Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening, has died at the age of 56. Sheik passed away from organ failure at a hospital in Manhattan on Thursday night, September 17.
His family confirmed the news on Friday, September 18, stating that the world had lost “a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater.” They added that his artistry, from his Grammy-nominated song 'Barely Breathing' to his work on Spring Awakening, leaves an “indelible mark on the cultural landscape.”
Sheik had been working on a new musical, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, which is scheduled to begin preview performances next Friday, September 25. A revival of Spring Awakening, which earned Sheik two Tony Awards and a Grammy, is also set to open Off-Broadway in the coming months.
Tributes have been paid by collaborators and artists, including Lea Michele, who starred in the original Broadway run of Spring Awakening. Sheik is survived by his partner, Nora Ariffin, and their daughter, Ines.