McKenzie made his Broadway debut on September 8, 2015, and stayed with the production through its closing on January 24, 2016. In the mid-summer of 2015, it was announced that the production would be transferring to Broadway with its current cast for a limited engagement at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. McKenzie and the rest of the cast were highly acclaimed by critics, receiving many nominations and wins for Ovation Awards, including his Best Leading Actor in a Musical nomination. In 2015, the production was rebooted at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills with the additions of cast members Andy Mientus as Hanschen Rilow, Krysta Rodriguez as Ilse Neumann, Alex Boniello as the voice of Moritz Stiefel, and Alex Wyse as Georg Zirschnitz. It was McKenzie's professional theatre debut. Deaf West's Spring Awakening originally performed at a 99-seat theatre off of skid row in Los Angeles, California from Septemto November 9, 2014. At first, McKenzie was the only member of the hearing cast that was able to effectively communicate with their deaf and hard-of-hearing cohorts, thanks to his training in ASL. He was given the role, and began rehearsing for the show in mid-2014. However, the Deaf West team saw his potential, and requested he audition for the leading role in the production-the radical atheist Melchior Gabor. Soon after graduating from Columbia College Chicago, McKenzie sent in a tape to director Michael Arden and the creative team at Deaf West Theatre, with hopes of obtaining a job as an interpreter during the company's ASL-inclusive run of Spring Awakening. ĭuring high school, McKenzie had a casual involvement in the arts and was involved with some theatre, but did not see it as a possible career. He graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in American Sign Language and Vocal Performance. The camp inspired him to enroll at Columbia College Chicago, where he studied American Sign Language and Childhood Education with the intention of becoming a special needs teacher. It is where he first came in contact with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Starting at age fifteen, McKenzie spent six summers assisting at a summer camp for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities called Lions Camp Tatiyee. When he was young, he wanted to become a music minister, even though his family did not regularly attend church. His performance as Melchior has garnered significant critical acclaim, and multiple theatrical award nominations, for both Los Angeles runs and its run on Broadway. McKenzie (born August 24, 1993) is an American actor and singer, known for his role as Melchior Gabor in Deaf West Theatre's 2015 Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. The X Factor: Celebrity is available on ITV Player.Austin P. He has since been in the likes of TV mini-series When We Rise, Unhinged and Speech & Debate. One week later, on April 14, he posted a follow-up image with a picture of the man in question – his current partner, Austin.Ģ6-year-old Austin originally studied ASL at University after his interest was ignited through his work at a summer camp for adults with mental and physical disabilities including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.Īfter graduating, he moved into acting, via his role as an interpreter on the Broadway show, Spring Awakening. The former Glee star sent fans into a frenzy after posting a cryptic picture of him holding hands with another man back in 2018, together with the American Sign Language (ASL) emoji for ‘I love you.’ He’s also released songs such as Help Me Now and James Dean. He is currently one of four radio hosts for the show Sick of My Own Voice on digital radio station Dash Radio. In 2017 he starred in docu-series When We Rise, together with his partner Austin. Kevin giving off some serious steez (Picture: The X Factor/ITV)
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