SPRING AWAKENING Original Broadway Cast: Where Are They Now?

The groundbreaking rock musical Spring Awakening premiered on Broadway in 2006, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, and redefining what contemporary musical theatre could sound and feel like. With music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, the original cast launched a new generation of stars, including Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, John Gallagher Jr., and more.

Now, two decades later, BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at what the cast of this era-defining musical has been up to since it first took the Broadway stage.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele originated the role of Wendla Bergmann in Spring Awakening on Broadway. Following Spring Awakening, Michele was launched into superstardom when she starred as Rachel Berry on the TV show Glee. In 2010, she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Television Comedy. That same year, she was recognized in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People List for her performance.

In 2011, Michele made her feature film debut in New Year's Eve. She starred as Hester Ulrich on the Fox series Scream Queens from 2015–2016 on Fox, and as Valentina Barella on the ABC sitcom The Mayor in 2017.

In music, Michele released her debut single in 2013, "Cannonball". Next, her debut studio album, Louder (2014), debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. In 2017, she released her second studio album, Places. In 2019, she released Christmas in the City, her third album, and in 2021 she released her fourth studio album Forever. Michele has also published two books, Brunette Ambition (2014) and You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life (2015).

In 2021, Michele reunited with her Spring Awakening cast for a special one-night-only concert, captured in the HBO documentary “Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known.” which streamed in 2022. Michele returned to Broadway in 2022, starring as Fanny Brice in the musical revival of Funny Girl. In October 2023, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, selling out the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage in New York City as she performed some of her most beloved songs.

She is currently starring as Florence in the Broadway revival of Chess opposite Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Groff originated the role of Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening, a performance which earned him nominations for a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Drama League Award, and earned him a Theatre World Award.

In 2007, Groff had a recurring role on One Life to Live and filmed the pilot for Pretty/Handsome. In 2008, he starred in Hair at Shakespeare in the Park and appeared in the off-Broadway play Prayer for My Enemy (2008). In 2009, he made his film debut in Taking Woodstock and appeared in the off-Broadway production of The Singing Forest, winning an Obie Award. 

Beginning in 2010, he had a recurring role as Jesse St. James on Glee (2010–2015). He made his West End debut in Deathtrap (2010–2011) and appeared off-Broadway in The Submission. In 2012, he appeared in the television series Boss and in the stage production of Red. In 2013, he starred in the film C.O.G. and voiced Kristoff in Disney’s Frozen (2013). He reprised the role in Frozen Fever (2015), Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017), Kingdom Hearts III (2019), and Frozen 2 (2019).

From 2014 to 2015, he starred in the HBO series Looking, returning for the television film finale in 2016. He also appeared in The Normal Heart (2014). In 2015, he joined Hamilton Off-Broadway and on Broadway (2015–2016), earning a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy Award as part of the cast recording. He also starred in A New Brain (2015).

In 2017, Groff began starring as Holden Ford in the Netflix series Mindhunter (2017–2019), winning a Satellite Award. From 2019 to 2020, he starred in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, earning an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Grammy nomination as part of the cast recording. The filmed stage production of Hamilton was released in 2020, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

In 2021, Groff appeared in The Matrix Resurrections and joined the cast of the animated series Invincible. In 2022, he starred in the Netflix series Lost Ollie and in the off-Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along, transferring to Broadway in 2023 and winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He also appeared in the HBO documentary Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known. In 2023, he appeared in Knock at the Cabin and was announced as a guest star on Doctor Who.

In 2024, Groff co-starred in the film A Nice Indian Boy. Most recently he played 'Bobby Darin' on Broadway in Just in Time, receiving his fourth Tony Award nomination. 

John Gallagher Jr.

John Gallagher, Jr. originated the role of Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening on Broadway, earning him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. 

Gallagher went on to star in Off-Broadway productions of Port Authority by Conor McPherson and Farragut North by Beau Willimon, and on Broadway in American Idiot, a musical based on the Green Day album of the same name in 2010. Following American Idiot, Gallagher was featured in the Broadway production of The Royal Court Theatre's Jerusalem. 

From 2012 to 2014, Gallagher Jr. starred as Jim Harper in Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom on HBO. On screen, he also appeared on The West Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Blue, Ed, Love Monkey, Hallmark Hall of Fame's film The Flamingo Rising, and HBO's mini-series Olive Kitteridge.

He returned to the stage in 2016, starring alongside Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night.

In 2022, he starred in the world premiere production of Swept Away at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Based on the music of The Avett Brothers, the musical reunited Gallagher with Spring Awakening director Michael Mayer. Gallagher Jr. reprised his role in the 2024 Broadway production. 

