EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND! NOW - DEC 03, 2023

Spring Awakening

Book & Lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik
Based on the Play by Frank Wedekind
Directed by Tim Dang

ABOUT

SCHEDULE

CAST

CREDITS

ADVISORIES

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Spring Awakening is not recommended for audience members under the age of 13.

Spring Awakening

Book & Lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik
Based on the Play by Frank Wedekind
Directed by Tim Dang

Presented at the David Henry Hwang Theater
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND
October 26 – December 3, 2023
Opening Night October 29, 2023

The revolutionary Tony Award winning best musical that took the world by storm. In 1891 Germany, repressed, adolescent students stumble into adulthood as clumsily as they do into each other’s arms. With obstinate parents unwilling to guide them, young Melchior and Wendla explore their desires for each other, while Melchior’s dear friend Moritz fumbles dangerously through his own coming-of-age. This generation-defining musical is a rock anthem to all the “guilty ones,” poignantly exploring the dark, passionate, and twisting journey from adolescence to adulthood.

Spring Awakening is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Want to learn more before attending? View the Spring Awakening Study Guide

Performance Schedule

Cast

  • (Wendla Bergmann) Mia is thrilled to be making her EWP debut in Spring Awakening! Favorite Credits Include: Sister Act (Sr. Mary Roberts), Beehive: The 60’s Musical (Wanda). She is an LA and NYC-based performer, and was also born and raised in Queens, NY. In her spare time, Mia loves to sew, shop, and eat lots of croissants. BFA: AMDA MT23. Infinite thanks to Mom & Dad, the Spring Awakening team, and her DDO Fam for all their love and support! @miasempertegui

  • (Melchior Gabor) Thomas Winter is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California making his professional acting debut with East West Players. At USC, Thomas earned degrees in Theatre and Economics and performed in several stage productions (The Secret Garden, Seamless, Queen Margaret, The Last Five Years). He recently appeared at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in A Dream at the End of Time, an original musical which was nominated for “Best Musical” by the Broadway World Regional Awards. Thomas is thrilled to be joining this talented cast and is proud that his first show will be in Little Tokyo, a community where his family has historical roots and his grandfather practiced medicine for many years. Insta: @_thomas_winter

  • (Moritz Stiefel, 10/26-11/19) Honored to be amongst all of the remarkable artists represented here at East West Players. Recent/Favorite credits include The Prom (Kevin, u/s Trent Oliver, 1st National Tour), Once on This Island (Daniel, El Portal Theatre), JATATDC (Benjamin, u/s Judah, La Mirada Theatre), and Tonight Tonight (Silenus, Rockwell Table & Stage). A recent college graduate from Hussian College Los Angeles with a BFA in Theatre & Film. They're excited to continue their training for any and everything on the stage and screen! Gigantic thank you to Bloc, Scot, and every mentor in their life. All the love to their partner, family, and friends. Love one another, hold one another, and listen to understand one another : ) @who.is.marcus ♡

  • (Ilse Neumann) Madi is thrilled to be cast in her first equity show in LA. With a BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA, and an agency contract with KMR talent, she is ready to take stage and feels more blessed than ever. She has studied and performed in roles such as Eliza from Hamilton, Moana from Moana, The Mistress from Evita, Cinderella in Cinderella, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes. She began vocal training at the age of 9 with Eileen Moss, and never stopped training nor performing from then on. Originally from La Jolla, San Diego, Madi moved to LA five years ago to pursue her passions and has loved every minute. She would like to dedicate this show to the late Eileen Moss, and Purificacion Grepo. Special thanks to her loving family, and devoted parents.

  • (Adult Women) Tamlyn Tomita is incredibly happy and honored to finally perform at EWP for the 1st time! Film credits include: The Karate Kid 2 and Cobra Kai, and the upcoming Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dead Boy Detectives and Ultraman. Theatre credits include: A Distant Shore (CTG/KDI) and Question 27, Question 28 both by Chay Yew, and Heart Song (Fountain Theatre). Having been an avid supporter/patron since being introduced to it by Dr. Bob Nakamura and his UCLA Asian American Film, EWP opened up the world of live storytelling! To be able to perform alongside her love, Daniel Blinkoff, and under the direction of Tim Dang at EWP is a most blessed gift! Dedicated to all the kids out there changing the world for the good of all. Please visit outsideintheatre.org or visit us in person soon!

