Birthday, role and opening are all. . .aligned for Altomare

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, June, 2009 | by JULIA TERRUSO terrusj@phillynews.com 215-854-5444

LIFE DOESN'T GET much better than it is today for Christy Altomare. "Spring Awakening" opens tonight in her hometown of Philadelphia, and she's playing the female lead, Wendla, her self-described "dream role."

It's also her golden birthday. She's turning 23.

"It's kind of ridiculous. It's like the planets are aligning and I'm just meant to be there," said the Yardley native, who's been touring with the musical for nearly a year. "Spring Awakening," which won eight Tony awards in 2007, is making its first stop in Philadelphia. The show runs through June 28 at the Academy of Music.

Set in a repressive, provincial 1891 German town, the show follows a group of teens on their paths to self-discovery and sexual awakening. Though the story takes place 108 years ago, the...