Stephen Spinella Cast in Broadway's Spring Awakening

Tony Award-winner Stephen Spinella will take on the adult male lead role of Spring Awakening, the new Broadway musical that was previously a hit at the Atlantic Theater Company.

Spring Awakening will begin previews on Thursday, November 16th--a day earlier than originally announced--at 8pm at the Eugene O'Neill Theater (230 West 49th St). Opening night is set for Sunday, December10th at 6:30pm.

Rehearsals begin in October with the entire Off-Broadway youth ensemble returning: Skylar Astin (Georg), Lilli Cooper (Martha), John Gallagher Jr. (Moritz), Gideon Glick (Ernst), Jonathan Groff (Melchior), Brian Johnson (Otto), Lea Michele (Wendla), Lauren Pritchard (Ilse), Phoebe Strole (Anna), Jonathan B. Wright (Hanschen), and Remy Zaken (Thea). 

Michael Mayer (three-time Drama Desk Award-winner for A View from the Bridge, Side Man, and Thoroughly Modern Millie) again directs. The creative team remains intact: choreographer Bill T. Jones, costume designer Susan Hilferty, set designer Christine Jones, and lighting designer Kevin Adams.

Spinella won a Tony Award for his performance as Prior Walter in both Angels in America: Millenium Approaches and Angels of America: Perestroika.  He also received a Tony nomination for his work in James Joyce's The Dead, while other Broadway credits include Our Town, Electra and A View from the Bridge.  He is also known for playing Miles Papazian on "24."  Film credits include Connie and Carla, Cradle Will Rock, The Jackal and Love! Valour! Compassion!.

"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, his troubled friend Moritz and Wendla, a beautiful young girl on the verge of womanhood.

The producing team for Spring Awakening is Ira Pittleman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards & Jerry Frankel.