totally Fucked," "Touch Me," "Whispering" and "The Mirror-Blue Night."

For further information visit SpringAwakening.