Tony Awards Close-Up: Michael Arden Explains the 'Fever Dream' that was SPRING AWAKENING

Michael Arden has been a part of the New York theatre community for quite a while, having made his debut in the 2003 revival of BIG RIVER. This year he stepped behind the scenes, making his Broadway directing debut with Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING (for which he was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical). How did he end up here? watch to find out!

Arden made his Broadway debut in Deaf West and the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Big River. Directing credits include La Ronde, for The Forest of Arden; For the Record: John Hughes, both in Los Angeles and NYC; A Tale of Two Cities (Associate) on Broadway; and various other plays in bedrooms and kitchens. Other theatre credits include The Times they are a Changin'; Ragtime (Avery Fisher); It's Only Life; Swimming in the Shallows; Ace; Juno; As You Like It; The Winter's Tale; The Secret Garden; Pippin (Mark Taper Forum); and Aspects of Love, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn (Menier Chocolate Factory, London). Film credits include Source Code, Bride Wars, The Good Shepherd, Over/Under, My Eleventh and The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Michael can currently be seen on the series "Anger Management" on F/X and FOX. Other TV credits include "GCB," "Nurse Jackie," "Royal Pains," "Unforgettable," "Off the Map," "Kings," "The Closer," "The Forgotten," "Bones," "The Return of Jezebel James," "Cashmere Mafia," "Grey's Anatomy," and "NUMB3RS." His concert work includes: Barbra Streisand, Chris Botti, BELOW 54, Feinstein's at the Regency and Joe's Pub. Michael also formed the site-specific theater company The Forest of Arden and their immersive production of La Ronde is currently being developed into a feature film. Training: The Julliard School. Michael recently appeared as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the La Jolla Playhouse.

Deaf West's innovative new production took this already revolutionary musical to electrifying new heights by choreographing sign language into the production, intensifying the rift between the lost and longing teenagers and the adults who refuse to hear them.

The American Theatre Wing's 70th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony Award winner James Corden, will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 12, 2016 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City.