SPRING AWAKENING Cast Holds 'Want The Change' Benefit Concert 12/8

Past and present performers of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening come together for a night of unique music inspired by the Rainer Maria Rilke poem Sonnets to Orpheus, Part Two, XII.  Proceeds from the show will benefit the Actors Fund and IRT Theater's Artist In Residency program.  

In the spirit of the holiday season and before the official closing on January 18th, the Spring Awakening cast- both new and old- perform their favorite music.  The cabaret performance reflects the poem's theme of wanting the changes that come into our lives.  The show will also feature a sneak peak into each cast member's Spring Awakening audition.

Performers will include Eryn Murman, Gerard Canonico, Blake Daniel, Lauren Pritchard, Matt Doyle, Emma Hunton, Jenna Ushkowitz, Jesse Swenson, Andrew Durand, Zach Reiner-Harris, Alice Lee, Emily Kinney, Caitlin Kinnunen, Morgan Karr and more.

 Want the Change will be held at IRT, a performance venue located at 154 Christopher Street, #3B, in the heart of the West Village. Tickets are $35 in advance by calling 212-352-3101, 866-811-4111(toll free), and $45 at the door.  Admission includes one free cocktail.

AFTER-PARTY - Join the cast of Spring Awakening for an after-party beginning shortly after the last performance.  Location TBA.

The Actors Fund is a nonprofit, national human services organization that helps entertainment and performing arts professionals in theater, film, music, opera, television and dance through a broad spectrum of social, health, employment, and housing programs that address their essential and critical needs.

IRT is a home for artists working in a variety of disciplines. The theater's mission is to identify excellence and facilitate collaboration between both established and emerging artists in the creation of new works.  Founded in 1986, IRT recently re-focused its mission under the leadership of Executive Director Kori Schneider and Artistic Director Andrew Horwitz.  Through its residency, commissioning and presenting programs, IRT provides opportunities for artists and companies to explore and develop new ideas.  All IRT projects - residencies, commissions and presentations - are developed through a three phase ensemble process of research, rehearsal and work-in-progress performance.  IRT believes that great theater is built collaboratively over time, with actors, designers, directors, dramaturgs and writers all "in the room" from the very beginning. 

For more information please contact Ben Kaplan at 216-798-5588 or bkaplan@irttheater.org

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski