"Spring Awakening" continues Civic Theater of Allentown's philosophy of debuting edgy works in the Lehigh Valley.

The Tony Award-winning musical, in its Lehigh Valley debut through Oct. 27, opened Civic's main stage 2013 - '14 season

"We've been trying to do it for about three to five years," says Civic Artistic Director William Sanders, who is directing "Spring Awakening," with music direction by Justin Brehm. "The moment I saw it, I wanted to do it," Sanders says.

"Spring Awakening" received eight Tonys of 11 nominations in 2007, including Musical, Director, Book, Choreography, Orchestrations, Lighting Design and Featured Actor. The original cast recording received the 2008 Grammy for Musical Show Album.

"It is very much like 'Rent' because of its rock score," says Sanders, emphasizing, "It's different because it's based on a play from 1891.

"It's about young people finding their voice. But they're very much younger than the characters in 'Rent.' They're going through very different self-discoveries."

The original play is by Frank Wedekind. The rock score is by Duncan Sheik with book and lyrics Steven Sater.

"It's really a play with music. The songs don't advance the plot. They're inner monologues. So, every time we go to song, it's like a concert," says Sanders.

The play takes place against the backdrop of life in provincial late 19th century Germany, seen through the eyes of three teen-agers.

"Spring Awakening" has a young cast, mostly teenagers to young 20s. The show stars Nina Attinello as Wendla and Michael Barthel as Melchior.

Also featured are Alexander Michaels as Moritz, Bryan Dougherty as Hanschen, Morgan Reilly as Ilse, Johnny Schaffer as Otto, Aria Sivick as Thea, Tommy Walters as Ernst, Kayla Weinerman as Martha, William West as Georg, Gabrielle Whitney as Anna, JoAnn Basist as Adult Female and Robert Torres as Adult Male. Emma Anthony, Melissa Egan, Meredith Lipson, Andrew Schaffer, Robert Stinner and Davis Weaver round out the cast.

"The thing that's fascinating is that the play was written in 1891, but it wasn't performed until 1906 because the material and the situations that were in it were shocking. And they're still shocking today," Sanders says.

"I really feel that my vision and the theater's vision started with 'The Normal Heart' in 1992. I was really passionate about bringing new works to the Valley.

"This certainly goes along with that vision. It's not only musicals. It's plays, too. And I feel that 'Spring Awakening' melds those two," says Sanders.

"I would like it to become Civic's niche. You're going to have an evening of not really mainstream material. Last season, it really worked for us."

It's a balancing act, Sanders said. Last season at Civic was "August: Osage County," "Next to Normal," "Gypsy" and the annual "A Christmas Carol."

Civic's 2013- '14 season, in addition to "Christmas Carol," Dec. 6 - 21, includes "Other Desert Cities," Feb. 28 - March 9, 2014, and "Urinetown," May 2 - 17, 2014.