Spring Awakening

DIRECTOR BRIAN CLEMENTE
MUSIC DIRECTOR DAN GALLIHER
CHOREOGRAPHER BRITTANY LEIGH GLENN
PRODUCERS AMY CLARK & HALEY VAN ALSTYNE

This angsty rock musical adaptation of the seminal play explores teenage self discovery and coming of age anxiety in a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion.

Spring Awakening is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

Audition Dates:

Sunday, October 1, 2023, and Monday, October 2, 2023 at 7pm. Sign-in begins at 6:30pm
You only need to attend one of these sessions.
If needed, Callbacks will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, by invitation only.

This production features explicit language, sexual situations, and triggering scenes of violence.

Auditions are open to anyone 16 years of age or older, but actors under 18, you must be accompanied by an adult for the entirety of the audition process.

For parents or guardians who wish to know more about the specific content of this show, please reach out to the Director, Brian Clemente (bclemente612@gmail.com) to access a Content Guide.

Location:

Schenectady Light Opera Company Education Building
418 Liberty Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
Free parking is available in the city owned lot across the street

Performance Dates:

January 19-28, 2024 (Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm)
SLOC Mainstage, 427 Franklin Street, Schenectady, NY 12305

What to Prepare:

Please prepare 16 to 32 bars of music from a Broadway show – ideally in a style similar to the show or from the show itself.
Please bring your own sheet music; an accompanist will be provided.
Readings from the script will be provided.
Please bring a calendar with all your conflicts to the audition as well.
You may complete the audition form and bring it with you or complete the form at auditions.

Rehearsals:

Rehearsals will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and on Sunday afternoons. This is subject to change based on cast/crew availability.
Rehearsals will begin on Monday, October 30^th.
Attendance is mandatory for Tech Week (January 14-18, 2023) and all performances.

About The Show:

Based on Frank Wedekind’s groundbreaking and controversial play (once banned in Germany), Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s brilliant rock score and searingly emotional book take the story of sexual awakening, youth revolt, and self-discovery into a new century. It’s 1891, and grown-ups hold all the cards. Headstrong Melchior and naïve Wendla stumble into each others’ arms, passionate and curious, while anxious Moritz struggles to live up to the stringent expectations of society. With only each other for guidance, this group of young people travel the fraught and rocky path of adolescence, discovering their bodies, their minds, and themselves along the way. An electric, vibrant celebration of youth and rebellion, Spring Awakening fuses issues of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll into a story as shockingly relevant as it was over one-hundred years ago.

Spring Awakening opened on Broadway in 2006 and won 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score. A highly acclaimed revival incorporating American Sign Language ran on Broadway in 2015-2016.

CHARACTERS

Melchior

A headstrong, smart, and charismatic schoolboy. He knows much more than the others because of what he reads in books and is able to see the corruption in society. His “radical” points of view about most things are correct but misunderstood. He falls in love with Wendla.

Male Presenting, Ages 16 to 20, Bari-Tenor

Wendla

A sweet, but naive young girl who is trapped in her family’s unwillingness to teach her about the adult world, but with every passing day, she grows bolder and more curious about her body. Both vulnerable, and a willing participant in her evolution.

Female Presenting, Ages 16-20, Pop Soprano

Moritz

Melchior’s intense and nervous best friend. He has an overwhelming confusion relating to sexual feelings, which seems comedic at first, but quickly develops into a serious issue for him. The system has failed him. Highly sensitive and aware of his inability to fit into the system. Feels like a failure.

Male Presenting, Ages 16-20, Tenor

Martha

A schoolgirl who faces constant abuse from her father, and tries to keep it all to herself. She harbors a secret crush towards Moritz, and is made fun of for it.

Female Presenting, Ages 16-20, Alto/Belt

Ilse

A misguided young girl who runs away from an abusive home to live in an artists’ colony. Kind and resilient while also broken and stuck in a cycle of abuse. There is a strong emotional connection between Ilse and Moritz.

Female Presenting, Ages 16-20, Pop Soprano/Belt

Hanschen

A cunning and attractive schoolboy, who manipulates the other students, especially Ernst, whom he seduces. Like Melchior, he also appears to be very intelligent, but uses his knowledge in favor of the system.

Male Presenting, Ages 16-20, Tenor

Ernst

A schoolmate of Melchior’s. Naive and sweet, which allows him to fall in love with Hanschen.

Male Presenting, Ages 16-20, Bari-Tenor

Thea

Wendla’s best friend. A schoolgirl who tries to stay innocent and pure.

Female Presenting, Ages 16-20, Alto

Anna

Martha’s best friend. Optimistic and a bit naive, she has a difficult time understanding Martha’s trials.

Female Presenting, Ages 16-20, Mezzo Soprano

Georg

A clumsy schoolmate of Melchoir’s. He is overcome with his feelings for his piano teacher.

Male Presenting, Ages 16-20, Bari-Tenor

Otto

A classmate of Melchior’s. He struggles with feelings he considers inappropriate.

Male Presenting, Ages 16-20, Bari-Tenor

Adult Woman

Plays a variety of adult roles including:

FRAU BERGMAN, Wendla’s mother;

FRAULEIN KNUPPELDICK; an associate of the headmaster

FRAULEIN GROSSEBUSTENHALTER; Georg’s Piano Teacher

FRAU GABOR, Melchior’s mother;

FRAU BESSELL, Martha’s mother.

Female Presenting, Ages 40 to 50, Mezzo Soprano

Adult Man

Plays a variety of adult roles including:

HERR SONNENSTITCH, the boys’ teacher;

HEADMASTER KNOCHENBRUCH; the headmaster

HERR NEUMANN, Ilse’s father;

HERR RILOW, Hanschen’s father;

HERR STEIFEL, Moritz’s father;

HERR GABOR, Melchior’s father;

Male Presenting, Ages 40-50, Baritone

Schenectady Light Opera Company pledges to continue to advocate for, and are aiming to build a diverse cast reflective of the Schenectady community. Any and all ethnicities, BIPOC actors, and actors of all gender identities are encouraged to audition for all roles.

Effective June 23, 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations for cast, crew, staff, and volunteers are not required.

If you have any questions, please contact Producers Amy Clark (aclark@bhbl.org) or Haley VanAlstyne (hvanetten4@gmail.com).

January 19-28, 2024