Rock-driven musical diversity

The Broadway musical Spring Awakening did more than earn its composer, Duncan Sheik, several Tony Awards and the respect of Broadway theater-lovers and highbrow critics. The soft-spoken singer-songwriter - who burst onto the music scene more than a decade ago with the Grammy-nominated hit "Barely Breathing" - says Spring Awakening also afforded him freedom to launch the type of tour he's bringing to Philly fans this weekend: one that encompasses all aspects of his increasingly diverse career.

"People don't know quite what to expect, but the reception's been fantastic," Sheik, 39, said by phone recently. "We're even selling out shows in places like Iowa, where I've never even played before."

Sheik's performances throughout the five-week tour have been segmented into three parts: songs from his catalog of pop-rock albums; highlights from Spring Awakening (with an assist from opener Lauren Pritchard, the 21-year-old who originated the role of the rebellious Ilsa on Broadway); and tracks from his just-released album, Whisper House, based on a forthcoming theatrical piece.

"There's nine of us onstage, including three singers, a cello, a French horn, and a clarinet," Sheik said. "There's a lot going on." He also shares vocals with both Pritchard and up-and-coming singer-keyboardist Holly Brook, who is featured prominently on Whisper House, Sheik's first official solo album since 2006's White Limousine.

The Whisper House play was conceived by actor-director Keith Powell - known for his role as Toofer on NBC's 30 Rock - and tells the World War II-era story of a boy sent to live with his spinster aunt in a haunted New England lighthouse after his father is killed. As in Spring Awakening, the songs are "deeply melancholic at times, but also very rock-driven," Sheik says.

"I truly love the interaction between narrative and song; I love the idea of songs helping tell a story, and the storyline helping the songs become more emotionally resonant for the audience. It's become a passion."