The Marriott Theatre Launches Production of Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening, the Tony-award winning rock musical, starts performances this evening at the Marriott Theatre.

A unique coming-of-age story, the show follows a group of teenagers in 19th century Germany exploring the changes that come when moving from adolescence to adulthood. In a strict and unforgiving society, they struggle to cope with the agonies and ecstasies of burgeoning sexuality. At the center of it all are Melchior and Wendla, who embark on a boy-meets-girl journey that tests the boundaries not only of their conservative surroundings but the limits of human struggle and desire.

Artistic director Aaron Theilen directs the adaptation of Frank Wedekins’s controversial 1891 play. Featuring music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, this production stars Patrick Rooney as Melchior, Ben Barker as Moritz, Eliza Palasz as Wendla, Betsy Stewart as Ilse, Brian Bohr as Hanschen, Nick Graffanga as Ernst, Nat Lewellyn as Otto, Liam Quealy as Georg, Adhana Cemone Reid as Martha, Elizabeth Stenholt as Thea, and Tiffany Tatreau as Anna. Also performing are Hollis Resnik as Adult Women, Kevin Gudahl as Adult Men, Caleb Baze, Anna Blanchard, Derek Hasenstab, Callie Johnson, and Garrett Lutz.

"We’re using this three week window in our season as an opportunity to present something outside of our traditional repertoire," says executive producer Terry James. "From the style of music to the reconfiguration of our unique arena stage, I think we’re going to surprise a lot of our regular patrons."

The creative team includes Tom Ryan (set design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Susan Hilferty (costume design), Nancy Missimi (additional costume design), Bob Gilmartin (sound design), Anthony Churchill (projections design), Sally Weiss (properties design), and Patti Garwood (musical supervision).

Performances will run through January 31.

For tickets and more information, click here.