WPPAC and Harrison Summer Theater Present SPRING AWAKENING, Opens 9/16

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC), in partnership with Harrison Summer Theater, has announced the New York regional premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical, Spring Awakening. The upcoming performances will be on Friday, September 16 at 8:00pm, Saturday, September 17 at 8:00pm and Sunday, September 18 at 7:00pm at WPPAC, located on the 3rd floor of the White Plains City Center (Mamaroneck Ave. and Main Street in downtown White Plains).

Hailed by critics as a landmark musical and known for its infectious rock score, Spring Awakening focuses on a group of teenagers in late-1890s Germany, as they transition from adolescence to adulthood, discovering and exploring their minds, bodies and passions.

The original Broadway production premiered in 2006 and won 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Lighting and Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher, Jr.), and launched the careers of Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff (of TV's Glee) as well as White Plains native Jennifer Damiano (Tony Award nominee for Next to Normal).

Spring Awakening features music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. The WPPAC production will be directed by Yonkers resident and WPPAC Producing Artistic Director, Jeremy Quinn, produced and musically directed by Stephen Ferri (West Harrison) and choreographed by Lexie Frare (Valley Cottage).

The 23-person cast of Westchester and NYC residents includes Yorktown Heights' Lauren Wagner and Manhattan resident Michael Valentine in the lead roles of Wendla and Melchior, with supporting roles by Travis McClung (NYC), Triona O'Callaghan (Yonkers), Natalia Fogarty (West Harrison), Thompson B. Crozier (Harrison), Sydney Parra (Yorktown Heights), Todd Ritch (Dobbs Ferry), Annie Nelson (NYC), Paul Ianniello (NYC), Joe Venice (Yonkers), Maggie Thompson (Mt. Kisco), Veronica Decker (Yorktown Heights), Dan Kerness (Yonkers) and George Domenick (Bronx). The ensemble is rounded out by Alejandro Funes (New Rochelle), Michelle Lauto (NYC), Anthony Malchar (Yonkers), Jared Xavier Martin (Syracuse), Shontay Richardson (Dobbs Ferry), Stephanie Rubino (Brewster), Stephanie Savino (Purchase) and Nicholas Troisi (Cutchogue).

Tickets are $25 for Adults and $20 for students with ID and can be purchased by visiting www.wppac.com, calling for tickets by phone at 877-548-3237 or the Box Office between 10 am and 6 pm [914-328-1600]. For additional information about Spring Awakening and its cast, please contact Jeremy Quinn at jeremy@wppac.com.