Origins of the Musical
The 20 year anniversary of the hit musical, “Spring Awakening,” is approaching this year. Created in 2006, “Spring Awakening,” tells the story of a group of teenagers growing up in 19 century Germany, navigating their journey to adolescence, while dealing with societal oppression. Originally written as a play in 1891 by Frank Wedekind, under the title “Frühlings Erwachen,” (Spring Awakening in German,) the musical adaptation was written and directed by Stevan Sater in 2006.
Spring Awakening won various awards during its run on Broadway, including eight Tony Awards. Although the original was controversial, versions of the production still play all over the nation. Fans have speculated a possible event or reunion for the 20 anniversary of later this year. The original cast had previously held a fundraiser for the 15 anniversary back in 2020,
consisting of a one-night only performance, with earnings going to the Actors Fund.
20 Anniversary Reunion
The director of, “Spring Awakening,” Steven Sater is very active on social media and has even teased a potential reunion for the 20 anniversary. Sater has also mentioned a potential movie version of the musical, which has been in the works as of 2022. Many fans have requested a proshot of the musical, in addition to the alleged reunion.
Cultural Relevance
Revival of the musical have been controversial, because of the inclusion of taboo topics, like academic failure, sexuality, rape, suicide and abuse. However, the story has proven to be relatable and relevant to multiple generations. Various actors shared their experience reading notes from fans, stating how the struggles portrayed onstage helped them overcome their personal insecurities.
In the filmed 15 year reunion, the actors dive into their experience playing such chaotic roles while being so young. The documentary thoroughly discusses the youth of the cast, which emphasizes how profound the character storylines are for their age.
Unique Soundtrack
Despite the musical taking place in the 19 century, the music does not fit with the time period. The rock soundtrack featured in, “Spring Awakening,” differs from many other musical’s songs, because although they are not necessarily visually appealing, they all possess an abundance of emotion, passion and intensity. Along with rock-ballads such as, “The Bitch Of Living,” and “And Then There Were None,” the musical does not lack melancholy lyrical songs, like “Mama Who Bore Me,” and “The Dark I Know Well.” All of the songs feature impressive harmonies and often include overlapping vocals to emphasize the intensity of the haunting themes of the musical.
