Cast change in Deaf West's Spring Awakening tonight

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Deaf West Theatre's revival of Spring Awakening welcomes two new principals at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre tonight. Alexandria Wailes and Elizabeth Greene assume the adult women roles previously played by Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and Golden Globe winner Camryn Manheim, respectively. Matlin and Manheim played their final performances on 10 January 2016. The production itself is scheduled to close on 24 January 2016.

The complete cast (in alphabetical order) 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), Elizabeth Greene (Adult Woman), Russell Harvard (Adult Man), Amelia Hensley (Thea), Lauren Luiz (Heidi/Voice of Thea), Austin McKenzie (Melchior), Andy Mientus (Hanschen), Patrick Page (Adult Man), Krysta Rodriguez (Ilse), Daniel David Stewart (Voice of Ernst), Ali Stroker (Anna), Alexandria Wailes (Adult Woman), Alexandra Winter (Gretl), and Alex Wyse (Georg).

Spring Awakening began previews on 8 September 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, and officially opened to positive reviews on 27 September.

Spring Awakening features music by Duncan Sheik, and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. This revival production is performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English, directed by Michael Arden and features choreography by Spencer Liff.

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 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 is produced on Broadway by Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold, along with Deaf West Theatre.

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

Alexandria WailesElizabeth Greene

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