SPRING AWAKENING Comes to the 5th Avenue Theatre

The highly anticipated Seattle production of Spring Awakening is set to take the stage at The 5th Avenue Theatre from June 7 to 30, 2024. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Spring Awakening explores self-discovery, desire, sex, insecurity, and the pressures of young adult life in a repressive society. With a score of contemporary rock music that changed how Broadway thinks about musicals, Spring Awakening promises to provoke thought, spark conversation, and leave a lasting impact on audiences.  

With music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, Spring Awakening is based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind. A poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that delves into the lives of teenagers in 19th-century Germany, the show focuses on themes of teenage rebellion, the clash between generations, and the consequence of societal silence; issues which are as prevalent today as they were when the play was first written. 

Directed by Jay Santos, whose innovative vision for both Sweeney Todd and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast previously garnered acclaim throughout the Seattle theater scene, this rendition of Spring Awakening will push boundaries and challenge conventions, offering a fresh perspective on this modern classic favorite. Audiences can expect a dynamic blend of music, movement, and storytelling that will transport them to the heart of the story and leave them breathless with emotion. 

“Spring Awakening resonates deeply with me because it fearlessly confronts the universal struggles of adolescence with honesty and compassion,” said Jay Santos. “It doesn’t shy away from the complexities of teenage experience–love, desire, confusion, rebellion–while also interrogating the societal forces that seek to suppress young voices. Through its raw emotion, evocative music, and unflinching portrayal of the human spirit, this show serves as a reminder of the enduring power of youth, the necessity of embracing authenticity and understanding a world that often seeks to confine and control. I can’t wait to share this journey with our patrons and ignite conversations that resonate long after the curtain falls.”    

The cast is filled with fresh, young talent, many of whom are making their debut at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Taking on the lead roles of Wendla and Melchior are Caitlin Sarwono and Ricky Spaulding. Audiences may remember Sarwono as the Ariel Understudy from Disney’s The Little Mermaid this past fall. Spaulding was most recently seen in The Bed Trick at Seattle Shakespeare. Joining Sarwono and Spaulding are Alexander Kilian (Sweeney Todd) as Moritz, Dedra D. Woods as The Adult Woman, Lauren Drake as Ilse, Michael Sharon (White Christmas) as The Adult Men, Anabel Chacón as Thea, Andrew Knickerbocker as Pit Singer, Anteia DeLaney as Anna, Ciara Alyse Harris as Martha, CJ Lorentz as Otto, Isaiah “Roze” Hsu as Georg, James Schilling as Hanschen, Sage Suzerris as Ernst, and Sophie Bee Kashman as Pit Singer. Also included in the cast are Beth DeVries, Donovan Mahannah, Drew Bates, Lucas Delamarter, Megan May Chang, Nina Romano, and Richard Nguyen Sloniker. 

Joining director Santos on the artistic team are associate director - fight & intimacy Ian Bond, associate director Nicholas Bernard, choreographer Katy Tabb, associate choreographer Alyza DelPan-Monley, music director R.J. Tancioco, associate music director Aimee Hong, music assistant Andrew Pang, keyboard coordinator Michael Matlock, scenic designer Matthew Smucker, associate scenic designer Julia Welch, costume designer Danielle Nieves, costume design assistant Taya Pyne, lighting designer Ben Zamora, associate lighting designer Maryalice Weed, sound designer Justin Stasiw, associate sound designer Liam Steckler, hair/wig & makeup designer Jason Goldsberry, dramaturg Erin Bednarz, and dramaturg and curriculum specialist Beth Pollack. The stage management team is led by production stage manager JR Welden, assistant stage managers Erin B. Zatloka and Jamie J. Kranz, swing stage manager Stina Lotti, season production assistant Rachel Miller, and production assistant Larcyn Burnett. 

A groundbreaking musical that captivates audiences with raw emotion and electrifying performances, Spring Awakening is on stage in Seattle June 7 - 30, 2024, and promises to be an unforgettable theatrical experience. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at The 5th Avenue Theatre’s website, over the phone, or by visiting the box office. For more information visit www.5thavenue.org. 

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