He will release a new EP 'Almost OK' in May 2026 through Grand Phony Music. 

Skylar Astin

Astin made his Broadway debut as Georg in Spring Awakening. During his run as Georg, Astin filmed the role Rand Posin in the film Hamlet 2. He sang "Raped in the Face" on the soundtrack with Phoebe Strole, a Spring Awakening castmate, and his co-star in the film. The film screened at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

In 2010, Astin starred as Mark Cohen in a production of Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris, at the Hollywood Bowl. Astin guest-starred as Ben in the July 2011 episode of Love Bites titled "Boys to Men" and, as Matt Kornstein, in the May 2012 episode of Girls entitled "Hannah's Diary". He also played a patient on House in season 8, episode 21 in May 2012.

In 2012, Astin had his screen breakthrough in the 2012 comedy film Pitch Perfect as Jesse Swanson, and reprised the role in the 2015 sequel Pitch Perfect 2. Astin also starred in the 2013 comedy film 21 and Over as Casey. Astin also starred in the TBS sitcom Ground Floor as Brody Moyer.

In 2019, Astin played the Baker in the Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods. From 2020-2021, Astin starred in the musical dramedy Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist as Max. Astin had a recurring role in the eighteenth season of the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Todd Eames.

Between 2022 and 2024 he appeared in the CBS series So Help Me Todd, opposite Marcia Gay Harden.

Lilli Cooper

Lilli Cooper originated the role of Martha Bessell in Spring Awakening on Broadway. She starred as Lucy Brown in The Threepenny Opera at Atlantic Theater Company, as well as multiple engagements with Wicked, where she served as an Elphaba understudy and standby on the Munchkinland national tour, the Australian tour at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, and later on Broadway from 2014 to 2015.

Lilli starred as Hélène Kuragina in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at American Repertory Theater (2015–2016), originated the role of Sandy Cheeks in The SpongeBob Musical in Chicago before reprising it on Broadway in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical (2017–2018), and appeared Off-Broadway in Tick, Tick... Boom! as Susan and Sundown, Yellow Moon as Ray.

Her subsequent Broadway credits include Tootsie (2019–2020) as Julie Nichols at the Marquis Theatre, Spring Awakening (2021) in a return to the role of Martha Bessell at the Imperial Theatre, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (2022) as Chris, and The Cottage (2023) as Marjorie. She has also appeared in the New York City Center Encores! productions of Mack and Mabel (2020) as Lottie Ames, Oliver! (2023) as Nancy, and Titanic (2024) as Kate Murphey. Additional stage credits include Tootsie in Chicago, Edge of the World Off-Broadway, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2025–2026) as Rona Lisa Peretti at New World Stages.

On screen, she is known for her television work as Doc in the revival series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (2022–2024) and as the voice of Velvette in the animated series Hazbin Hotel.

Lauren Pritchard

Lauren Pritchard, known professionally as LOLO, originated the role of Ilse in Spring Awakening on Broadway. Following her time in Spring Awakening, Pritchard signed with Universal/Island Records. In August 2010, she released the single "Painkillers". Her debut album, Wasted in Jackson was digitally released on October 25, 2010, and debuted at No. 84 in the UK.

In 2013, Pritchard signed with DCD2 Records. LOLO was featured on the Panic! at the Disco song, "Miss Jackson". In September 2016, LOLO released the full-length album In Loving Memory of When I Gave A Shit.

In 2017, Pritchard's debut feature film (Romance) In the Digital Age was released by Comedy Dynamics. In 2019, Pritchard was made a member of the Off-Broadway Animus Theatre Company in NYC. In 2021 she released the album X, and in 2022 she released the album Lauren.

Gideon Glick

Gideon Glick originated the role of Ernst in Spring Awakening on Broadway. That same year, he appeared in the film One Last Thing... alongside Cynthia Nixon and Ethan Hawke.

In 2007, Glick went on to star Howie in Speech & Debate at Roundabout Underground. He returned to Broadway in the role of Jimmy-6, a member of the four-person Geek Chorus in Julie Taymor's Broadway production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. He then starred Off-Broadway in MCC's production of Wild Animals You Should Know, and in The Public Theater's production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods alongside Amy Adams and Denis O'Hare. In 2014, he starred in The Few Off-Broadway, and was cast in his first recurring role as Ty McKay, the second season villain, on Devious Maids on Lifetime.

In 2017, he starred on Broadway in Joshua Harmon's Significant Other, and earned a  Drama League Award nomination for this performance. He then appeared as Kyle McCallister in the film Ocean's 8, and in a recurring role on The Detour on TBS.

