Kate Burton & Blake Bashoff Join Cast of Spring Awakening

The Tony-winning hit Spring Awakening is getting some new cast members in the coming weeks. TV star Blake Bashoff will replace Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr. as Moritz starting December 18 and three-time Tony nominee Kate Burton will assume the Adult Women roles a few days later on December 21.

In addition, it was announced that Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff will extend their contracts for six months through May 18, 2008. Michele, who stars as Wendla, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance. Groff, who stars as Melchior, was nominated for a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Drama League Award for his performance.

Bashoff's TV credits include Lost, One Tree Hill, Judging Amy, Numb3rs and Without a Trace. On the big screen, he has been seen in Big Bully, Bushwacked, The New Swiss Family Robinson and the upcoming Together Again for the First Time. Spring Awakening will mark his Broadway debut.

Stage staple Kate Burton, who replaces Christine Estabrook, has appeared on Broadway in The Constant Wife, The Elephant Man, Hedda Gabler, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, An American Daughter, Company, Jake's Women, Some Americans Abroad, Wild Honey, Doonsebury, Alice in Wonderland and Present Laughter. She was recently seen on 15 episodes of the TV hit Grey's Anatomy.

In addition to Groff and Michele, Spring Awakening, which opened on December 10, 2006, continues to star Skylar Astin as Georg, Lilli Cooper as Martha, Blake Daniel as Ernst, Brian Charles Johnson as Otto, Lauren Pritchard as Ilse, Stephen Spinella as the Adult Men, Phoebe Strole as Anna, Jonathan B. Wright as Hanschen and Remy Zaken as Thea.