Lea Michele, Matt Pinfield, ‘Pose’ Co-Creator Steven Canals Remember ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Duncan Sheik: “Does Not Seem Real”
The singer-songwriter known for his Grammy-nominated 1996 single "Barely Breathing" died Thursday of organ failure.
First reported 6 hours from now · latest update 7 hours from now
The composer Duncan Sheik, best known for writing the music for the Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” died on Thursday from organ failure. He was 55 years old at the time of his death.
Sheik rose to prominence in the mid‑1990s as a singer‑songwriter, earning a Grammy nomination for his 1996 single “Barely Breathing.” He later transitioned to theater, creating the score for “Spring Awakening,” which premiered in 2006 and won multiple Tony Awards.
Following the news of his passing, actress Lea Michele, who first gained major recognition as a cast member of “Spring Awakening,” posted a tribute on Instagram Story. She wrote that she first met Sheik when she was 14 years old and described his death as “does not seem real,” adding that the loss “hurts.” Michele’s post included reflections on their early connection and the impact of his work on her career.
Music journalist Matt Pinfield and “Pose” co‑creator Steven Canals also issued statements remembering Sheik. Both expressed shock at his death, echoing Michele’s sentiment that the news felt unreal, and highlighted his contributions to both popular music and musical theater.
Sheik’s death has prompted widespread acknowledgment of his influence across the entertainment industry, with colleagues and fans noting his lasting legacy as a composer, performer, and songwriter.
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Lea Michele, Matt Pinfield, ‘Pose’ Co-Creator Steven Canals Remember ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Duncan Sheik: “Does Not Seem Real”
The singer-songwriter known for his Grammy-nominated 1996 single "Barely Breathing" died Thursday of organ failure.
7 hours from now · Hilary LewisLea Michele Remembers Duncan Sheik: ‘This One Hurts and Does Not Seem Real’
The actress starred in Spring Awakening composed by the late musician
7 hours from now · Althea LegaspiLea Michele Remembers Duncan Sheik: Death Of ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer “Does Not Seem Real”
Lea Michele, who gained her first major fame as a cast member of Broadway’s Spring Awakening, paid tribute to the musical’s late composer Duncan Sheik today, remembering their first meeting and her thoughts upon his passing yesterday. “I met Duncan when I was 14 years old,” Michele wrote in an Instagram Story post this afternoon. […]
6 hours from now · Greg Evans