Lea Michele Mourns Spring Awakening Composer Duncan Sheik

Duncan Sheik was a singer-songwriter who helped create the musical Spring Awakening.

Lea Michele met him when she was 14 years old.

She first heard songs from the musical on a demo tape before auditioning.

Michele later played Wendla, one of the musical’s main characters.

Sheik died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Manhattan at age 56.

Michele wrote that his death felt unreal and thanked him for what he gave them.

The original musical became successful on Broadway and won several Tony Awards.

A new production is planned to open Off Broadway later this year.