Frank Wedekind’s play Spring Awakening premiered in 1906 and was often banned or censored due to its controversial subject matter—the sexual and social awakening of teenagers. Then in 2006, an Off Broadway rock musical adaptation by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik garnered popularity and went on to become a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Now Sater and Sheik’s Spring Awakening: A New Musical comes to Milwaukee’s Off the Wall Theatre, with Artistic Director Dale Gutzman directing and choreographing and Anne Van Deusen as music director.
“Spring Awakening is a vitriolic attack on a society that ignores the questions of its young. It deals honestly with teen pregnancy, suicide, political activism, religious intolerance, homosexuality and child abuse. And even though it is set in 1900, its voice resonates loud and clear to us today. All of these heavy issues have been encapsulated into a beautiful and sometimes joyous pop rock musical,” says Gutzman. “We have mined the show for the content and not just the trappings. As with all shows at Off the Wall, we have reshaped the piece, hoping to offer new insight and understanding. Wedekind’s original play was a warning to the adults. Our production is a warning, too. Look at what is happening to education in Wisconsin. It is being cheated, ignored and depleted while the money goes into wealthy pockets. These are exactly the kinds of events Wedekind warns of in his play. The show is much more political than it seems to be at first glance.”
Off the Wall’s version will feature a live band and the cast will not use microphones in order to “bring the messages in the lyrics across with more honesty and clarity,” says Gutzman. He adds, “This is possibly the most creative and talented all-round cast with whom I have ever worked. The talent of these young people is absolutely amazing, and their depth of understanding of the material is inspiring.”
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Spring Awakening: A New Musical runs July 23-Aug. 2 at 127 E. Wells St. Off the Wall is only seating 35 people at each performance. For tickets, call 414-484-8874 or visit offthewalltheatre.com.
Happening
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School’s Community Theatre Works (CTW) program presents Cinderella, featuring 75 performers (ranging from 11 to 50 years of age) and an original 10-foot pumpkin carriage constructed by CTW’s all-female student crew. Performances run July 17-19 at the Robert and Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre, 4257 N. 100th St. For tickets, call 414-616-2813 or visit dsha.info/tickets.
South Milwaukee Performance Art Center’s South Milwaukee Youth Theater presents Disney’s Cinderella KIDS, an adaptation of the animated film geared toward young performers (ages 5-11). Two shows will take place Saturday, July 18 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at 901 15th Ave., South Milwaukee. For tickets, call 414-766-5049 or visit southmilwaukeepac.org/event/disney-cinderella-kids.
