Seattle's Balagan Theatre Presents SPRING AWAKENING

The smash-hit musical Spring Awakening receives its regional premiere in Seattle this January, courtesy of the award-winning Balagan Theatre and featuring the very best of the Seattle theatre scene's next generation.

Directed by Seattle musical mainstay Eric Ankrim (Curly in The 5th Avenue Theatre's upcoming production of Oklahoma!), Spring Awakening features promising, local young actorsBrian Earp (Beauty & the Beast, Robin Hood), Jerick Hoffer (Red Ranger Came Calling, Threepenny Opera), and Diana Huey (A Christmas Carol, Take Me America), as the leading trio in this coming-of-age rock musical.

Performances are January 6-8 and 12-15 at the Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill (1524 Harvard Avenue, Seattle). Tickets start at $20 and are on sale at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/215408.

Spring Awakening features music by Grammy-winning musical artist Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. The 2006 Broadway production won eight Tony Awardsincluding Best Musical and Best Original Score; and launched the careers of Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff (of television's Glee). Set in late-1890s Germany, the musical follows a group of teenagers as they discover and explore their minds, bodies, and passions in the journey through adolescence to adulthood.

The Spring Awakening cast features more notable, young local artists like Justin Huertas (Speech & Debate, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee); Justin is currently under commission as a playwright at Seattle Repertory Theatre for a performance piece chronicling five years' worth of experiences auditioning for, touring with, and ultimately starring inSpring Awakening.

Even the production crew is a veritable who's-who of the Seattle theatre scene. Spring Awakening Assistant Director Shawn Belyea is Balagan's Artistic Director and Executive Producer of 14/48, The World's Quickest Theater Festival. Casting Director Brandon Ivie is Artistic Director of Contemporary Classics, for which he received the 2010 Gregory Award for Person To Watch; he most recently directed Cinderella at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Please note: This production contains some adult content, including explicit language, sexual references, and brief nudity; it is not recommended for audience members younger than 14 years old.

The Cast (in alphabetical order):
PatRick Baxter Male Ensemble
Kody Bringham Male Ensemble
Jeannette d'Armand Adult Woman
Brian Earp Melchior
Bryan Gula Otto
Lindsey Hedberg Female Ensemble
Kirsten Delohr Helland Ilse
Jerick Hoffer Moritz
Justin Huertas Hanschen
Diana Huey Wendla
Emily Huston Female Ensemble
Victoria Knight Female Ensemble
Michael Krenning Male Ensemble
Tatum Ludlam Anna
Solea Pfeiffer Thea
Mike Spee Georg
Tori Spero Female Ensemble
Mark Waldstein Adult Man
Evan Woltz Male Ensemble
Brianne Wylie Martha
Ben Wynant Ernst

The Production Team
Eric Ankrim Director
Jake Groshong Executive Producer
Kimberly Dare Musical Director
Brandon Ivie Casting Director
Shawn Belyea Assistant Director
RJ Tancioco Music Supervisor
Ahren Buhmann Set & Props Designer
Robert Aguilar Lighting Designer
Chelsea Blum Costume Designer
Lexi Scamehorn Choreographer
Kathryn Van meter Choreographer
Danielle Franich Stage Manager
Chris Monsos Assistant Stage Manager