AOL RED to Broadcast Spring Awakening & DeGrassi Mash-Up

AOL RED, the online home for teens, announced today that it will broadcast "Spring Awakening & Degrassi Live Verbal Mash-Up."  The broadcast, found on www.beRed.com, is available as of this evening, Thursday, May 24. 

"The special teen town hall discussion features the casts of the hottest musical on Broadway, Spring Awakening, and The N, the nighttime network for teens, hit series 'Degrassi: The Next Generation.' For the first time ever, the casts of both shows joined forces to discuss teen issues including sex, peer pressure, crime, relationships, personal identity, love and young adulthood.  The event was moderated by actress and child advocate Rosie O'Donnell and was kicked-off by actor Zach Braff," state press materials.

The Spring Awakening cast members who participated were Tony-nominees Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher Jr., as well as lea michele, Gideon Glick, Lilli Cooper and Remy Zaken.

AOL RED was present at New York's Eugene O'Neill Theater earlier this month to tape the one-hour frank discussion.  Teen specialist Dr. Tiffany Brown was also on hand to offer advice, as the casts answered questions from the audience about how both shows relate to current teen topics. AOL RED will broadcast the special starting today and The-N.com will feature a special highlight-clip coinciding with the AOL RED roll out.  

Nominated for a chart-topping eleven 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Spring Awakening is "a barrier-breaking mix of morality, sexuality and rock 'n' roll.  Featuring an original score by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, with direction by Tony-nominated Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening, currently playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway, is the timeless story of the pleasures and pains of adolescence -- from uncontrollable emotions and undeniable passions to first loves and lasting regrets," as described in press materials.

"'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' winner of both a Television Critics Association Award and a Teen Choice Summer Series Award, is a fictional, dramatic series that tackles tough issues in a realistic way.  'Degrassi' introduces a new generation of kids going through the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the 21st century at the newly refurbished Degrassi Community School.  The series follows Emma (Miriam McDonald), Manny (Cassie Steele), Jimmy (Aubrey Graham), Alex (Deanna Casaluce), Liberty (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer), Spinner (Shane Kippel), Toby (Jake Goldsbie), J.T. (Ryan Cooley), Darcy (Shenae Grimes) and Peter (Jamie Johnston) as they journey through high school, as well as alumni Paige (Lauren Collins), Ellie (Stacey Farber), Marco (Adamo Ruggiero), Craig (Jake Epstein) and Jay (Mike Lobel) as they experience life post 'Degrassi.'"

Visit www.beRed.com for more on AOL RED, www.springawakening.com for more on Spring Awakening and www.degrassi.tv for more on "Degrassi."