The Armonk-based Lighthouse Youth Theater will perform the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” on Friday, June 5th, and Saturday, June 6th, at the Yorktown Stage Theater.
The show is being performed by the very talented teens involved in LYT’s protege group. The show is directed by John Fanelli.
Elana Cantor, a freshman at Greeley and Michela Masotti, a senior at Greeley, each play the leading role of Wendla, the tragic heroine of the story (Elana on Friday, Michela on Saturday). The show also features Michaela Durr and Megan Warshofsky and Ellie Logan is involved behind the scenes.
The musical is based on a 1891 German play by Frank Windekind, having been updated by Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater in the late 1990s. Making its Broadway debut in 2006 with Glee’s Lea Michele in the leading female role, the musical took home eight Tonys in 2007.
While the story takes place in late-19th-century Germany, Sheik and Slater used alternative rock sounds to tell the story of teenagers struggling with their sexuality.
LYT director John Fanelli, who also directs “Awakening,” felt that open discussion during rehearsals about the musical’s subject matter would help performers.
“It’s a reflection of our society and brings value in that it can teach us not to make the same mistakes,” says Fanelli, who launched LYT in 2006 for children and teens in the Westchester area.
To that end, youth groups and high schools are invited to attend performances at discounted rates.
Both performances will begin at 7 each night.
Tickets for the performances are $20, $18 for students.
For tickets and information about LYT’s work, call 914-741-4205 or go online to lytshows.org.
