Final Class Assignment from the Graduating Class of 1891: A Moment We'll Never Forget

Krista Pioppi

My favorite moment on tour was probably the boat cruise in Chicago! We all got dressed up and danced and celebrated an amazing summer. My favorite city without a doubt was DC. The Kennedy Center, Dupont Circle, I just loved everything about it. And my final words would just be that this isn't goodbye, it's just see you later :) xoxo!

Krystina Alabado

My best memory on tour that I will never ever forget was Christmas 2008 when our tour stopped in my hometown, Tempe, AZ. The entire cast and band came over to my house and we had Christmas dinner all together around this massive table my mom put together. We also had an awesome secret Santa around my tree and drank hot chocolate and just had a great time. It was something I will never ever forget because my actual family and my tour family were united on my favorite time of year!!

My favorite city was definitely San Francisco. It was just the coolest place with so much to do and see and we were there for so long. Also, at that point we were all still starting to get to know each other, so some of my best memories of togetherness are from there.

My final words. Well, these two years have been a wild ride for me. Spring Awakning has been the most beautiful and greatest experience of my life. I have learned so much, met the greatest people that will literally be my family forever, and performed this incredible show all around the country. It has been such an honor to work on a piece like this with such talented people. I will miss this experience with all my heart and will never forget it. It has truly changed my life. And that is also in part to all of you fans and guilty ones out there. Your support and love for us and this show has been mind blowing these past two years. I have never felt so taken care of, honestly. I just want to thank you all so much for everything because without you guys, this experience would not have been the same. So thank you thank you thank you and I'm sure we will meet again! Farewell for now and I love you all!!

Love,

Krystina

Alan Stevens Hewitt

If I had to pick ONE moment (as there are SO many that I will remember), I think it would be the moment during closing night's performance when I realized the profound connection we had with the audience and how the incredible sense of community that I felt with the company was expanded to include every person in the house that night. I've never felt, in a single moment, as connected to as many people and the universe, or God, or whatever you want to call it.

Favorite city is difficult. There were favorites because they happened to be the place where some of my favorite or most memorable moments of the tour occurred, but possibly could have been anywhere. Take Rochester for instance. We had our Cabaret--a high point when we all chose songs that were meaningful to us and that we wanted to share--primarily with each other. I remember that as sort of a musical party we threw for ourselves, and happily opened the door to the invited guests. Rochester was also where Jesse Pardee joined us for a weekend of performances as part of the Make A Wish Foundation's efforts to fulfill the dreams of terminally ill kids. Rochester was also the city where the band had a crucial bonding experience that involved a laser light show (and other details that I won't get into here...).

There were other favorite cities because they exceeded my expectations, or surprised me in some way. Miami, for example, (having never been there) I had been expecting sort of a Vegas on the beach, and consequently not the most, shall we say, sophisticated of audiences, but was blown away by how full, attentive, enthusiastic and savvy the audiences actually were. And then during the off-hours... the beach... the nightlife...

Detroit, a VERY interesting place. Fascinating really. So much of what America is and has ever been and can possibly be in the future is embodied in that one city and its metro area.

Atlanta--to go to work in the unbelievably beautiful Fox Theater every day? And the hotel rooms bigger than most New York City apartments. Robi Hager joined the tour there and was indoctrinated with an epic night involving a hotel-room dry-ice light show by Ben Fankhauser, emergency "bottle cap ring" removal surgery on Anthony and a game of "Sardines", and that was just the beginning...

Final words of farewell? Well, of course I was sad the tour was ending, but I realized that this was also a most beautiful beginning. I look forward to following all the members of the graduating class of 1891 into their future endeavors. And in addition to all the beautiful, brilliant, and amazingly talented colleagues in the cast and band, I am glad to have made friends with many in the "extended family" of SA fans and supporters and look forward to seeing their smiling faces at (and in some cases I am sure, IN) other shows in the future! And above all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to EVERYONE involved with making this all possible.

What's next for me? I co-wrote a rock musical, Lizzie Borden (lizziebordentheshow.com), that was up last Fall here in NYC. It was tremendous fun and it's very gratifying that it was so well-received by audiences and critics alike (nominated for 3 Drama Desk awards this year) and the producers are exploring options for its remounting. I think fans of Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Hedwig, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Tommy, and Rocky Horror would like it, and I hope we get to put it up again and I get to see some of my new SA friends again!!

