Lea Michele pays tribute to late Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik

Actress Lea Michele, who first rose to prominence as a cast member of the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, posted a tribute on Instagram following the death of the show's composer Duncan Sheik. Michele said she first met Sheik when she was 14 and recalled hearing a demo of his songs before her audition for the production.

"I’m at a loss for words. This one hurts and does not seem real. Thank you for everything you gave us. And for the time we had together. Sending all my love and prayers now to Nora, Ines, and Duncan’s family," Michele wrote.

She also shared two short videos from a rehearsal of the number “Mama Who Bore Me,” in which she sang while Sheik accompanied her on acoustic guitar. The post was joined by tributes from other members of the original cast and collaborators, including lyricist Steven Sater, who posted a photo with a lyric from the show, and music supervisor Or Matias, who highlighted Sheik’s influence on the production.

Sheik, 56, died on September 17 in a Manhattan hospital from cardiac arrest. He co-wrote Spring Awakening with Sater, a show that earned 11 Tony nominations and won Best Musical, as well as a Grammy for its cast album. A new off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening is slated to begin previews on November 27, with a cast of emerging performers.