STC, under the artistic direction of Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, presents the Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater rock tuner that has been newly-staged by an Australian creative team. Performances continue through Feb. 28.
Geordie Brookman directs the production that has musical direction by Robert Gavin and choreography by Kate Champion.
The principal cast includes Akos Armont as Moritz, Andrew Hazzard as Melchior and Clare Bowen as Wendla. Spring Awakening also features Angela Scundi as Ilse, Erica Lovell as Martha, Ali Calder as Thea, Olivia Charalambous as Anna, Jamie Ward as Hanschen, Scott Morris as Ernst, Edward Grey as Georg, Nicholas Kong as Otto, Helen Dallimore in the Adult Women Roles and Berynn Schwerdt in the Adult Man roles.
The ensemble includes Christy Sullivan, Rebecca Lee Slade, Alex Woodward and Thomas Conroy.
Designing Spring Awakening are Anna Tregloan (set design), Tess Schofield (costume design), Niklas Pajanti (lighting design) and Steve Francis (sound design). STC press notes read: "Wendla begs her mother to explain where babies come from only to be fobbed off with mumblings about 'the stork.' Melchior, more advanced in his sexual education, has been studying diagrams that would bring tears to the eyes of his elders. On a stormy spring afternoon Wendla and Melchior succumb to desire. Fumbling their way into one another's arms, they learn the joys of sexual awakening. Only later will they learn of its potential to devastate."
Based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind, Spring Awakening won eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The original Broadway production of Spring Awakening featured direction by Michael Mayer, choreography by Bill T. Jones, book and lyrics by Sater and a score by Sheik.
Songs featured in the Tony-winning score are "All That's Known," "And Then There Were None," "Blue Wind/Don't Do Sadness," "Left Behind," "Mamma Who Bore Me," "My Junk, "The Bitch of Living," "The Dark I Know Well," "The Guilty Ones," "The Song of Purple Summer," "The Word of Your Body," "Those You've Known," "Totally Fucked," "Touch Me," "Whispering" and "The Mirror-Blue Night."
For tickets, visit SydneyTheatre.
