The new-age musical Spring Awakening is groundbreaking for many reasons – its plot deals with teenage sexual awakenings and pregnancy, mental illness, sexual abuse, and rape. But this season, Broadway’s production of the musical is groundbreaking for another reason.
This production casted deaf and handicapable actors, and characters use American Sign Language throughout the dialogue and choreography. In a show about botched communication between the curious adolescents and their suppressive adult leaders, this directorial choice enhances the story beautifully.
Originally put on in California, Deaf West Theater moved the production to Broadway and has received critical acclaim for their bold performance. The deaf actors pair up with a hearing actor who sings while they act and sign. They are often in darkness and take on the persona of a shadow or a subconscious.
On top of hiring deaf actors, the character of Anne is played by Ali Stroker, who has made history by becoming the first actress in a wheelchair to star on Broadway. If you were a “Gleek” like me, you might recognize her from the Oxygen reality show The Glee Project as the season two runner-up, and as a guest star in the Glee episode “I Do.”
In an interview with Variety, Stroker talks about how important representation is: “That was something I really craved, as a teenager. I was looking for someone who was like me and wasn’t finding it. To not feel like you are being represented, something happens inside of you. It’s like, ‘Wait, do I not count?’ But I really believe our industry is changing.”
The show runs until January 24th on Broadway, but the show’s impact will last a lot longer.
Pictures and GIF from Time Magazine.