Sunday, April 7, 2013

April 18th - 20th: Coker College Musical Theater to present Spring Awakening



Coker College’s musical theater program will present “Spring Awakening” next month at Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 18–20 and Monday and Tuesday, April 22-23. Tickets are $15 for adults; $5 for students and children; and free with Coker College identification

“Spring Awakening” opened on Broadway in 2006 and won eight Tony Awards. It is based on a play by Frank Wedekind and music is by Duncan Sheik.  The book and lyrics are by Steven Sater

Set in a German boarding school in the 1890s, the musical examines the effects of sexual repression and authoritarianism on the lives of post-Victorian German adolescents. 

“Using musical numbers to access the internal world of pubescent questioning, angst, fantasy, desire and sexual longing, the outcome is a juxtaposition of realism and rock concert that drives home the dangers of silencing curiosity,” said Kindra Clyne-Steenerson, assistant professor of Theater. 

“The cast is excited to explore the internal lives of their characters during the rock-pop-punk concert moments.  We're having a blast finding their inner rock stars. I think music is a way in which many of us expressed what we couldn't say, what we weren't allowed to say, or what we didn't even know we felt as teens--so it feels very honest.

Cast members include Briana Lotan, Jill Brantley, Cecil Morrell III, Ashley West, Estebon Middleton, Dallyn Scott, Wes Atkinson, Jon Moree, Patrick Doughty, Rose Mancuso, Christopher Moore, Sierra Vennes, Kara Smith and Brittanee Phillips.

The production is directed by Steenerson.  Musical direction is provided by associate professor of music Graham Wood.  Stage management is provided by Bill Davis.  Cody Weyandt serves as assistant stage manager and master carpenter, and set and sound design was provided by guest artist Max Lydy.  Lighting design was provided by Ariel Guinn.  Vennes provided costume design and master electrician Jocelin Lehner provided technical direction. Student researcher, Nicole Kelly, served as the dramaturge.

The presentation of “Spring Awakening” at Coker College is made possible through an arrangement with Music Theatre International and includes mature themes and language that may not be suitable for young audiences.

For more information, call 843-383-8065 or contact Wood at gwood@coker.edu.

Coker College offers a major in music with concentrations in voice, piano and musical theater. Coker also offers a major in theater with concentrations in performance or technical theater, and a major in dance with concentrations in performance, choreography and movement analysis and therapies. Performing arts students study and perform in the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, which includes the Watson Theater that seats 466, a proscenium stage, an orchestra shell, computerized lighting, state-of-the-art acoustics and a versatile 80-seat Black Box Theater.

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