In 2018, he starred on Broadway as Dill Harris in Aaron Sorkin's To Kill a Mockingbird, alongside Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch. In January 2020, Glick starred as Seymour Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway. In 2021, he reunited with his Spring Awakening cast members for a one night only concert, and appeared in the subsequent documentary.

On screen, Glick also appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, American Horror Story: NYC, and Étoile.

Jonathan B. Wright

Wright originated the role of Hanschen in Spring Awakening on Broadway. He went on to star in the hit films Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Youth in Revolt, reuniting with his Infinite Playlist castmate Michael Cera. 

In 2015, Wright starred in Center Theatre Group's production of Martin Sherman's Bent, directed by Moises Kaufman in Los Angeles.

In 2022, he reunited with with his Spring Awakening cast members for the HBO  documentary film Spring Awakening: Those You've Known.

Stephen Spinella

Stephen Spinella originated the role of Adult Men in Spring Awakening on Broadway. Following Spring Awakening, Spinella starred on stage in The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures at the Guthrie Theater (2010) and The Public Theater (2011), An Iliad at McCarter Theatre (2010) and New York Theatre Workshop (2012), As You Like It at Delacorte Theater (2012), Volpone at Lucille Lortel Theatre (2012), The Velocity of Autumn on Broadway at the Booth Theatre (2014), A Man’s a Man (2014) and Hamlet (2015) at Classic Stage Company, Coriolanus at Barrow Street Theatre (2016), Angels in America at Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2018). 

On television and in film, Spinella has appeared in The Gilded Age, New Amsterdam, The Blacklist, Elementary, Royal Pains, The Mentalist, Numb3rs, Desperate Housewives, Big Love, ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Heroes, Nip/Tuck, 24, Grey’s Anatomy and many more. 

He is currently starring on stage as Vernon Dursley/Severus Snape/Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway. 

Christine Estabrook

Christine Estabrook originated the role of The Adult Women in Spring Awakening on Broadway. Following Spring Awakening, Estabrook appeared in dozens of television shows, including Bones (2006), Law & Order (2008), Ghost Whisperer (2009), Nip/Tuck (2010), American Horror Story: Murder House (2011), Mad Men (2012–2015), Anger Management (2012), Rules of Engagement (2013), State of Affairs (2014), Looking (2015), Blunt Talk (2015), American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016), Designated Survivor (2016), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2016, 2018), American Woman (2018), 9-1-1 (2018–2019), Why Women Kill (2019), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2020), Bless This Mess (2020).

Brian Charles Johnson

Brian Charles Johnson originated the role of Otto in Spring Awakening. Johnson went on to appear in American Idiot on Broadway in 2010, along with his Spring Awakening co-star John Gallagher Jr. 

On screen, Johnson appeared in The Kitchen, Sneaky Pete, Chicago Fire, Construction, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Gotham, Master of None, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, The Wolf of Wall Street, and more. 

Phoebe Strole

Phoebe Strole originated the role of Anna in Spring Awakening. Strole starred as Epiphany Sellars in the 2008 film Hamlet 2 alongside Steve Coogan and her Spring Awakening co-star Skylar Astin.

On stage, Strole went on to star in The New Group production of Eugene O'Neill's play Mourning Becomes Electra at the Alcorn Theatre Off-Broadway, in 2009, and Parade at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles that same year. She also starred in Adam Rapp's The Metal Children Off-Broadway, in 2010, and in 2012 appeared in Dan LeFranc's The Big Meal at Playwrights Horizons.

Strole appeared alongside Edie Falco in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of The Madri in 2013, and starred in the Signature Theatre Company production of Kung Fu by David Henry Hwang in 2014. That same year she sarred as Lena in The Other Room, a solo show performed as part of Premieres' Inner Voices series.

Her television credits include a recurring role as Penny on Glee, and as Jennifer on the FX Network's show Rescue Me. She has also appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 30 Rock, Mercy and Stella, plus more.  In 2022, she took part in the HBO documentary film Spring Awakening: Those You've Known.

Remy Zaken 

Remy Zaken originated the role of Thea in Spring Awakening. Following Spring Awakening, Zaken also appeared in multiple Off-Broadway and regional productions, including the Off-Broadway production of Freckleface Strawberry as Strawberry, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn at the Goodspeed Opera House, winning the "Best Debut" award from the Connecticut Critic Circle for her performance as Francie.

