Theater Latté Da and the University of Minnesota Announce SPRING AWAKENING Cast

Theater Latté Da announced today casting for the Tony Award winning musical Spring Awakening with book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, and based on the play by Frank Wedekind. Theater Latté Da will present Spring Awakening in partnership with the University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at the Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre April 12 – May 6, 2012. 

"I saw a school matinee of Spring Awakening on Broadway. It was one of the most volatile and thrilling performances I've experienced," said Director Peter Rothstein. "We have been talking with the University of Minnesota Department of Theatre Arts and Dance for a number of years; when the rights for Spring Awakening became available, I knew it was the perfect collaboration." 

Spring Awakening will use the talents of both professional actors and University of Minnesota students. The production features Michelle Barber (multiple roles), James Detmar (multiple roles), Cat Brindisi (Wendla), Larissa Gritti (Isle), Tyler Michaels (Mortiz), David Darrow (Melchoir), and students Rebecca Wilson (Martha), Jack Tillman (Ernst) and Grant Sorenson (Hanchen). 

Michelle Barber recently appeared in the Jungle Theater's Hamlet and is a staple at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, recently performing in Jesus Christ Superstar. James Detmar recently appeared in Heroes at the Bryant Lake Bowl and Glengarry Glen Ross at Torch Theater. Cat Brindisi was Olive in Theater Latté Da's recent production of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Larissa Gritti appeared in the Ordway Center's Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Beauty and the Beast. Tyler Michaels was the title role in Illusion Theater's Batboy and performed in Bloomington Civic Theatre's Oklahoma!David Darrow is currently in Theater Latté Da's production of Beautiful Thing. 

The ensemble includes Derek Prestly (Theater Latté Da's Spelling Bee), and University of Minnesota students James Kennedy, Ross Orenstein, Charles Robison, Elander Rosser, James Person, Jenna Frankenfield, Kelly Hansen, Felicia Stevens, Ruth Glaeser and Laura Hickey.

Spring Awakening is a dynamic rock adaptation of Frank Wedekind's expressionist play about a group of teenagers coming of age in an uncomprehending world. The play was banned when first premiered in 1891, and the contemporary musical is still provocative in its uncompromising gaze at the trials, tears and exhilaration of the teen years. Winner of eight Tony Awards and hailed as Best Musical of the Year by the New York Times, New York Post, Star Ledger, Journal News, New York Observer and USA Today, Spring Awakening is the celebration of the rebellious imperatives of youth. 

"The opportunity to bring Theater Latté Da to the University of Minnesota Theatre Arts and Dance Department is exciting on multiple levels," said Carl Flink, department chair and choreographer for Spring Awakening. "Our students will get to work and create alongside professional theater artists from the community as well as the creative staff of Latté Da and this collaboration exemplifies the kind of rich partnerships our department is growing and building, in addition to our current wonderful relationship with the Guthrie Theater. Personally, I can't wait to sink my teeth into the choreographic challenges of bringing this work to the stage!" 

The creative team also includes music director Denise Prosek (Theater Latté Da co-founder), costume designer Rich Hamson (Theater Latté Da's Spelling Bee, Evita, Gypsy, Floyd Collins and La Bohème), and sound designer Tom Sandelands (Theater Latté Da's Beautiful Thing, Susannah, A Christmas Carole Petersen and Gypsy). University of Minnesota graduate student Jonathon Offutt is the scenic and lighting designer under the mentorship of Marcus Dilliard (Theater Latté Da's Song of Extinction, Violet, The Full Monty, All Is Calm, Old Wicked Songs and Susannah).

Tickets for Spring Awakening are $19-$39 and are for sale online at www.tickets.umn.edu or by calling 612.624.2345. Students with a valid high school or college ID may purchase tickets for $10 for performances through April 22, after which student tickets are $15. Faculty with a valid ID may purchase tickets for $15 throughout the run. Group discounts are also available by calling 612.339.3003.

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