Additional casting for Deaf West's Spring Awakening

"Smash" stars Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez will be making their returns to Broadway to join previously announced Oscar winner Marlee Matlin in the cast of Deaf West Theatre's revival of Spring Awakening.

Mientus will reprise his role of Hanschen from the Los Angeles production, whilst Rodriguez reprises Ilse. Further casting (with 20 Broadway debuts) includes Miles Barbee (Otto), Katie Boeck (Voice of Wendla), Alex Boniello (Voice of Moritz), Joshua Castille (Ernst), Daniel Durant (Moritz), Treshelle Edmond (Martha), Sandra Mae Frank (Wendla), Kathryn Gallagher (Voice of Martha), Sean Grandillo (Voice of Otto), Amelia Hensley (Thea), Lauren Luiz (Heidi/Voice of Thea), Austin McKenzie (Melchior), Daniel David Stewart (Voice of Ernst), Ali Stroker (Anna), Alexandra Winter (Gretl), and Alex Wyse (Georg).

Four out of the five swings have also been announced and include Robert Ariza, Lizzy Cuesta, Van Hughes, and Ren.

Final casting for the adult roles will be announced shortly.

Previews for Spring Awakening are scheduled to begin at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 8 September 2015, before an opening night on 27 September. The strictly limited engagement will end on 9 January 2016, with no possibility of an extension.

The Deaf West Theatre show, which is performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English, is directed by Mientus' fiance Michael Arden and features choreography by Spencer Liff. Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold, along with Deaf West Theatre, are producing the Broadway production.

Based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 expressionist play of the same name, Spring Awakening follows "the lives of a group of adolescents as they navigate their journey from adolescence to adulthood in a fusion of morality, sexuality and rock 'n' roll."

The musical features music by Duncan Sheik, and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. The narrative explores "how young people navigate the thrilling, confusing and mysterious time of their sexual awakening. The story centers around a brilliant young student named Melchior, his troubled friend Moritz and Wendla, a beautiful young girl on the verge of womanhood."

The creative team features scenic and costume design by Dane Laffrey, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Gareth Owen, and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon.

Spring Awakening originally opened on 10 December 2006 at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre. It picked up an impressive 8 Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Musical. It closed on 18 January 2009, after 859 performances. The cast also featured "Glee" favourites Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele, as well as "Smash" star Krysta Rodriguez.

The show also ran at London's Novello Theatre from 21 March to 30 May 2009.

- by Tom Millward