HBO's Spring Awakening: Those You've Known documentary tells the story of the Spring Awakening original Broadway cast one-night-only reunion concert, held in November 2021 to benefit The Actors Fund. The documentary is set to premiere May 3 at 9 PM ET on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Watch the full trailer above.
The entire original cast took part in the Spring Awakening concert, including Jonathan Groff, Lauren Pritchard, Lea Michele, Skylar Astin, John Gallagher, Jr., Gerard Canonico, Lilli Cooper, Jennifer Damiano, Christine Estabrook, Gideon Glick, Robert Hager, Brian Charles Johnson, Krysta Rodriguez, Stephen Spinella, Phoebe Strole, Jonathan B. Wright, and Remy Zaken. Helmed by original director Michael Mayer, the concert occurred 15 years after the original Tony Award-winning Broadway run.
The documentary also features Spring Awakening lyricist and playwright Steven Sater, composer Duncan Sheik, and lead producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman.
Directed by Michael John Warren, the movie showcases the reunited original cast and creative team at rehearsals, in their homes, and backstage with performances from the reunion concert, newly filmed interviews, archival video, and photographs, as well as performance footage from the original production.
The RadicalMedia production is directed by Michael John Warren, produced by Dave Sirulnick and Meredith Bennett, executive-produced by Jon Kamen, Jonathan Meyers, Groff, and Michael John Warren, and co-produced by Pritchard. The senior producer for HBO is Sara Rodriguez with executive producers Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.
With music by Sheik and a book and lyrics by Sater, Spring Awakening opened at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre December 10, 2006. That original production earned eight Tony Awards, including accolades for Best Musical, Direction, Book, Score, and Featured Actor (Gallagher). It returned to Broadway in 2015 in a production by Deaf West Theatre.