Speech & Debate Film Will Feature Spencer Liff Choreo, Skylar Astin & Lin-Manuel Miranda Cameo

Expect some Broadway magic when Stephen Karam’s off-Broadway comedy Speech & Debate hits the big screen. The film adaptation will unite Spring Awakening star Austin McKenzie, Liam James and original star Sarah Steele as a trio of high school outcasts. They may not have been super popular on stage, but now, a host of Great White Way favorites will keep them company.

Pitch Perfect star and Broadway alum Skylar Astin will take on the role of drama teacher Mr. Healy. Tony winner Roger Bart, who is set to return to Broadway next year in Disaster!, has been tapped to play the school’s Principal Bellingham. Hamilton juggernaut Lin-Manuel Miranda, who honestly hasn’t done nearly enough this year, will even cameo, as will the play's original off-Broadway Howie Gideon Glick and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award winner Darren Criss.

Spencer Liff, who brought ASL-infused choreography to Deaf West’s revival of Spring Awakening, spearheaded the film’s dance moments, including a memorable performance art piece led by high school prima donna Diwata (Steele).

“I sat down and read the script,” Liff told Broadway.com. “By the time I got to the end, I thought, ‘Oh crap! I have to do this movie.’ I fell in love with it.” Liff also makes a cameo as—appropriately enough—a choreographer. "There's this whole audition sequence, so [Astin and I] had a funny bit scene together."

The choreography’s not the only contribution Liff made; because of him, the film found its Howie in newcomer McKenzie.

Speech & Debate producer Tom Rice attended Spring Awakening's opening night in L.A. as Astin's guest. After the two discussed McKenzie's performance during intermission, he approached Liff to set up an introduction. "I was already sold by that point," Rice explained. "We had been auditioning Howies for over a month. Austin was so perfect. Spencer facilitated a meeting the next day, and Austin came in and nailed it."

"It's funny," Liff commented. "When I read the script, I pictured Austin, but I never thought they’d go with such an unknown.”

The film, featuring a screenplay by Karam and directed by Dan Harris, is slated for a 2016 release.