Deaf West's production of SPRING AWAKENING floored the critics when it premiered in California, prompting the Los Angeles Times to write, "It's hard to enumerate all the ways in which Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING is so very, very good." Now this unapologetically brilliant new production is coming to New York.
When it debuted on Broadway, SPRING AWAKENING's raw and honest portrayal of youth in revolt shattered expectations of what a musical could do, earning it 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (for writer, Steven Sater) and Best Score (for composer, Duncan Sheik). Deaf West's innovative new production takes this already revolutionary musical to electrifying new heights by choreographing sign language into the production, intensifying the rift between the lost and the longing teenagers and the adults who refuse to hear them. Directed by Michael Arden, Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING is full of knockout performances, explosive music and soul-stirring emotion.
Frank makes for a magnetic Wendla, not in the least thanks to the vibrance and intensity of her signing. Most of her dialogue is voiced by Katie Boeck, who follows her just off the spotlight. As well, having actors with doubles allows the deaf performers to interact with their 'other' selves. You have to appreciate it when Moritz, overwhelmed with new-found sexual knowledge, hands off a burning cigarette to his alter ego (Alex Boniello, doing great work).
It's been twelve years since Deaf West mounted a Broadway production-let's hope we don't have to wait that long for another. Same goes for the immensely talented first time director Arden, who saw the amazing potential of Duncan Sheik's gorgeous music and knew just what to do to wake up Broadway with it once again. Hopefully there is far more to come from this pairing. A-
2006 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
2006 | Broadway |
Broadway Transfer Broadway |
2008 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2010 | US Tour |
NETworks National Tour US Tour |
2015 | Broadway |
Deaf West Broadway Revivial Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Spring Awakening |
2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Spencer Liff |
2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Michael Arden |
2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical | Ben Stanton |
2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | She Loves Me |
2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Spring Awakening |
2016 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Spring Awakening |
2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Spencer Liff |
2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Michael Arden |
2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Ben Stanton |
2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Lucy Mackinnon |
2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or off-Broadway) | Spring Awakening |
2016 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Michael Arden |
2016 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Ben Stanton |
2016 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Spring Awakening |
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