Arts & Humanities

Utah State Theatre Performs Eight-Time Tony Award-Winner 'Spring Awakening'

Free for USU Students

By Whitney Schulte |

Spring Awakening, with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, opens in the Morgan Theatre on Friday, Oct. 21. The show runs Oct. 21, 22, 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

Spring Awakening, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable; with a musical score featuring an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll. Join a group of late nineteenth-century German students as they navigate teenage self-discovery and coming of age anxiety in a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion.

“The unique thing about Spring Awakening is that nothing is hidden,” said Jason Spelbring, director of the show and associate professor of acting in the Caine College of the Arts. “It is literally capturing the story of adolescence, suppression and curiosity. Because it’s framed from the perspective of high school kids, these are heightened and it’s the first time for everything for everyone in this show.”

Spelbring said they are handling the show in an intentional manner, making it appropriate to be seen by Utah State Theatre’s regular audience.

“The musical is very choreographed in all aspects, and we brought in intimacy director Alli St. John to ensure the actors feel safe and comfortable,” Spelbring said. “It’s an industry standard and very important to bring in an intimacy director so there is no feeling of a power imbalance between the actors and show director. It’s often an area that is overlooked, but we recognize that intimacy is just like fight or dance choreography, where we break it down to its clinical parts and there are no surprises.”

Spring Awakening was adapted from a 19th century work by German playwright Frank Wedekind. Wedekind was disturbed by the hypocrisy regarding sexuality and education in Germany’s society, and the play was meant to be an attack on Germany’s education system. Wedekind’s goal was to show the effects of repression and societal pressure on German youth. Originally banned from German stages in the 19th century, Wedekind published the play in Switzerland at his own expense. After the piece caught the eye of Max Reinhardt in the 20th century, the show was finally produced in Berlin and found a permanent home in the repertoires of several German theater companies.

The Department of Theatre Arts views this production as an opportunity to produce a challenging show, requiring multiple layers of considered communication between the production team, actors and patrons. Student representatives on the Department of Theatre Arts Season Selection Committee presented Spring Awakening as their No. 1 choice for the 2022-23 season. Theatre students receive an opportunity to engage in the type of mature work they will encounter professionally, providing a safe space for them to do so and training them to handle their work with concern for artistic integrity and personal safety.

“When I’m directing, I have a very specific aesthetic that loves to take things that have been done and tip them ever-so-slightly on their head,” said Spelbring, whose lens brings audience members a slightly more modern approach to the show. “I’m inviting audiences to commit to two hours of great storytelling and beautiful music by attending Utah State Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening.”

Tickets for Spring Awakening are $10-15 and free for USU students with ID. The movie equivalent rating is R. Content advisory: sex, masturbation, verbal/physical/sexual parental abuse, physical abuse/assault, rape, teen pregnancy, abortion, death, suicide, weapons, strong language.

There will be a talk-back discussion immediately following the Oct. 29 matinee with panelists from the Department of German Language and Culture, Inclusion Center, Department of Art + Design, SAAVI, CAPS, Department of Theatre Arts historian, Dr. Amanda Dawson, and two student dramaturgs.

For more information or tickets, visit the show’s Dramaturgical resource at ususpringawakening.weebly.com, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.

WRITER

Whitney Schulte
Public Relations Specialist
Caine College of the Arts
435-797-9203
whitney.schulte@usu.edu

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Arts 228stories Theatre 90stories

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