The 19-year-old actor shares how his teenage struggles mirror Moritz Stiefel’s journey in the Sandbox Collective’s 2026 season opener.
In “Spring Awakening,” Nic Chien sees himself in Moritz Stiefel, whose struggles with anxiety and overthinking mirror his own teenage battles, making the role deeply personal.
Like Moritz, Nic admitted, “I’m a huge overthinker, accidentally spiraling into the smallest things and suffering from a lot of anxiety because of it.
“I’ve had my fair share of mental health issues during my teenage years. My reasons for it were different from Moritz, but the feelings, I think, were similar,” said the 19-year-old.
Finding his own voice
The coming-of-age rock musical is Nic’s sophomore production, after his stint as a transgender teenage theater artist in “Into the Woods” last year.
“I would recall a lot of feelings I felt as a younger teenager,” Nic told radar Entertainment in an exclusive interview.
In terms of advice or tips, he stressed that it wasn’t his mom, Lea Salonga, whom he had taken some insights in approaching his character. “I turned to my castmates for methods on how to separate the character from myself, and it really helped.”
He added that the experience was “rigorous but fun. Honestly, my experience in ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘Spring Awakening’ has only made me want to work in professional theater more.”
Nic, as Moritz, will share the stage with Nacho Tambunting and Alex Diaz, who alternate as Melchior Gabor, and with Sheena Belarmino as Wendla Bergmann, in the opening production of The Sandbox Collective’s 2026 season.
Moritz is Melchior’s best friend, a troubled and anxious student tormented by puberty, sexual awakenings, and intense academic pressure. He becomes a tragic victim of societal repression and a lack of communication.
As a form of advice to Moritz, Nic would tell him, “Hey man, I’m really sorry about what happened with your family. I know how it feels to feel so tired of feeling everything, especially the painful parts.
“But as much as it sucks, life can be worth living. It may not seem like it now, but take a breath and just try to focus. You’re a smart guy; I’m sure you can come up with something.
“Fighting sucks, but it’s what makes victory so awesome. Please fight. If you’re not fighting for yourself, then fight for me.
The 2026 Sandbox Collective cast
“Spring Awakening” is based on the 1891 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind and set in late 19th-century Germany.
Also in the cast are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who will share the stage with Ana Abad Santos as an Adult Woman, and Audie Gemora, as an Adult Man.
Angelo Martinez as Hänschen Rilow; Vino Mabalot as Otto Lämmermeier; Jam Binay as Ilse Neumann; Angia Laurel as Martha Bessell; Mijon Cortez as Anna; Felicity Kyle Napuli as Thea; Elian Dominguez as Ernst Röbel; and Davy Narciso as Georg Zirschnitz.
Rounding out the cast are female swings Pappel and Nikki Bengzon, and male swings Lance Soliman and Gabo Tiongson.
With music by Duncan Sheik, a book and lyrics by Steven Sater, musical direction by Ejay Yatco, and direction by Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, the musical will open on February 13 at the Black Box at the Proscenium Theater.
Fighting sucks, but it’s what makes victory so awesome. Please fight. If you’re not fighting for yourself, then fight for me.
Nic Chien
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