Spring Awakening follows two years of pandemic disruption

Spring Awakening musical director Sam Hirst portrays Georg’s sultry piano teacher, Fraulein Grossbustenhalter. – Photo by Sean Ferguson, F/12

After two years of pandemic disruptions, there’s a ‘Spring Awakening’ coming to the County.

Shatterbox Theatre’s production was just one month away from being staged, when COVID-19 hit. Throughout 2020, the cast and crew held on to hope, pivoting to online and outdoor rehearsals, before the production was postponed.

Now, the cast and crew are reunited with a newly-energized and reimagined vision to stage the show outdoors at the historic Macaulay Heritage Park.

Creative Director Georgia Papanicolaou said the audience will be transported to the 19th century, and follow stories of youth who desperately try to break free of oppression, while stumbling into love, barriers and coming of age.

The 14-person County cast is comprised of young performers like Alice Graham and seasoned professionals like Pat Larkin, Papanicolaou, Brennan Michener, and Robin Snip. The cast also includes Gabriel Guadagnin and musician Megan Hutton.

Brennan Michener is Moritz in Spring Awakening and is also the choreographer. – Photo by Sean Ferguson, F/12

Though the story is set in the late 1800s, the music of Spring Awakening is modern. Sam Hirst, musical director explains “Duncan Sheik’s kinetic indie-rock score matches the tempo of the characters, in their exploration of love, angst and tragedy.”

Megan Hutton – Photo by Sean Ferguson,  F/12

“The themes in Spring Awakening are just as relevant now, if not more so, than when they were first brought up in the late 1800s,” added Panicolaou. “The musical was adapted from Frank Wedekind’s controversial book and discusses topics such as suicide, mental health, education and sexuality. Spring Awakening gives a voice to our youth. Staging shows like Spring Awakening in our rural community is very important.”

Co-director Julie Lane says she has seen this production two other times and praises this iteration

“The dynamic combination of a phenomenal show and this synergistic cast is making this production one for the record books.”

Actress Stephanie Rose admits it’s been a long time since rehearsals began in the fall of 2019, but “Spring Awakening gave me something to look forward to during and after the pandemic. It kept my spirits up when nothing else was.”

Show dates are set for May 27, 28, and 29th and seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased at www.shatterboxtheatre.com.

Please note: There is a content warning for this production as it features themes and scenes that audience members may find triggering, as well as profanity and sexual content.