There is so much I could say about this production of Spring Awakening but at the same time, I find myself at a complete loss for words because it was just THAT GOOD. It is a production that everyone should get to experience.
Spring Awakening is a 2007 Tony Award winning musical for best musical along with winning seven other awards that night. It is a rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics and book by Steven Sater. In fall of 2015 Deaf West’s Spring Awakening transferred onto Broadway from Los Angeles making the Brooks Atkinson theater its new home for a special limited run. This is also the first revival of the show since it closed in 2009. The show had their final revival performance on January 24, 2016.
This show under the direction of Michael Arden was completely transformed from the original Broadway production which took Broadway by storm in 2006 by reinventing it and making it fresh and new while at the same time keeping the original story and plot in tact.
What makes this show so important isn’t the meaning or storyline of the show (which yes is very important and interesting) but for Broadway, the arts, and just in general is that it is the beginning of making Broadway and the arts more accessible. By more accessible I’m talking about how this is the first Broadway show EVER to feature deaf actors and actresses and an actress in a wheelchair.
When people hear that the actors are deaf usually people get a confused look on their face wondering how you would be able to understand what is going on if you don’t know American Sign Language (ASL) which is understandable since it is something that is not common at all but the concept is very simple. The actors that are deaf have a hearing actor follow them around and be what is ultimately their “inner voice” and they sing and speak for them while the deaf actor signs. Not only was their signing, speaking, and singing going on but there was also captions on stage during some scenes as well, making this show so easy for so many people to enjoy.
The use of ASL is done so unbelievably seamless with the speaking, singing, and choreography it is almost as if it was originally written that way. You get to a point while watching this production where you don’t even realize the deaf actors aren’t speaking their voices become heard, the actors speaking for them become them and truly become their voice.
It is so amazing that so many people that wouldn’t usually be able to fully experience a Broadway show because they are deaf get to experience this. They are able to buy tickets and go whenever they desired unlike other Broadway shows where they would have to wait for a captioned performance. I noticed people on line waiting to go inside the theater hearing people signing to their deaf friends and seeing people sitting next to me sign to each other. Even after the performance at the stage door there were so many people who specifically learned some ASL phrases to sign to the cast.
Because of this show people are becoming more aware of deaf culture and really taking note of it and becoming interested in learning more about it and learning American Sign Language. I truly hope that this production is a step in the right direction in making Broadway more accessible for all people because theatre is special and should not be off-limits to anyone.
I also think it is very cool and important to note that this show held a record breaking number of Broadway debuts and even theatrical debuts. This show gave an opportunity for so many people to be on Broadway when they may have not had the chance otherwise.
So thank you to EVERYONE who was involved in making this production something truly spectacular you have changed so many peoples lives for the better!
If you didn’t get to experience this show while it was in California or on Broadway, I urge you to see it on tour in 2017!
