Dear Herr Stiefel uh, Moritz,
I remember walking into the Brooks Atkinson theater on September 13, 2015, little did I know walking in that might, that my life was going to be changed forever. "Spring Awakening" was always the show I introduced to people. I remember hearing about this production a few months ago when I was living and working in the happiest place on earth (yes Disney world). I was super excited about seeing it and what they had done to one of my favorite shows. When I returned home to New York from living in Florida for a few months I was super depressed, I didn't leave the house. I just sat on my couch and watched Netflix non-stop. Then a month later (to the day) I was walking into the Brooks Atkinson. I thought since I knew the story so well and I knew exactly what was going to happen I wasn't going to cry. Boy did they prove me wrong. The moment Sandra Mae Frank started signing "Mama Who Bore Me" I knew this was special. The tears really started falling down my face when I witnessed Daniel N Durant start "The Bitch of Living". The way this story is being told is so important for everyone to see and hear, however, the way you receive this story is so important.
I want to thank this cast for helping me get out of a depression by bringing new life to one of my favorite shows. I especially want to thank Sandra for being an inspiration to me that it doesn't matter if you are deaf, blind, can sing, dance, act it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you are passionate for what you want and if you fight for it you can achieve it. I also want to thank Austin for bringing a side to a character that I always admired (even though he can be asshole sometimes). You brought a wit, a likable charm to this character.
I also want to thank you for inspiring me to learn ASL. I always loved working with children with special needs but ASL was never something I thought I had to learn. Now I not only need to learn this beautiful language but I want to. You are so unbelievable, the fact that you have never acted before this blows my mine. You have such a bright future ahead of you.So thank you, to the both of you for bringing such beauty to characters that I have known and connected with for years. The entire cast was beyond grateful and sweet at the stage door every single time I went. Seeing it 9 times, from first previews to the final performance, I feel like I've grown to know all of you and watch you grow as actors and artists and I cannot wait to see what comes next for every single person in this cast. I also have gained so many friends between stage dooring and twitter, the Spring Awakening fandom is so close and tight-knit and we all are close because of one singular thing and that is this show.
I also want to thank Michael Arden and Spencer Liff for bringing this production to life. I am an aspiring director and choreographer so seeing what you both did to this originally flawless piece of theater and made it even more flawless. You made me laugh in this piece, cry, and feel everything I needed to feel in my time of need. Spring Awakening became my outlet when things were going downhill for me and this made my first 5 months being home amazing and I won't forget it for the rest of my life.
I am unchangingly and most fondly yours,
Catherine Rose
