The Barn Stage Company's SPRING AWAKENING Returns

Presented by The Barn Stage Company, Cabaret at The Merc's Summer Series ends in September with the Tony Award-winning musical sensation, SPRING AWAKENING. The show runs Thursday-Sunday for two weekends at The Truax Building in Old Town Temecula. This production returns to Temecula after a sold-out run last summer at The Mercantile Building in Old Town. SPRING AWAKENING will be directed by J. Scott Lapp, with Associate Direction & Choreography by Evan D'Angeles and Musical Direction by Mike Kestler.

Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials and tribulations, and the exhilaration of the teen years. Spring Awakening explores the confusion and desperation that ensue when the onrushing tide of hormones meets the ignorance of children and celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy, and passion that you will never forget.

SPRING AWAKENING has a book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik and it's based on the play by Frank Wedekind. It debuted on Broadway in 2006 and won 8 Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. The show first became popular because of its controversial content, and then became a huge hit with its Grammy Award-winning rock score! The show is slated for a revival in New York this fall with the Los Angeles based company Deaf West, and Michael Arden directing.

"SPRING AWAKENING is the perfect union of an impactful, youth-driven story and a high-quality, award-winning musical. It's the perfect show to remount after last summer's exciting run, as we aim to stage bold, adventurous plays for our savy audiences with extraordinary talent and professionalism that our patrons have come to expect. If you missed it last time, don't wait to get your tickets," says Artistic Director J. Scott Lapp.

The company is comprised of an incredible group of young, up-and-coming talent from all over Southern California. In the role of Melchior, San Diego actor Nick Eiter (Dean Hyde in All Shook Up at Moonlight, Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Harold Hill in The Music Man) is pleased to return to this show after last Summer. Joining him is Emily Chelsea (Sam in Original the Musical, Trashley in Home Street Home and Ilse in Spring Awakening), a local actress, who is returning to the show as Wendla after graduating from Cal State Fullerton. Audiences may remember Austyn Myers (Gavroche in the Broadway Revival of Les Miserables, First Wives Club and Lost in Yonkers at the Old Globe) from 13, who will be coming back to play the role of Moritz. The role of Ilse will be played by Lindsay Joan (Natalie in Next to Normal at SDMT) who won a Craig Noel Award for her performance. Martha will be played by Kaylee Bryant, who is joining the cast for the first time. Her television credits include Chasing Life, American Horror Story and multiple Disney Channel Shows. The company is rounded out by Jonathan Sangster (Ernst), Zack Zumbek (Hanschen), Nicholas Alexander (Otto), Alexandra Slade (Anna), Rebecca B. Thomas (Thea), Zackary Scot Wolfe (Georg) and Joseph Arreola (Adult Man), Katharine Larsen (Adult Female). Brennen Winspear and Jillian Batt are the swings.

Mike Kestler will act as the Musical Director. Evan d'Angeles returns as Associate Director/Choreographer and the production is directed by Artistic Director, J. Scott Lapp. The design team for SPRING AWAKENING is as follows: Set Design by Matthew Herman, Lighting Design by Curtis Mueller, Sound Design by CBC Technical; Costume Design by Zahra Husein. Casting is by Evan D'Angeles, and the Production Stage Manager is Amy Tyler.

RUN DATES | TIMES: Preview at 8 p.m. SEPT. 17. Opens on SEPT. 18. Through SEP. 27. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 pm & 8 pm on Saturday and 3 pm on Sundays. LOCATION: The Truax Building, 41923 Second Street, Temecula, CA. 92590. TICKETS: $30. Can be purchased by visiting www.TheBarnStageCompany.com or www.TemeculaTheater.org or by calling the Old Town Community Theater Box Office at 1-866-653-8696.

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