Additional credits include Captain Louie, Radiant Baby, and the theatre adaptation of A Little Princess by TheaterWorks at the Palo Alto Theater in California. In 2014 she appeared in the Off-Broadway Musical The Anthem. She also appeared in the Off-Broadway productions of Brooklynite and One Flea Spare. 

On screen, Zaken has appeared in Law & Order, Gossip Girl and more. In 2022, she took part in the HBO documentary film Spring Awakening: Those You've Known.

Gerard Canonico

Gerard Canonico was an ensemble member in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening. Following Spring Awakening, Canonico went on to appear in the Broadway production of American Idiot (alongside Spring Awakening cast members John Gallagher Jr. and Brian Charles Johnson), the Off-Broadway productions of The Talls, Bare, and Brooklynite.

He went on to appear in the original Broadway production of Groundhog Day, the Off-Broadway production of Be More Chill, and the Broadway transfer of Be More Chill. He also starred in the original Broadway production of Almost Famous. 

He fronts and plays guitar in a national touring tribute band to Blink 182 known as The Dude Ranch and is the Drummer for the original band Parader.

Jennifer Damiano

At 15 years old, Jennifer made her Broadway debut in Spring Awakening and was the youngest member of the original cast. Jennifer went on to receive a Tony Award nomination for creating the role of “Natalie” in the Broadway production, Next To Normal.

She returned to Broadway as the original “Mary Jane Watson” in Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark, with music and lyrics by U2, and starred in the Off-Broadway musical, Venice, at the Public Theatre.

Damiano went on to star as Jean in the Broadway production of American Psycho in 2016, before appearing as Kathryn in the Off-Broadway New York premiere of Cruel Intentions: The Musical in 2017. That same year, she played Hayley Serling in the original regional production of Deathless in Chester, Connecticut. She later appeared in the cast of the New Group’s Off-Broadway production of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice in 2020, and most recently performed in the world premiere Off-Broadway production of Black No More in 2022.

Robert Hager

Robert Hager was an ensemble member in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening. Hager appeared as a swing and understudy for Conrad Birdie in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie in 2009, before going on to perform in the ensemble of the original Broadway production of Doctor Zhivago in 2015. He later toured nationally with the first U.S. tour of Fun Home in 2016, taking on multiple roles including Roy, Mark, Pete, Bobby, and Jeremy.

Krysta Rodriguez 

Krysta Rodriguez was an ensemble member in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening! She later became a replacement for the role of Bebe in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line in 2007. She has played numerous ensemble and understudy parts in the Broadway productions of Spring Awakening and In the Heights, as well as a regional production of The Boy Friend directed by Julie Andrews. She made her feature film debut in the role of Krysta in the 2010 film The Virginity Hit.

Beginning performances in fall 2009, Rodriguez originated the role of Wednesday Addams in the world premiere Chicago try-out run of the new Broadway-bound musical The Addams Family, based on the cartoons of Charles Addams. From March 2010, the show received its planned debut at New York's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. 

Rodriguez joined the cast of the NBC series Smash for its second, and final, season in 2013, playing the role of Ana Vargas, an aspiring Broadway performer and the new roommate of Katharine McPhee's character Karen.

In July 2013, Rodriguez returned to Broadway playing Casey in First Date, co-starring with Zachary Levi. In December 2013, Rodriguez appeared in Hit List, a concert presentation of the fictional musical created for the second season of Smash, as The Diva/Sarah Smith. 

In the fall of 2014 Rodriguez was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2015, Rodriguez started the website ChemoCouture.com to create a blog detailing her journey during chemotherapy as well as providing various fashion, beauty, and wellness tips that she employs during her battle with cancer. 

Through June 14, 2015, she returned to star as Ilse in the Deaf West Theatre production of Spring Awakening, held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. The production transferred to Broadway later that year and earned three Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Musical.

Rodriguez performed in the Off-Broadway production of What We're Up Against. This was the first time Rodriguez and Skylar Astin worked together since Spring Awakening in 2006.
 In 2017, Rodriguez starred as Summer Henderson in the NBC comedy series Trial & Error. In the same year, it was announced that Rodriguez was cast in the recurring role of Maxine Griffin in the second season of ABC's thriller series Quantico. In 2018, it was announced that Rodriguez was cast in the main role of Ms. Crumble in the Netflix comedy-drama series Daybreak.

In 2021, Rodriguez appeared in the role of Liza Minnelli in the Netflix miniseries Halston. In 2022, she co-starred with Santino Fontana in the Hallmark Channel film Just One Kiss.

In September 2022, Rodriguez starred as Cinderella in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods. Most recently, she starred in the original Broadway production of Smash.