Genesius Theatre presents Spring Awakening, an extraordinary rock musical with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Duncan Sheik. Inspired by Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play about teenage sexuality and society’s efforts to control it, the piece seamlessly merges past and present, underscoring the timelessness of adolescent angst and the universality of human passion.
The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is what Entertainment Weekly called, “the most gorgeous Broadway score this decade,” Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with a poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. The landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock and roll that is exhilarating audiences across the nation like no other musical in years.
It is Germany, 1891, a world where the grown-ups hold all the cards. The beautiful young Wendla explores the mysteries of her body and wonders aloud where babies come from… until Mama tells her to shut it and put on a proper dress. Elsewhere, the brilliant and fearless young Melchior interrupts a mind-numbing Latin drill to defend his buddy, Moritz – a boy so traumatized by puberty that he can’t concentrate on anything… not that the Headmaster cares. He strikes them both and tells them to turn in their lesson.
in the Genesius Production of the hit rock musical SPRING AWAKENING!
One afternoon, in a private place in the woods, Melchior and Wendla meet by accident and soon find within themselves a desire unlike anything they’ve ever felt. As they fumble their way into one another’s arms, Moritz flounders and soon fails out of school. Join this group of late nineteenth century German students on their passage as they navigate teenage self-discovery and coming of age anxiety in a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion in the daring, remarkable Spring Awakening.
The Genesius production is directed by Genesius Artistic Director, L J Fecho, music directed by Kevin Cooper, choreographed by Julian Morales, (Choreographer Assistants – Jericho Joy and Sophie Xiong) with a set design by Zack Spadaccia, light design by Zack Spadaccia & Spencer Moss Fecho, projections by David Neel of Production Solutions, costume design by Dara Himes, hair/makeup design by, Carmen Painter of Tina’s Salon and Say Spa, sound design by Albert Garcia of Eko Entertainment, LLC. The set is constructed by Mike Maiers, Brandon Kegerise and Betty Gerstner, with scenic art by Marjory Ewald, Kaitlyn Reber and Jessica Reber. The show is stage managed by our teen stage manager, Kelsey Malone.
The Genesius production features an ensemble cast of fifteen super talented young actors and two adults. The leading characters are: Bo Irwin as Melchior, James Haggerty as Moritz, Cecilia Cooper as Wendla, Gabrielle Lewis as Ilse, Ryan Cunningham as Georg, Alan Cid as Hanschen, Yarilin Chimelis as Martha, Andrea Keck as Thea, Andrew Bausher as Ernst, Daniel Graf as Otto, Kayla Brooks as Anna. All the Adult Roles are played by Cathy Miller and Jordan Baylor and there is a small added ensemble including, Sarah Lala, Danielle Pflum, Josh Klusewitz and Nick Schmoyer.
