To See or Not to See: Spring Awakening

Less than a decade ago, Spring Awakening made its debut on Broadway. Based on the controversial play, Spring Awakening tells the uninhibited story of teenagers discovering their sexuality. The production earned eight Tony Awards® including Best Musical. In September, it returned to Broadway in a production by Deaf West Theatre (DWT). Since 1991, DWT has been pioneering theater experiences for the deaf community, incorporating American Sign Language (ASL) into their productions.

With so many great shows currently running—both on and off Broadway—it’s difficult to decide what to see. I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase tickets to see Spring Awakening before it ends its run in January. And, I’m glad I did. I admittedly did not know much about the show. But the cast included two actors I love: Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez.

Andy played the arrogant Hänschen Rilow. His cheeky performance (pun intended) had the audience in stitches. For me, Andy provided so many of the show’s memorable comedic moments.

I first fell in love with Krysta Rodriguez as the spunky serial-dater Casey in the musical comedy, First Date. Her performance as Ilse Neumann in Spring Awakening was elegant and gut-wrenching. Ilse is less involved with the other students due to her abusive past but it’s quickly understood the symbolic role she plays. Krysta highlights the character’s emotional turmoil with two breathtaking performances of “The Dark I know Well” and “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind.”

The entire ensemble was spectacular and the use of sign language was absolutely captivating. The deaf actors are shadowed by hearing actors who voice their roles. Their chemistry was electric and it created such a dynamic experience. It felt like a glimpse into the character’s subconscious. One of the major themes of the show is communication (or lack of) and the reinterpretation with deaf characters is powerful. I also loved how the production used projected text throughout the show. It’s done in such an innovative way through the staging and various props. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Trust me when I say you’ll be hearing a lot more about these actors in the near future. Check out their bios on the Spring Awakening site and make sure to follow them on social media. The cast does a great job interacting with fans, especially on Twitter and at the stage door. I’ve never seen a stage door that crowded!

My verdict: Run and buy your tickets today! You will not regret it. I know I’m planning on seeing it again.

Spring Awakening is currently running at Brooks Atkinson Theatre through January 24, 2016.

Photo Credit: Kevin Parry