Steven Sater, the Tony-winning book writer and lyricist for Spring Awakening, told Playbill.com that about 14 different territories worldwide are interested in producing the musical. The territories most likely to see productions open within a year include London, Japan and Germany. Sater looks forward to revisiting Wedekind's original play, which was transformed for the musical. According to Sater, "The German production is an opportunity to go back to the original play — to go back and take Wedekind's language and have to create new German." The challenge for the authors will be to determine which words will remain in English for the various foreign language productions, as "English is such an international pop language," Sater says.
Spring Awakening previously announced that the show's national tour will launch in the fall of 2008 at San Francisco's Curran Theatre. No further tour dates have been announced.
Spring Awakening won eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With direction by Michael Mayer and choreography by Bill T. Jones, the musical is based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play. The musical made its world premiere Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in June 2006. It transferred to Broadway the following November, where it continues to play to packed houses at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
For more information and tickets visit www.springawakening.com.