SPRING AWAKENING to Hit South Florida with Powerhouse Director

"All shall know the wonder of Purple Summer." is the closing lyric to Spring Awakening; a musical about humans, who're made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions and covered with a welcoming heart hidden by assumptions. The beauty of Spring Awakening has affected audiences all around the world, and now, it is back in our Tri-County area. At the helm of it is BroadwayWorld Award Winning Director Darius J. Manuel, who just quaked our community with a powerful and conceptual production of Carrie The Musical, which won the 2016 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Ensemble, Best Lighting Design and Best Musical.

Spotlight on Darius J. Manuel. Most recently known as the 2016 BroadwayWorld Award Winning Director/Choreographer. He is a whimsical and ferociously energetic Theater Artist who creates innovative, thought- provoking work in an adventurously quirky and motivationally sassy way. He commands a room with a fiery exuberance and a youthful vitality that makes students feel comfortable and safe. He fosters intimate connections between his peers, through playful collaboration, attentiveness, and whole-hearted joy, even in the toughest of situations. He leads and follows with grace, loyalty, an infectious laugh and a smile.

"Well, if I really have to answer that question, since you say I must, right now, I'm a freelance artist, who's been fortunate enough to stay booked! And my ultimate goal is to be an Artistic Director of a Theatre Company one day. From when I was 16 and barking orders at my Thespian Troupe, combined with 7 years worth of mistakes, tears and successes at various theatre companies; having ideas, learning the art of collaboration, embracing differences while still holding an opinion about the world around us and wanting to create art that is direct commentary of that, especially while teaching young people how to heal ... yeah. I want to eventually do that. I just need someone to train me! (He laughs) But, I'm young, and still in the process of working on the "heart" part. Daily, I'm making it more and more open!" He smiles.

This 2016 BroadwayWorld Award winning Director has moved back to South Florida and began taking the community by storm, yet again only eight months after affecting young artists in the South Florida community with "Carrie the Musical" and going on to sweep at the 2016 BroadwayWorld Awards, winning Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Choreographer, Best Lighting Design and Best Musical.

As the newest Artistic Associate/Director at the Award Winning Area Stage Company and Conservatory (ASC), under the leadership of Artistic Director John Rodaz and Executive Director Maria Banda-Rodaz, Darius J. Manuel, who originally directed Carrie the Musical with the Florida Children's Theatre in October, and won the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Director and Best Choreographer, is currently at the helm of Spring Awakening with ASC, which is set to open early June, as well as other rich, raw and innovative productions, intensives, workshops and classes.

He was most recently seen on the Broadway National Tour of "ELF The Musical" touring the East Coast and Canada; spreading Holiday Cheer and receiving rave reviews for his work.

Darius will also be leading FAU's Theatre Residential Program for High Schoolers June 5th to June 9th. This program is a 5 day sleep-away theatre intensive designed to cultivate young artists' awareness of the theatre world, themselves, and how to effectively walk into it. Registration is currently open for students all around the state of Florida and it's bound to be something you won't want your child to miss.

Theatre companies, drama programs, parents and all lovers of the theatre; there is a new addition to the South Florida Theatre scene and he is charging this hot Florida air with energy, passion and a youthful dynamic that is new, fresh and unparalleled!

"Young people have my heart. And I have always been a fan of musicals. So directing a very conceptual and emotionally charged production of Spring Awakening is a Dream. I feel the young artists in our community need this piece!"

Holding a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts and endless amounts of love, passion and a huge sense of adventure, his goal is to empower young artists and encourage them to make something beautiful in a world that is filled with so much ugly; "to take all of their ache and make it sing".

Darius will be playing the role of TERK in the South Florida Regional premier of Tarzan the Musical and GATOR in Memphis the Musical. Both productions are apart of Slow Burn Theatre Company's 2017/2018 season.

"Though performing is where I started, my voice does far more than sing. I love teaching, directing and coaching just as much as I do performing. But what our community needs right now is stronger educators who are compassionate leaders and speak up for what truly affects the youth in our community. I don't know much of what my future holds, but what I do know is I'm happy in sunny South Florida with people I love and I'm meeting so many more. New York treated me so well, but at the end of the day, it doesn't NEED me; I feel that there are some young people in the South Florida Theatre community that just might. Yes, I'm still learning, still growing, and grateful that I've been given countless opportunities to make fierce art. And I can only hope for countless more."

He is sure to continue to impact our community in ways we won't understand until it happens. Look out for him! And if you can, let your teens work with him!

Visit www.dariusjmanuel.com or more information.