  • (Adult Men) Daniel Blinkoff is incredibly honored to get the opportunity to work with EWP. Daniel received his MFA from The Yale School of Drama. He has appeared in over 200 plays and/or musicals. Theatre credits include Bob Cratchit in SCR's A Christmas Carol, which he did for 18 years. In Daniel's last year of that run, he was joined with his wife Tamlyn Tomita, who played Mrs. Cratchit. It was a perfect farewell to a show he loved. Daniel has also been a member of Antaeus Theatre Company in LA for more than 20 years. He and Tamlyn are thrilled to get the chance to work together again, they are "living the life" as far as they are concerned, and they are just trying to make a difference. They are currently building a theatre in Highland Park, LA - Outside In Theatre - that is scheduled to open in spring of 2024. To learn more about OI Theatre, please visit outsideintheatre.org

  • (Moritz Stiefel, 11/20-12/03) (Georg Zirschnitz, u/s Moritz Stiefel 10/26-11/19) Jaylen is very excited to be making his East West Players debut in one of his all time favorite musicals. Some of his favorite credits include Gabe (Next to Normal), Ricky (Ride the Cyclone), and Benny (In the Heights). Spring Awakening holds a very special place in his heart, and he gives massive thanks to the creative team for giving him this wonderfully fulfilling opportunity. He also extends love to his family, friends, cast mates and Tyler for their constant, unwavering support, and he hopes you love this show as much as he does. Keep up with Jaylen on Instagram: @jaylenbaham

  • (Otto Lämmermeier, u/s Adult Men & Melchior Gabor) James is very excited to be working with the team at East West Players for the first time! He is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah and is a graduate from AMDA College of the Performing Arts. Regional: Davey in Newsies, Warner in Legally Blonde, Fred Casely in Chicago, George in The Actor’s Nightmare, Issachar in Joseph/Dreamcoat. World Premiere: Taavi in Singing Revolution, Kevin in The Bully Problem. James wants to thank his family, DDO, and his partner Arianna for their endless support. @jamesfeverts

  • (Thea) Mabuhay! Justine is honored to be part of Spring Awakening with a cast and crew full of incredible artists and friends. After working at EWP earlier this year as the female understudy in On This Side Of The World, she felt inspired to keep working in the Asian American LA theatre community. Spring Awakening is one of the first musicals she ever fell in love with, and being a part of it now in a space that she feels truly welcome in is a serendipitous moment. She graduated from UCIrvine in 2021 with a BFA in Musical Theatre, and some favorite credits include Bat Out Of Hell and Crazy Talented Asians at EWP. Much love to her team at ATB, and her loving and supportive family! 333. @justineyweeny

  • (Hänschen Rilow) Eric Renna is a gay, mixed Latine actor, proud to be performing in his first union production since joining AEA. Some of his recent roles include Paul in A Chorus Line with USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, Benny in In The Heights with Loyola Marymount University, Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal with The Del Rey Players, and Chino in West Side Story with One More Productions at GEM Theatre. Eric graduated from USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, and has trained in musical theatre for a decade with theaters across Southern California. He would like to thank East West Players for giving him the opportunity to deliver teen angst with this incredible company, Artists & Representatives Agency for believing in him, and his family for gassing him up after his iconic first role as village fish seller in Beauty and the Beast Jr. Visit ericrenna.com or @eric.renna on Instagram.

  • (Anna, u/s Wendla) Leianna Weaver is thrilled to be making her East West Players debut! She is a BFA Acting graduate from Cal State Fullerton. Most recently, Leianna played Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (Musical Theatre West), and Qing in the staged concert of the new musical Noble Family (McCoy Rigby Entertainment). She would like to thank the team at ATB Talent for their guidance, and her loved ones for their support. She sings for McKenna.

  • (Georg Zirschnitz, 11/20-12/03) (Understudy, 10/26-11/19) CJ Cruz was born in Jacksonville, Florida and grew up as a Navy brat. His father came over to the US from the Philippines, making him a second generation immigrant. CJ studied Psychology, Theater, and Documentary Filmmaking at Duke University. You can catch him on-screen in the film 1660 Vine or on-stage at stand-up comedy shows in Los Angeles. CJ is thrilled to be acting in his first East West Players production! @realcjcruz

  • (Understudy) Evan is delighted to be a part of such a fun show with an amazingly talented cast! This story has such an important message to share and he hopes everyone enjoys! You may have seen him around the LA/OC area in roles such as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Calvin/Matt Understudy in Calvin Berger, TJ in Sister Act, and many more. Alongside his theater work, he also does film/TV/commercial work, so hopefully you'll get to see him on the big screen someday! Evan would like to thank not only his friends and family for their support, but also the team at East West Players for this opportunity. @pascualevan

