Weeds Star Hunter Parrish Set to Star in Spring Awakening

Hunter Parrish, who plays Mary-Louise Parker's son Silas in TV's Weeds, will join the Broadway company of Spring Awakening on August 18 in the central role of Melchior Gabor. Kyle Riabko will play his final performance as Melchior on August 2 before leading the cast of the national tour, which opens in San Francisco on September 7. The press statement did not indicate who will play the role for the first two weeks in August, before Parrish takes over.

"We are thrilled to have Hunter Parrish join the cast," the Spring Awakening producers said in a statement. "We knew Hunter is a wonderful actor, the surprise is that he is also a terrific singer. He will be a great asset to the company."

"I have always hoped that my passion for the theater would eventually lead me to Broadway," Parrish said in a statement. "Spring Awakening is a truly one-of-a-kind show with its timeless story, commanding music and innovative imagery. I am elated to have the opportunity to become a part of it."

Featured in Vanity Fair's August cover feature "Hollywood's New Wave: The Hottest Kids in Hollywood," Parrish has just begun his fourth season on Showtime's Weeds as Parker's rabble-rousing older son. His feature film credits include the upcoming 17 Again, opposite Zac Efron and Matthew Perry; Freedom Writers, with Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey; and RV, as the son of Jeff Daniels and Kristin Chenoweth.

Spring Awakening, which features music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, continues its run at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, directed by Michael Mayer. The show won eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.