When I saw “Spring Awakening” on Broadway in 2007, I was blown away by its energy, amazing music and a quite frank look at the not-so-great stuff about being a teenager. I wondered if the show would ever play in Charlotte. And if it did, would anyone go?
The good news? “Spring Awakening,” which won 8 Tony Awards, opens Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Belk Theater in Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
People, go! You won’t want to miss this. I’ll be there opening night. And I was quite thrilled last week when I was asked to host a discussion with the cast after the 8 p.m. show Saturday (Feb. 6).
Here’s a description of the show that I wrote in this month’s Charlotte Magazine:
Spring Awakening
On paper, Spring Awakening comes off as the anti-High School Musical or a truly glum Glee. Instead of shiny, happy, dancing teens, the Tony Award-winning musical’s youth sway and stomp while singing about suicide, abortion, rape, incest, death, and general angst. The story isn’t new at all; it’s adapted from an 1891 German play of the same name. And yet, the central themes work in perfect concert with the modern alternative rock soundtrack devised by songwriter Duncan Sheik. Not a show you’d want to take your grandmother to, but still a can’t-miss for Broadway buffs and lovers of edgy artistry.
Duncan Sheik, who wrote the addictive soundtrack with Steven Sater, and cast members provide the back-story in this great video. (Notice that John Gallagher Jr. is wearing an Avett Brothers t-shirt in the vid!)
Check out my Q&A with South Carolina native Matt Shingledecker, who plays “Georg” in the touring show, also in Charlotte Magazine.
The Blumenthal announced Jan. 29 that the cast of “Spring Awakening” would be collecting donations for relief efforts in Haiti!
Hope to see you at the Belk!
