Lea Michele's new documentary for HBO's hit Broadway kicks off her return to Wendra's role in "Spring Awakening."
Lea Michele had the privilege of doing what many professionals didn't have the opportunity to do — returning to work 15 years after her Broadway debut. The 35-year-old star had the opportunity to be in front of an audience in HBO's upcoming documentary", Spring Awakening. "I started attending Spring Awakening at the age of 14 and when I left the show, I was in my early 20s.
It's very interesting to be back in this role now as a 35-year-old woman and a mother, and as an actor, having to go back to that youthful and naïve mindset," Leah told Hollywood Life.com in an exclusive interview. "Obviously, coming back into this role as an adult and showing the many life experiences behind me, I worked hard to recreate that sense of innocence that she had."
On the show, fans can see Leah and her best friend and OG actor Jonathan Groff. "I think we were all surprised by how well we understand the lyrics in the story now, because adults have lived more lives and more experiences," Leah recalls. "Some of the lyrics resonate with us and make more sense to us as adults."
Leah, who welcomed her first child Ever in August 2020, revealed that as a mother, she appreciates and understands the story of "Spring Blossoms". In this story, the innocent Wendra discovers that she is pregnant and taken by her mother to the back alley for an abortion, and she does not survive. "I feel like now as an adult I have more sympathy and despair for Wendra and see how much her parents have left in the dark,"
Similarly, she notes that Wendra's tragic storyline, particularly his number "Left behind," "as a parent, I see and hear emotions that are much more emotional now than they were then." "I think this story is as important now as it was then." It's a life-saving show and I'm grateful to be able to introduce it to this generation right now," Leah added.
"The cast fund that used our proceeds for this concert was very important to us," Leah explains. "This is an incredible organization that has contributed so much to the Broadway community, especially when all shows were shut down during COVID. I am so grateful that we were able to give back all the incredible hard work they have done for everyone. ”