International NewsSpencer Liff Will Direct and Choreograph China Premiere of Spring AwakeningThe Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater musical will play Shanghai in 2020.
By
Andrew Gans
November 06, 2019
Spencer Liff
Marc J. Franklin
Spencer Liff, who received a 2016 Tony nomination for his choreography for the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening, will direct and choreograph the China premiere of the 2006 Tony-winning musical in 2020.
The Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater musical will play a 13-performance run at Shanghai’s Theatre Above in January 2020, according to Deadline. A national tour will follow the limited engagement.
Liff choreographed the Michael Arden-directed Deaf West Broadway revival, which featured a mix of hearing and Deaf actors while utilizing both English and American Sign Language. He'll be joined by an all-Chinese creative team. The cast will perform the songs in English; however, dialogue will be presented in Chinese.
About the subject matter, which tackles the burgeoning sexuality of both straight and queer students in 1890s Germany, producer Ken Dingledine of Harmonia Holdings, Ltd. stated, “We will not make any changes to the piece without the authors’ permission,” explaining that the production will be “specifically tailored to the Chinese audience…more implicit and less literally representative.”
Liff added, “I am looking forward to creating a brand-new production for the local audience that incorporates Chinese elements. After the auditions in New York and in Shanghai, I am very excited that our production might just present to the Chinese musical theatre market its next superstar.”
Harmonia produces with SAIC-Shanghai Culture Square.
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Photo Flashback! The Spring Awakening Revival Opened in 2015 on Broadway
Photo Flashback! The Spring Awakening Revival Opened in 2015 on Broadway
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Russell Harvard, Camryn Manheim, Krysta Rodriguez and cast
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Russell Harvard and Camryn Manheim
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Curtain call
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Katie Boeck and Russell Harvard
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Krysta Rodriguez, Austin McKenzie, Andy Mientus, Marlee Matlin and Patrick Page
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Krysta Rodriguez, Austin McKenzie, Andy Mientus and Marlee Matlin
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Marlee Matlin and Patrick Page
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Krysta Rodriguez and Austin McKenzie
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Austin McKenzie, Andy Mientus and Marlee Matlin
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Russell Harvard, Camryn Manheim and Krysta Rodriguez
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Russell Harvard, Camryn Manheim and Krysta Rodriguez
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Duncan Sheik
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Marlee Matlin and Steven Sater
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Spencer Liff, Duncan Sheik, Krysta Rodriguez, Steven Sater, Marlee Matlin and Andy Mientus
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Camryn Manheim, Spencer Liff, Krysta Rodriguez, Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater
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Spencer Liff and Michael Arden
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Michael Arden
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Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik
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Duncan Sheik and Nora Ariffin
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Matt Doyle, Brian Charles Johnson and Gerard Canonico
The initiative from the Educational Theatre Association, Disney Theatrical Group, and Music Theatre International will see schools competing for their state's exclusive performing rights to the Disney musical.
