The Marriott Theatre Announces SPRING AWAKENING Cast

For three weeks only, The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Chicagoland's longest-running professional musical theater, will present the ground-breaking musical SPRING AWAKENING. This special pre-season limited event, directed and choreographed by Marriott Theatre's Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, runs January 14th through 31st, with a press opening on Saturday, January 16th at 8 p.m. Hailed as "brilliant and beautiful" by New York Magazine, SPRING AWAKENING is a searingly emotional adaptation of Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 play centering on sexual awakening, morality, youth and rebellion, perfectly complemented by an electrifying, Tony Award-winning pop rock score by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik.

"The Marriott Theatre is thrilled to present this electrifying musical for a limited run before the regular subscription series," says Executive Producer Terry James. "We're using this three week window in our season as an opportunity to present something outside of our traditional repertoire. From the style of music to the reconfiguration of our unique arena stage, I think we're going to surprise a lot of our regular patrons."

A provocative exploration of the journey from adolescence to adulthood, SPRING AWAKENING won 8 Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Musical. Hailed as "something unusual and aspiring, something vital and new" by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times, SPRING AWAKENING follows a group of teenagers in 19th Century Germany as they cope with the agonies and ecstasies of discovering their sexuality in a structured and unforgiving society. The bold and poignant story of boy-meets-girl during their rebellious teenage years explodes on stage in unpredictable twists as they push the boundaries of human struggle and desire.

Starring in SPRING AWAKENING will be Patrick Rooney as "Melchior", Ben Barker as "Moritz", Eliza Palasz as "Wendla", Betsy Stewart as "Ilse", Hollis Resnik as "Adult Women", Kevin Gudahl as "Adult Men", Brian Bohr as "Hanschen", Nick Graffanga as "Ernst", Nate Lewellyn as "Otto", Liam Quealy as "Georg", Adhana Cemone Reid as "Martha," Elizabeth Stenholt as "Thea", and Tiffany Tatreau as "Anna", with Caleb Baze, Anna Blanchard, Derek Hasenstab, Callie Johnson and Garrett Lutz.

The production team includes Set Design by Tom Ryan, Costume Design by Susan Hilferty, Additional Costume Design by Nancy Missimi, Lighting Design by Lee Fiskness, Sound Design by Bob Gilmartin, Projections Design by Anthony Churchill, Properties Design by Sally Weiss, Dialect Coaching by Jill Walmsley and Musical Supervision by Patti Garwood.

Audiences are advised that SPRING AWAKENING is for mature audiences only due to mature/sexual themes and content. This special event performance schedule is Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. This limited engagement is separate from subscriber ticket packages. Regular tickets are $50, including tax and handling fees, and 2016 subscribers receive a substantial discount. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.

Pictured: Eliza Palasz