Deaf West's Spring Awakening Broadway Previews

[gleek4114]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:58am

Previews start in two days! Is anyone on there going?!? Can't wait to hear reactions! I really want to see this before it closes in January.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 1:17am

I'm still wishing for a longer run. "It's Only a Play" got to transfer to a different theatre and stay open a little longer last season. I got to see this amazing revival in Beverly Hills earlier this year. I can't be more happy that basically 98% of the cast is going to be on that stage. Hope you guys love it as much as I did.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:34pm

What are the chances of this having a cast recording?

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:50pm

I was thinking about that the other day, and I'm not totally sure. Having just a cast recording kind of misses the point of the production, no? Ideally, it would be preserved in video format with closed captioning. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 1:06pm

Yeah, I was just thinking that if they released any sort of cast recording they would film it.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 1:48pm

Closed captioning in a traditional sense would also kind of miss the point -- the show is already designed to be able to watched simultaneously by deaf and hearing audiences.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 3:01pm

When DWT Big River was on Broadway they couldn't make a cast recording, and I assume if they did, it would be a discrimination against the deaf actors in the cast. So I doubt they will do it for SA. it would be great if they release a video with CC but that's exp too.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 3:28pm

Call_me_jorge said: "What are the chances of this having a cast recording?"

What do you have against half the cast?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 4:51pm

Lizzie, I didn't mean it that way. I was just wondering if I'll ever be able to hear the music from this show, because I doubt I'll make it to New York by the time it closes.

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 5:06pm

JoseLee_ said: "I'm still wishing for a longer run. "It's Only a Play" got to transfer to a different theatre and stay open a little longer last season."

 

Well, that would mean selling out every show in its current run, to compare it to It's Only A Play, no? This show is already offering discounts, which I don't think ever happened in the original It's Only run.

 

As for hearing the music from this show, wouldn't the OBC Spring Awakening recording be the same thing, just with a different cast, as far as audio?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 5:54pm

Yes, I'm sure there will be many bootleg recordings made of it that you can hear.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 5:57pm

I will be there on Tuesay and will report back :)

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 7:15pm

QueenAlice said: "Yes, I'm sure there will be many bootleg recordings made of it that you can hear."

 

There are already bootlegs of the West Coast run, for the matter. (No, I don't have any, no need to message me).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 8:13pm

Not to ask a bitchy question, but can anyone explain to me what makes this particular production so great? 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 9:14pm

^ Are you serious? 

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 9:34pm

RippedMan said: "Not to ask a bitchy question, but can anyone explain to me what makes this particular production so great? "

 

It extends the theme of the Broadway show, where rock music was the way they felt they could express their feelings internally in a way they couldn't in their actual story, and overlays that same powerful narrative onto a deaf experience. So, their frustrations now are compounded by their inability to verbalize them, and the other actors are able to express more of the vibrancy and music that they feel just as strongly but are less able to share otherwise.

 

I didn't see this version yet, but that is my understanding of why this works well with this show in particular.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:31am

Invited Dress tonight was a thrilling, moving experience.  Grab tickets while you can. The Amazing Cast was called out for a second curtain call and Cameron ran out from her dressing room in her unitard,  What a night! Michael Arden will be the next Hot Director.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:36am

Hooray! I have tickets but not until two weeks from now. I guess I'll keep myself from reading this thread until then. :)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:39am

Well sorry for asking, JoseLee. But I honestly haven't an idea what to expect from this production. I didn't really love the original. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:48am

Ripped, if you didn't love the original, there are better than even odds you will not like this version. But I can't understand how you can have no idea what to expect, unless you have been willfully avoiding the extensive press, social media and youtube coverage of the show (not to mention the lovely description haterobics went to the trouble to provide you in this thread).

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:49am

RippedMan said: "I didn't really love the original."

 

If you don't like the story or the music, I can't imagine this production (even with the Deaf West treatment) is going to change the core of the show in a way that will change your mind on it. I mean, it's still Spring Awakening...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:28am

Invited dress was absolutely remarkable. I don't think it hyperbole to say that this production is absolutely superior to the original. It is new, it is fresh. The ASL illuminates the show in absolutely remarkable ways. I wept. Several moments left me gasping. The cast is astonishing, including the new company members... I simply can't say enough now, but look forward to a dialogue here during previews.

I actually think that if you did not care for the original, you might still really damn well enjoy this one.

Michael Arden just earned a spot as an in demand director... And a soon to be Tony nominated one, if not Tony winning.

My hands honestly hurt from applauding the curtain call. And yes, Cameron Manheim returned to the stage in her unitard / undergarments due to the audience just refusing to leave until the cast returned.

Several of the kids on this show will be back on Broadway very soon I suspect and hope.

Without giving much away... The representation of dying / death in this production is startling and gripping. The use of spoken / sung word, ASL, supertitles, silence and surprising spoken word is beyond perfect. It gives such rich depth to this show and to this world. The use of speaking actors alongside a deaf character was remarkable in what Arden did with it... See it and you will get what I mean.

Austin McKenzie just kickstarted a career. Rodriguez makes a strong return to the stage. Mientus is rich. Page and Manheim were far more successful than their predecessors on Broadway EVER were. I wish. I could offer more names, but alas, no Playbills for dress.

The final moments of the show will take your breath away. The ovations before and after Purple Summer were absolutely heartfelt and genuine and in no way "just industry folk cheering."

 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 4:46am

Saw this in LA and while the cast and production are superb , sadly the show it self is nothing special...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:59pm

Actually yeah, I have gone to great lengths to avoid all the social media. Same with Hamilton. If i'm going to see a show I want to see it without preconceived notions. I plan on going to this. I didn't hate the original, I just didn't think it was the best thing ever like most teens at the time thought. I like a musical with more depth - Caroline, or Change, Fun Home. This just seems kind of eh. But who knows, maybe this production will bowl me over. 

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 5:46pm

I'm confused as to why people are calling this "new and riveting". It's been done before right? Big River was the same and first concept of its kind am I right? Or am I missing something?