Ready, Set, Go. Broadway season round up begins.
Well, Hamilton got an early start, and of course is burning up the boards with it’s innovative, fresh approach to theatrical storytelling, music, dance and overall live entertainment. Check out my earlier article here.
Next, Spring Awakening. A revival of a show just 6 years off the great white way. This incarnation has a completely different feel to the piece about adolescent sexual awakening in a repressed 1891 Germany, written by Frank Wedekind.
This production of Spring Awakening, with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik utilizes both hearing and deaf performers, making the story and it’s passionate score the star. I always found the songs to be haunting, and seeing this version reminded me again of how they do stay with you. Utilizing deaf actors who sign, with a singer/musician behind the actor singing their song, is a unique convention. It broadens the scope of theatre and performance and provides numerous layers to explore.
Cast of Spring Awakening. Photo credit: Kevin Parry
Spring Awakening 2015 is quite moving and feels even more organic than the in-your-face, bold original. It flows beautifully, and although not nearly as energetic and explosive, it has it’s own rhythm and spirit.
I enjoyed it and appreciate the effort and creativity behind it. Kudos to Deaf West Theatre and director Michael Arden.
Names you would know in this production are Camryn Manheim, Patrick Page (with that outstanding booming voice) and Marlee Matlin.
Spring Awakening runs through Jan. 24 in a limited engagement.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
