Last night was Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele's final performance in
Spring Awakening. Kym, Kaitlin, and I were lucky enough to get tickets and attend. And what a special night it was.
We sat in the seventh row in the left section of the theater. The people that we saw sitting in the theater with us was incredible. We sat with writer and lyricist Steven Sater, director Michael Mayer, and producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittleman.
Former cast members Johnny B. Wright, Lauren Pritchard, and Robert Hager were there, including Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. Groff and Lea's families were also there. It was an honor to sit there and watch the same show along with its creators. That feeling was indescribable.
The show was the best I have ever seen it. Not that the cast was more talented last night, but their energy (coupled with that of the audience) made for an amazing night of live theater. It was heartbreaking to watch Lea, Groff, and the cast get emotional. It was bittersweet. We were happy for their success and achievements, but sad because they greatly contributed to the show's success. Groff and Lea are a big part about what makes
Spring Awakening special. It's sad to see that go.
But what a way to go out!
Repeated standing ovations, including at the start of the show. A three minute standing ovation after Act II's "Totaly Fucked." And a chilling final applause, followed by a beautiful and simple speech from the two.
Above is a screen-cap from yesterday's
Playbill.com. Groff and Lea's exit was the top story yesterday (as I predicted months ago).
Below is a picture from the curtain call from the opening night performance on December 10, 2006.
Thank you, Groff and Lea, for amazing memories and inspiring performances.
After the performance, we ventured the crowds at the stage door. There, we saw the entire cast. I got to talk to Steven Sater, Michael Mayer, as well as Groff and Lea. One of the biggest surprises though (although I had trouble comprehending meeting Sater and Mayer), John Gallagher came out of the stage door. Kym and Kait got him on the street and he told them that he'd be back, once he carried some belongings of Groff and Lea's over to his car. After we got to see the cast, we found Gallagher again and actually got to talk to him, without crowds or barriers. It was quite a thrill, but for more on that, you'll have to talk to Kym.
Editor's note: This post is a sort of revival for White Hall Opinions. Now that I've graduated college, I think (
think) I will have more time to devote to this blog. Mostly because I want to. Hopefully my life will have more of a routine and I can keep up with things that I want. So please, continue to check back here for updates (I promise, they won't all be about
Spring Awakening). And thank you for reading.
Daniel Breaker has been cast as Donkey in the Broadway-bound Shrek the Musical! This is a shock because the role was cast months ago, with Chester Gregory playing the part. The PL gang and I even saw him perform at Broadway Battle of the Bands in June. Gregory participated in the Seattle run, which just ended. Daniel also just had a baby, so I'm a little surprised that he's jumping back into a major commitment so soon. But hey, we all gotta make money, right?
