Spring Awakening Headed Back to Broadway

Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed revival of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's Spring Awakening is on track for a Broadway opening this fall, according to Deadline. The production, directed by Michael Arden, will be produced by Ken Davenport at a venue to be announced.

Performed simultaneously in English and American Sign Language, this Spring Awakening played a sold-out run at the Rosenthal Theatre in Los Angeles in the fall of 2014, and earned a return engagement at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts that closed last month. Based on the 1891 Frank Wedekind play, and set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers.

Arden's production, which is choreographed by Spencer Liff, features a cast of 27 that blends hearing and deaf performers. The return engagement starred (in alphabetical order) Joey Antonio, Hillary Baack, Miles Barbee, Sean Barna, Katie Boeck, Joshua Castille, Julian Comeau, Daniel N. Durant (Switched at Birth), Treshelle Edmond (Glee), Sandra Mae Frank, Kathryn Gallagher, Gabrielle Garza, Sean Grandillo (Secrets and Lies), Karla Gutierrez (Switched at Birth), Amelia Hensley, Lauren M. Luiz, Daniel Marmion, Austin McKenzie, Andy Mientus (Smash, Les Misérables), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, First Date), Natacha Roi (ER), Rustin Cole Sailors, Howie Seago (Beyond Silence), Daniel David Stewart, Ali Stroker (Glee), Alexandra Winter, and Alex Wyse (Masters of Sex).

The original Broadway production of Spring Awakening won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Deaf West is perhaps best known for its revival of Big River, which played Broadway in 2003, with Arden featured in the cast.