Spring Awakening: recoups $6 million investment.

The New York Times and Variety both report that the Broadway pop-rock musical Spring Awakening has recouped its $6 million investment.

When the musical initially opened on Broadway it was struggling to cover its running costs. But sales picked up in the summer, after the musical won eight Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Director, Best Choreographer, Best Score, Best Book, Best Orchastrations, Best Lighting and Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.)

Producer Ira Pittelman told Variety "There's probably nothing more effective than winning eight Tonys. That was the final validation for all those traditional theatergoers who weren't sure this was a show they wanted to see."

Spring Awakening opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on 10 Dec 2006, following previews from 17 Nov 2006. The show is booking to the 23 Dec 2007.

Spring Awakening is adapted from Frank Wedekind's controversial masterpiece about a dozen young people and how they make their way through the thrilling, complicated, confusing and mysterious time of their sexual awakening.

Directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening has music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater.

The cast featurs Jonathan Groff (Melchior Gabor), Lea Michele (Wendla Bergman), John Gallagher, Jr. (Mortiz), Skylar Astin (Georg), Lilli Cooper (Martha), Gideon Glick (Ernst), Brian Johnson (Otto), Lauren Pritchard (Ilse), Phoebe Strole (Anna), Jonathan B. Wright (Hanschen), and Remy Zaken (Thea), Stephen Spinella (Male Adult characters) and Christine Estabrook (Female Adult Characters).

Spring Awakening had its world premiere at the off-Broadway Atlantic Theatre (15 Jun - 6 Aug 2006). With the exception of Stephen Spinella and Christine Estabrook, the Off- Broadway cast transferred with the production when it moved to Broadway.

The Broadway show also has the same creative team as the earlier Atlantic Theatre production: Set design by Christine Jones, with costumes by Susan Hilferty and lighting by Kevin Adams.

The Broadway production of Spring Awakening is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce and the Atlanta Theatre Company.