EPIC Players Theatre, New York's Premiere Neurodiverse Theater Company, presents a first-of-its-kind neuroinclusive Spring Awakening, at ART/ NY’s The Mezzanine Theatre. ASL-interpreted Performances will be held on May 9 and May 16.

Spring Awakening is an electrifying journey through the trials and challenges of adolescence, with music by Duncan Sheik. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the story explores the mystery of attraction, desire, sex, insecurity, and the highs and lows of navigating the pressures of young adult life. Brought to life by the unique perspective of EPIC’s neurodivergent community members, this is one re-telling not to miss.

“Light poured in through floor-to-ceiling windows as the players sung their parts to a resonant piano accompaniment before joining their voices in a rapid and rousing harmony…The scene is similar to any professional theater company's rehearsal before a big show, with EPIC Players' difference being its mission to ‘provide opportunities for performers with developmental disabilities to represent themselves on stage and screen.’” — Jessy Edwards, BK Reader

CAST:

Wendla: Sydney Kurland 

Martha: Laisha Gonzalez 

Thea: Rachel Barcellona 

Anna: Katherine Tepan 

Ilse: Mina Cuesta

Melchior: Will Ketter

Moritz: Reuben Baron

Hanschen: Samuel Langshteyn

Ernst: Josh Cartagena

Georg: Rafiq Tate

Otto: Shafer Gootkind

Adult Women 1:  Shoshanna Gleich

Adult Women 2: Samantha Elisofon

Adult Man 1: Gerard Riley

Adult Man 2: Max Tunney

Ensemble: Henry Houghton

Ensemble: Emy Ramos

Voice of Hanschen: Chloe Rose Solomon 

CREATIVE TEAM AND CREW:

Director: Travis Burbee

Assistant Director:  Gabe Girson 

Music Director: Blake Brauer

Choreographer: Miles Butler

Stage Manager: Sydnee Davis

Production Manager: William Morris

Assistant Stage Manager: Carol Hoverman

Assistant Stage Manager: Cassidy Kaye

Director of Artistic Sign Language: Kailyn Aaron-Lozano

Intimacy and Fight Director: Hannah "Rock" Roccisano

Intimacy and Fight Assistant: Scarlet Yousif

Scenic Designer: Matthew Imhoff

Sound Designer: Sean Ramos

Costume Designer: Nicole Zausmer

Props Designer: Madisen Frazier

Light Designer: Cameron Filepas 

Executive Artistic Director: Aubrie Therrien

Front of House:  Talia Eapen

Access Coordinator: Jamie Rose Hays

Mental Health Counselor: Taupa Fogo-Toussaint

EPIC, named one of the top disabled theater companies in NYC by Theater Development Fund, is an inclusive theater company and welcomes all theater patrons to enjoy our productions. In order to make our shows more accessible to individuals with disabilities and members of the neuro-diverse community and their families, we offer the following accommodations, services and policies:

• ADA Seating: Wheelchair and companion seating is reserved for the exclusive use of patrons with disabilities and their guests who require the features of the seat. The accessible seat locations offer wheelchair accommodation for guests who need to remain in their wheelchairs or who would like to transfer, have no steps for guests with mobility disabilities, and are easy to access from the theater entrance.

• Assisted listening devices will be available to patrons who request it. There will be two scheduled ASL-interpreted performances on on May 9th and May 16th.

• Access Devices: Noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, and quiet zones are provided for any patron who would benefit from these services.

• A relaxed atmosphere will be adopted at all performances to allow patrons with developmental disabilities to talk and vocalize as they wish, as well as leave and re-enter the seating area as needed.

This production is made possible in part with the support of:

The New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, The Hoffman Charitable Trust, The Annabelle Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Lortel Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Flutie Foundation, and the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

"Our actors are actually getting jobs and work and building community and relationships inside and outside the company," Therrien said. "It's humbling and profound. And this year was seeing it work, all this magic play out and things actually changing people and helping them for the better: The proof is in the pudding.” — EPIC Players Founder, Aubrie Therrien

About the Company

EPIC Players (Empower, Perform, Include, Create), founded on August 25, 2016, is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists. Via inclusive mainstage productions, musical cabarets, original showcases, skills-based classes and career resources, we hope to increase critical employment opportunities, pioneer increased inclusion in the arts, and break down social stigmas surrounding neuro-diverse communities.

Dates: May 9 - 19, 2024

Times:

Wednesday - Saturday's at 7pm
Sundays at 2pm 

Location: ART/NY's The Mezzanine Theatre, 502 West 53rd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019

General admission tickets start at $35. Video streaming will be available during the second week of shows, with streaming tickets available for $20.

All tickets can be purchased online at https://epicplayers.ticketspice.com/epic-players-presents-spring-awakening-.

For more information, visit https://www.epicplayersnyc.org/