EPIC Players Theatre presents Spring Awakening

EPIC Players Theatre, New York's Premiere Neurodiverse Theater Company, presents a first-of-its-kind neuroinclusive Spring Awakening, from Wednesday, May 9 - Sunday, May 12, 2024, and Wednesday, May 16 - Sunday, May 19, 2024 at ART/ NY’s The Mezzanine Theatre, 502 W. 53rd Street, 2nd floor. Performances: Wednesday-Saturday at 7pm, Sundays at 2pm. ASL-interpreted Performances will be held on May 9 and May 16. 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-. 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. For more information, visit https://www.epicplayersnyc.org/ http://www.eventsnearhere.com/find-events/NY/NEW-YORK/Art/Performing-Arts/addetail/242413/EPIC-Players-Theatre-presents-Spring-Awakening-