7 Reasons Why Spring Awakening Should Have Received More Tony Nominations

Not gone.

This past July, the Tony Award winning musical Spring Awakening returned to Broadway with the Deaf West Theatre Company.

Via nytix.com

The show, which ran its final performance on January 24, received three nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Lighting Design, and Best Direction for the show's director Michael Arden.

Joan Marcus / Via variety.com

Here are a few reasons why this masterpiece deserved many, many more nominations.

Joan Marcus / Via wsj.com

1. It took over one hundred rehearsals to get the deaf and hearing actors in sync.

Tate Tullie / Via americantheatre.org

Deaf actors such as Daniel Durant (Moritz), relied on small movements such as crossing arms or picking up letters to cue him to begin signing the phrases that Alex Boniello (Moritz voice/guitar) sang.

2. The show made history with Ali Stroker as the first performer on Broadway in a wheelchair.

Via dctheatrescene.com

The special chair Stroker uses was designed to match the show's time period, as well as adding an entrance ramp and creating a first floor dressing room for her.

3. Krysta Rodriguez performed in the show shortly after finishing chemotherapy.

Via nypost.com

Rodriguez, who plays Ilse, underwent her final round of chemotherapy only two weeks before the show's opening. She prepped for the show and learned American sign language while still shaking what she called "chemo brain," or a fuzzy headed feeling following treatment.

4. The show's cast features both veterans of the show and newcomers to Broadway.

Via etonline.com

Actors such as Andy Mientus (Hanschen) and Krysta Rodriguez have both been a part of the show, Mientus as Hanschen on the show's first national tour and Rodriguez understudying every female role with the Broadway cast, while actors Austin P. McKenize (Melchior), Sandra Mae Frank (Wendla), and others made their Broadway debuts in this production. The mix of seasoned performers and new talent bring a fresh feel to the show.

5. Director Michael Arden kept close to the show's original staging.

Greg Hernandez / Via greginhollywood.com

Arden didn't stray very far from Michael Mayer's original 2006 staging, but doubled the number of adult actors to bring more deaf performers to the show. Having a half hearing/half deaf cast makes the show all the more stunning and innovative while keeping with the initial beauty of the original production.

6. ASL is used throughout the entire show.

Via simonwolfguard.tumblr.com

The entire cast, hearing and deaf actors alike, signed all their lines and lyrics. Not only does the show open Broadway up to deaf performers, but it introduces theatre to deaf audience members, bringing an entirely new demographic to the Broadway community.

7. It's a damn beautiful show.

Via toofunktastic.tumblr.com

The signing is breathtaking, the music is beautiful, the story is incredible, and the actors are astounding. Need I say more?

We love you, Spring Awakening.

Via askyfullofcomets.tumblr.com

We'll be rooting for you this June.

@latenightseth / Via Instagram

♥️

Via askyfullofcomets.tumblr.com