Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff in Spring Awakening
Like most Broadway fans, I was surprised a few years ago to see the name of folky singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik attached to Spring Awakening. But there it was. And his unlikely hit Broadway musical, based on Frank Wedekind's gloomy expressionist play, reverberated through pop culture well beyond its eight Tonys and 888 Broadway performances.
Besides making musical theater cool for a new generation, Spring Awakening unleashed upon us Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, now household names to millions of Glee fans.
But it also established a new career for Duncan Sheik, previously known to move in entirely different musical circles. His next full-length stage project is a musical version of American Psycho, but while we wait for that - and no production schedule has been announced - Sheik geeks can get a small dose at Ensemble Studio Theatre's Marathon of One-Act Plays. The composer and his Spring Awakening collaborator Steven Sater are contributing Mrs. Jones and the Man from Dixieland, a one-act play which includes a new song from the pair.
The May 20 - June 25 Marathon also features plays by Qui Nguyen (of the Obie-winning Vampire Cowboys troupe), the late Romulus Linney (actress Laura Linney's father), and more. Full details at Ensemble Studio Theatre's website.
Besides making musical theater cool for a new generation, Spring Awakening unleashed upon us Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, now household names to millions of Glee fans.
But it also established a new career for Duncan Sheik, previously known to move in entirely different musical circles. His next full-length stage project is a musical version of American Psycho, but while we wait for that - and no production schedule has been announced - Sheik geeks can get a small dose at Ensemble Studio Theatre's Marathon of One-Act Plays. The composer and his Spring Awakening collaborator Steven Sater are contributing Mrs. Jones and the Man from Dixieland, a one-act play which includes a new song from the pair.
The May 20 - June 25 Marathon also features plays by Qui Nguyen (of the Obie-winning Vampire Cowboys troupe), the late Romulus Linney (actress Laura Linney's father), and more. Full details at Ensemble Studio Theatre's website.
Reader Comments ()