Other parting words? Be kind to yourselves and to others and, to quote Harry Tuttle from one of my all-time favorite movies Brazil, "We're all in it together."

xo,
Alan

Christy Altomare

My favorite moment on tour has been the moment right before I start Mama every time- ..I am in character, but I can't help noticing all the people in the audience-and it always sort of hit me for a second- the people I knew we were going to effect. This show is a masterpiece. I have never been more proud to be a part of such an incredible work of art. I don't think I can really say what my favorite city is because I have loved so many for different reasons. They all sort of live and breath like different people do. It would be like comparing apples to oranges at this point. I guess I'd just like to end by saying- Thank you Thank you Thank you! For the best two years of my life. Thank you for following me on twitter and sending me comments- I still haven't really figured out how to write back-but I read them all and maybe someday someone will show me- thank you for watching my totally trucked videos and all the nice comments- I had the best time editing them together!!- Thank you so much Pun- for this great site that people who love the show can come and watch our life on tour. Thank you to the Guilty One street team -who spent countless hours promoting our little show that no one in most city's knew what the hell it was- Thank you for coming to see the show over and over and meeting us at the stage door to tell us how much you were touched- You Guilty Ones really helped keep this show alive and ill never forget it - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Together we brought a show to this country (and Toronto) - that was so much more than your average musical. To my cast I would like to say. We did it! I will love and miss all the adventures but I have no doubt our paths will cross again!

Love always,
Christy Altomare

Jake Epstein

I'll never forget our closing show in Orlando. It was a truly great moment in my life- being up there on stage with people I love and respect, doing a play that had so much to say and meant so much to so many people, and realizing what an incredible year it's been.

My favourite city- though there were some great ones- was Washington DC. It was my first city officially taking over the role of Melchior, and we had a 4 week run at the Kennedy Center.

What a mindblowing year. I can't even put into words what this year has been. My fingers can't possibly do it justice: It was a dream-come-true, it was hard, it was fun, it was gruelling, it was lonely, it was like camp, it was like theatre school, it was so meaningful, I laughed 'till I cried a lot, I sang more than I've ever sung, I had a blast....it was amazing. Thanks to everyone for coming to the shows and saying hi after! You guys made this show so special.

Steffi D

Dear Guilty Ones,

There are no words to describe how this show has changed my life. I cannot believe that I have gotten the privilege to be a part of telling such a unique, beautiful story. It has been the greatest gift to perform this show every night and portray such a beautiful character. I have fallen in love with Ilse and she will forever be a part of me.

Every single moment on this tour has been amazing... Although, Toronto, Boston and Miami have been my favourite!

Thank you all so much for your support, your gifts and your kind words at the stage door and for making me feel like a rock star. I feel like the luckiest person alive! What would the show be without you?? I’ve had the time of my life and this music has healed me. This has been my biggest dream come true. Here we are, two years later and I’m still so in love with Spring Awakening. This experience will always be in my heart and I will never let it go. Thank you for letting a Canadian bobbed brunette travel to 44 beautiful cities in your country! “Something started crazy... Sweet and unknown.”I hope to see you on stage soon...It’s been awful sweet to be a little butterfly.

Lots of Love and Blue Wind forever,
Steffi D.

Kristen Rosenfeld

Favorite moment: rehearsing on the stage of the Eugene O'Neill. Our first performance when the audience would not stop applauding until the actors took a 4th curtain call. My first time conducting the show. Too many others to list. Favorite city: San Francisco.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have been involved with this amazing piece, and with this amazing group of people. Thanks to all the fans and Guilty Ones for all of your support around the country.

Kayla Danielle Foster

A time i will always remember is when i finally got to learn Wendla with Justin as Melchior. it was so amazing to get to grow into the role with someone who was as new to it as i was. Plus, Justin is clearly insanely talented so i felt really lucky to be working with him and i will never forget everything i learned during the process :)

my favorite city was denver! it was the perfect place to be in the winter :) i loved the snow!

Thanks to everyone who worked on spring awakening and all of the fans for making my experience with the show so memorable. i will miss it so much! xo

Taylor Trensch

1. I will never forget walking through the upstage left curtains and seeing an audience for the very first time. It was 8PM on August 14th in Chicago, IL at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Ben was a few steps behind me (trembling almost as much as I was), John was settling in his seat across the stage, and Kayla was peeking in her cardigan so as to make sure she brought her microphone with her. After years of auditioning and weeks of rehearsals, the Spring Awakening
opening that I dreamed about had finally arrived.

2. Denver, CO was the bomb dot com. It was a beautiful winter
wonderland. Our show won the Ovation Award for "Best Production." We
had an extremely fun and extremely festive holiday party. One of my
very best friends came to surprise me. And most importantly, there was
a Cheesecake Factory close at hand.

3. Thank you times infinity to all of the extraordinarily kind/way
cool people who came to see Spring Awakening and said hello at the
stage door!


Freddy Hall

I'll never forget sky diving outside of LA.

I'll have to say, aside from all the California cities we played, my favorite has to be the recent stop in Miami!!!!

I would love to thank everyone for their support and amazing encouragement. My new motto is: stay hungry, stay foolish. Life is great if you allow it to be.

Pinky Weitzman

A tour moment that shall live in infamy: as we shambled home from a Scottish-themed faux-Hooters bar (eek) in Denver, Mark Verdino (former bass player, during his last week with us) decided -- despite the fact that it was approximately 8 degrees fahrenheit out -- to drop trou and lingeringly moon both the band and a handful of other (politely amused) Denver citizens. (Photo evidence available for a nominal fee.)

I'm going to miss my SA family - band, cast, and crew - so come to Brooklyn and I'll cook you dinner. Thanks to each of you for making this such a strange and wonderful ride. Love you all!