Gorgeous Music, Stirring Themes, mark Steel River’s Season Opener - Spring Awakening Broadway Star to visit Opening Night

Gorgeous Music, Stirring Themes, mark Steel
River’s Season Opener - Spring Awakening

Broadway Star to visit Opening Night

Rock music has
become a staple on Broadway, and shows that once stirred controversy are now
accepted for their strength of music and message. Spring Awakening, starting September 26th at Steel River Playhouse
in Pottstown, joins the list of musicals using
rock and folk music to address issues that are both universal and timeless.

Winner of 8 Tony
Awards (including Best Musical), 4 Olivier Awards (including Best Musical), and
4 Drama Desk Awards, Spring Awakening
is a cross-generational phenomenon that transcends age and cultural barriers.
The show is a musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s controversial
expressionistic play from 1891, about the trials, tribulations, and
exhilaration of the teen years – issues that still resonate with teens and
adults today. With a true indie-rock score, the music has been described as
“the most gorgeous Broadway score this decade” (Entertainment Weekly).

Spring Awakening is set in a late 19th century
German village, and features contemporary, energetic and soulful music and
choreography that bridges the gap between past and present. The story follows a
group of teenage friends exploring their journey from adolescence to adulthood,
facing love, societal roles, parent expectations, and missed opportunities for
communication and understanding. Told with poignancy and passion, it’s a
fast-paced, gripping celebration of youth and self-discovery in a world of
unresponsive adults.

Broadway star,
Christy Altomare, will be Steel
River’s special guest for
the official opening night of Spring
Awakening on Friday, September 27th. Christy played the leading role of
“Wendla” in the first National Tour of Spring
Awakening, and spent the last year as the lead, “Sophie”, in Broadway’s
mega hit Mama Mia. She is also known
for the role of Carrie’s best friend, Sue Snell, in the recent Off-Broadway
revival and soundtrack of the musical, Carrie.
A graduate of the prestigious Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with a BFA in
Musical Theatre, Christy grew up in Bucks
County, PA. This
special evening will begin with a 7:00 pm pre-show discussion with Christy and
the director of Spring Awakening, Dr.
Bev Redman of Ursinus College (complete with autographs and photo-ops), and
will continue after the performance with a talk-back with Christy and the Spring Awakening cast. Following the
talk-back, Christy will sing musical selections, accompanied by Steel River’s
Music Coordinator, Rich Lewis.

The Spring Awakening cast includes Maddie Aicher as Wendla (Pottstown),
Madison Devlin as Martha (Boyertown), Casey Cloonan as Thea (Honey Brook), Dona
Marie Pizzo as Anna (Eagleville), Kira Clements as Ilse (King of Prussia), Amanda
Gray as Jennifer (Douglassville), Karissa Smith as Krista (Boyertown), Sami
Kolb as Liesl (Spring City), Matt DeGaetano as Melchior (Downingtown), Andrew
Patterson as Moritz (Coatesville), Robb Russ as Hanschen (Philadelphia), Zach
Reynolds as Ernst (Jeffersonville), Mike Styer as Georg (Spring City), Andrew
Pierce as Otto (Downingtown), AJ Sermarini as Gerard (Boyertown), Cory Taylor
as Robert (Lansdale), and Aileen McCullough as Adult Woman (Morgantown).  Neal Newman as Adult Man (Wayne) appears
courtesy of Actors Equity Association. 

The show is directed by Beverly
Redman, Ph.D., Chair of the Theater and Dance Department at Ursinus College,
and music directed by Deborah Stimson-Snow, Artistic Director for Steel River
Playhouse.

Spring
Awakening runs for three weekends only, Thursdays through Sundays,
September 26th through October 13th. 
Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.steelriver.org and clicking on the
ONLINE TICKETS button on the top right-hand corner of the screen.  To contact the box office directly call
610-970-1199. Please note: Spring Awakening contains mature themes,
sexual content, and adult language.

About Steel River
Playhouse

Steel River Playhouse is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
charitable education and performance facility that seeks to strengthen
community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the
presentation of quality performing arts events and education for diverse
audiences. Designated as a “gateway” performing arts center, Steel River
provides affordable, high quality performances, comprehensive educational
offerings, and enriching volunteer opportunities in all aspects of theatre
arts. The organization embraces emerging and established artists, and supports
community by serving as a magnet destination for economic development and a
platform for shared experiences by diverse audiences. Students and volunteers
of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to explore and grow their skills by
working side-by-side with professional instructors, performers, directors, and
designers. More information is available at www.steelriver.org.