  • (Understudy) Kay Sibal is a proud Filipina actor and musician, and she is honored to join her first EWP show! Recent theater credits include: Juliet in the world premiere of Invincible: The Musical (Wallis Annenberg Center of Performing Arts), Miranda in The Tempest: An Immersive Experience (Shakespeare Center Los Angeles / After Hours Theater Co), The Princess in The Shadow (Mixed Emotion Theatrix). Music direction credits include: UCLA ScatterTones A Cappella, Bruins Care 2020-21 (UCLA), Ghost Quartet (UCLA), [title of show] (Piedmont High School), UCLA Class of 2022 Showcase. With a choral and pop music background, she has performed in venues such as the Fox Theater in Oakland, The Bourbon Room in Hollywood, the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, the Hollywood Bowl, and on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Thanks to her family, teachers, and manager for being her personal cheerleaders, and to her EWP community for feeling like home. @ka_dot_sibal

  • (Martha Bessell, u/s Adult Women) Sarah Marie Hernandez is a proud 1st gen Filipino-American performer, producer, arts administrator, and educator. She is thrilled to be making her East West Players debut! Select credits include SIX (K. Howard), Lizzie: The Musical (Lizzie Borden), Spring Awakening (Thea), Songs For A New World (Woman 1), & Steel Pier (Precious). Sarah Marie has collaborated with Disney, Diversionary Theatre, and performed 2 summers at The Rady Shell with the San Diego Symphony and conductor Rob Fisher for their Broadway concert series, alongside Kelli O’Hara, Norm Lewis, Megan Hilty, and Adrienne Warren. Outside of performing, she currently serves as Chairwoman & Casting Director of Teatro San Diego, a BIPOC founded and led non-profit theatre. Sarah Marie is an alumni of San Diego State University's musical theatre program.
    sarahmariehernandez.com & @sarahmarie.hernandez

  • (Ernst Röbel) Genki Hall is thrilled to be returning to performing after most recently working as Script Coordinator/Showrunner’s Assistant for season one of Sunny (Apple TV/A24) in Tokyo, Japan. His favorite credits include Perón (Evita), Linus (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), and Robertson Ay (Mary Poppins). After studying creative writing and psychology at University of Virginia (c.o. 2019) and Writing and Producing for Television at Loyola Marymount University (c.o. 2022), Genki plans to continue storytelling through stage and television in the years to come. He would like to thank his family for their unconditional support, Governor’s School for the Arts for their training, and Tim Dang for this exciting opportunity. WGA and SAG strong! @genki97

Credits

Director
Tim Dang^

Assistant Director
Tyree Marshall

Music Director
Marc Macalintal

Assistant Music Director
Kay Sibal

Choreographer
Preston Mui

Assistant Choreographer
Charmane Baquiran

Fight Director
Cesar Cipriano

Intimacy Coordinator
Carly DW Bones

Dramaturg
Arnab Banerji, PhD

Latin Language Consultant
Andrea L. Odinov

German and Classical Pronunciations Consultant
Kirsten Chandler

Stage Manager
Brandon Hong Cheng*

Assistant Stage Manager
Irene DH Lee*

COVID Safety Manager
Alessandra Gutierrez

Scenic Designer
Christopher Scott Murillo†

Properties Designer
Glenn Michael Baker

Costume Designer
JoJo Siu†

Assistant Costume Designer
Rome Fiore

Hair & Makeup Designer
Gillian Woodson

Lighting Designer
Derek Jones

Sound Designer
Cricket Myers†

Conductor/Keyboard
Marc Macalintal

Guitar
Vincent Reyes

Guitar
Hisako Ozawa

Bass
Khris Kempis

Cello
Rebecca Yeh

Viola
Beverly Shih

Violin
Christine Chen

Percussion
Christopher Spilsbury

*Member of Actors Equity Association
^Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
†Member of USA 829

Advisories

Spring Awakening is not recommended for audience members under the age of 13.

Production Warning

Please be advised that this production contains strobe lights, flashes of light, theatrical haze, and loud music.

Content & Trigger Warning

Spring Awakening contains mentions of abortion, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as depictions of suicide, partial nudity, and sexual content.

A Content Warning is a verbal or written notice that precedes potentially sensitive content, allowing for the viewer to prepare themselves so that they are able to engage or disengage with the content. Trigger warnings are of a more serious nature that may cause a physiological and/or psychological response, such as anxiety. There may be overlap between the two.

If you would like to learn more about the content warnings of this show, please reach out to boxoffice@eastwestplayers.org.

Read our COVID-19 Policy

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