Casey Likes doesn't stay out of the spotlight for long. Shortly after concluding his run in Back to the Future on Broadway, Likes is set to lead a new production of Spring Awakening in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The production is the latest in Likes' mission to bring greater theatrical attention back to his home state, following Rent in 2024. Running April 4–13, the production is the culmination of Likes and Spring Awakening co-creator Steven Sater's working relationship, which has been teased on social media for several months.
Likes will direct and star as Melchior in the production, which features music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Sater. A pre-show video of Sater, reflecting on the original production and how this revival reimagines its contents, will be shown to audiences as a part of the presentation.
In addition to Likes, Spring Awakening will also star Carson Stewart (The Notebook) as Moritz, Jessie Jo Aka (Off-Broadway's An Axemas Story) as Wendla, Johnna Dias Watson (Wednesday, Motorheads) as Ilse, and Jesse Havea (publicly known as Brita Filter, RuPaul's Drag Race) as Hanschen.
They will be supported by Stephanie Likes (Les Miserables) as the Adult Women, Christian Johannsen (Off-Broadway's El Otro Oz) as Martha, Mia Cherise Hall (Off-Broadway's Relapse), Caleb Reese as the Adult Men, Micah J. Lawrence as Ernst, Eric Liu as Georg, Breagh Watson as Anna, Josh Ransford as Otto, and a movement ensemble consisting of Reese, Evan Kaushesh, Claire Likes, Angelica Santana, Andrew Matcuk, and JP Moore.
Spring Awakening will be music directed by Alan Plado (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), with a live band led by Plado, choreographed by Brach Drew, and assistant directed by Maureen Dias Watson and Tatum Grell. The production will also have set design by Likes, Diana Likes, Pete Bish, and Chase Budden; lighting design by Dale Nakagawa; sound design by Bish; and consent direction by Cel Sanel. In all, this is the third producing collaboration between Likes and Scottsdale Community Players.
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