Atlantic's Spring Awakening Now to Begin Previews May 19

Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's Spring Awakening, the first musical to be presented by the Atlantic Theater Company, will begin previews on May 19th, a day later than was originally announced.

The world premiere production will still open on June 15th for a limited run through July 9th at the Atlantic Theater Company (336 West 20th Street).  Presented by ATC with Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, Spring Awakening will feature music by Grammy Award-nominee Duncan Sheik ("Barely Breathing"), book and lyrics by Steven Sater (Carbondale Dreams), choreography by Bill T. Jones (The Seven) and direction by Tony Award-nominee Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie). 

Spring Awakening will feature a cast of fourteen led by Tony Award-winner Frank Wood (Side Man, Hollywood Arms), Atlantic founding member Mary McCann (Broadway's The Old Neighborhood, ATC's The Night Heron), John Gallagher Jr. (Rabbit Hole), Jonathan Groff (In My Life), Lea Michele (Fiddler on the Roof) and Christopher Clark, Michele Cobham, Lilli Cooper, Chris Garneau, Jared Goldstein, Brian Johnson, Lauren Pritchard, Jonathan B. Wright and Remy Zaken.

"Based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 masterpiece "The Awakening of Spring," Spring Awakening is the contemporary musical adaptation of one of literature's most controversial plays," according to press notes.  The show "boldly depicts a dozen young people and how they make their way through the thrilling, complicated, confusing and mysterious time of their sexual awakening. Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's score feature songs that illuminate the urgency of adolescent self-discovery, the burning intensity of teen friendships and the innate suspicion of the uncomprehending adult world."

The story centers around a brilliant young student named Melchior (Groff), his troubled friend Moritz (Gallagher Jr.) and Wendla (Michele), a beautiful young girl on the verge of womanhood.

The design team for Spring Awakening features scenic design by Christine Jones, costume design by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty (Wicked), lighting design by Kevin Adams, sound design by Brian Ronin and musical direction by Kimberly Grigsby.

Spring Awakening continues Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's longstanding working relationship. They most recently collaborated on Nero: Another Golden Rome, Sater's play with music that played San Francisco's Magic Theatre. The team presented the New York premiere of Umbrage at HERE and are developing The Nightingale, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, which has been work-shopped at the O'Neill and La Jolla Playhouse. Sater provided the lyrics for Sheik's acclaimed album "Phantom Moon" and their original songs have been featured in Michael Mayer's film A Home at the End of the World and the forthcoming independent feature Brother's Shadow.

Spring Awakening received an acclaimed American Songbook concert staging at Lincoln Center last season.

The musical will play Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $60.00 and are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200 (Telecharge.com). Please note: there will be no matinee performance on Saturday, May 20. There will be an added performance 7:30 pm performance on Sunday, May 21.

Eighteen seats--located on stage--will be onsale at every performance for $10 each.  Tickets may be reserved in advance by calling (212) 691-5919 ext. 1092 or may be purchased at the box office (336 West 20th Street) two hours prior to curtain.