By: Kelsey Aylor, Staff Writer
What happens when you combine disenchanted teenagers living in 1890s Germany with modern rock and roll music? The Wofford College Theatre Department will share this intricate story through their upcoming performances of the Tony award-winning musical, “Spring Awakening.”
Running through April 21-23 and 27-30 at 8 p.m. in the Tony White Theatre in the Campus Life Building, “Spring Awakening” follows the protagonist, a 15-year-old girl named Wendla, as she and her friends begin to question the constricting society she lives in. Senior theatre and English double major, Maddi Eberhardt, plays Wendla.
“The society that these characters have grown up in is very restrictive and, once they begin to hit puberty, they begin to have different questions and concerns, but their parents don’t tell them anything,” says Eberhardt. “They’re lost and confused and this play follows them through this sort of sexual awakening as well as an awakening as a human, and I think it’s incredibly powerful. Everybody can relate to this show in some way because they’ve all experienced being a teenager and the struggles that come with that age.”
Through the avenue of rock music, the play features the characters battling and coming to terms with various problems and questions such as sex, religion, gay rights and depression.
Tristan Krebs, a sophomore theatre major from Louisville, KY, is a student director for the show. Her role is to watch rehearsals with the stage manager and assistant stage manager in order to offer opinions and ideas on how to build or alter the show.
“This play has been so amazing to work with so far because the cast has been so dedicated,” says Krebs. “It’s been fascinating watching the play form because it addresses an unbelievable number of issues that face our culture today, both as young people and as humans in general. The show doesn’t shy away from any topics that are too often ignored, which makes it vital to experience.”
“A lot of the characters in the show feel completely alienated from their surroundings and they don’t know who to turn to,” says Eberhardt. “Even though the text of the show is 1890, the music is so interesting because it modernizes the text and brings the issues to the front, making us realize that these issues are still as applicable to society today.”
In order to produce the show, the theatre and music departments have been collaborating extensively. Orchestra students provide background music, singers from Wofford’s various vocal groups have joined the play, and the music professors have been aiding in rehearsals. Professor Christi Sellars, instructor in music, states that her experience helping the actors learn the music has been very rewarding.
“I think the cast has really committed to this show and its message. The actors are driven to produce the best product that they can,” says Sellars. “They have all worked very hard in learning the more complex songs, such as the numbers with a lot of harmony in them. These numbers are challenging and take a lot of rehearsal time, but the actors have been determined and positive in their learning and practice.”
Eberhardt cites the hard work of the cast and the theatre and music instructors in the success of the show.
“I would not be right here if it wasn’t for the support of the theatre professors and department. Mark Ferguson is the director that an actor needs because he will push you, and he demands a lot from you, but he’s also incredibly supportive, and he loves to experiment which is beautiful,” says Eberhardt. “I’ve worked with many of the cast members multiple times now, and I trust them which allows us to try new things and experiment when we interact on the stage. We can work off of each other, and it’s very fun and rewarding.”
Eberhardt has known about “Spring Awakening” since middle school and cites her role as Wendla as her dream role.
“It’s very rare that you find something that you are excited to go to every day, but this experience has been amazing and I’m so grateful for it,” says Eberhardt. “I’ve always loved theatre because it’s happening live and something can change every night. The same show is never staged twice, and I think that provides something exciting for both the audience member and for the actor.”
Tickets for the show can be purchased at www.wofford.edu/boxoffice/. To get a sneak peek at the musical, you can view the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dLe5ZccNq0
