Theatre Ancaster brings electrifying rock musical Spring Awakening to the stage
- Michael Kras
- 01 Aug 2024
A 19th century German play about sexual repression and coming of age doesn’t exactly sound like the fitting foundations of a musical.
But Spring Awakening – by pop music icon Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater – was a critical hit when it debuted on Broadway 18 years ago, raking in 8 Tony Awards and launching the careers of actors like Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.
Now, Theatre Ancaster is staging this electrifying pop-rock musical from August 9th-18th with their Conservatory Company: a branch that casts young adult performers in edgier musicals like Rent and Cabaret.
A show like Spring Awakening tackles intense themes that require trust for cast and creative team, and director Nupi Gokhale treated that trust as a priority, including recruiting an intimacy coordinator to help stage the show’s most sensitive scenes.
“Feeling safe in the rehearsal space is something I continue to learn about every day,” she says. “We were engaging performers in feeling personal ‘safety’ while portraying intimacy on stage.”
But this thrilling young cast was fully up to the challenge, upholding a caring environment while leaving room to showcase their talents as actors and singers with boldness.
“The Conservatory Company performers are talented, generous and genuine. I am in awe every day of their talent and my good fortune that they trust me to direct them.”
Spring Awakening is thrilling to experience live: though dialogue, costumes, and settings are period-appropriate for 19th century Germany, the music is firmly rooted in the now, with a raucous and moody score that traverses pop, rock, and punk sounds capturing the inner angst felt by these young characters coming of age in oppressive circumstances.
In fact, the century-old story is no less relevant today and this musical movingly captures the tragedy of ignorance, with one of the most unique scores to ever hit a Broadway stage.
Locals who love rock music and powerful storytelling won’t want to miss Theatre Ancaster’s Spring Awakening at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre (357 Wilson St E) from August 9th-18th.
Grab your tickets now at theatreancaster.com, and follow @theatreancaster for more!
Photos by Robyn Russell
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