Spring has awakened in Toronto!
LIVE EVENT:
Lunchtime concert at Eaton Centre, Friday March 27th: The cast will perform with the casts of We Will Rock You, The Sound of Music, and Dirty Dancing at 12:15 pm and again at 1:15 pm. We are expecting a lot of people so get there early to get a good seat!
more Live Events to come. Stay tuned!
DVR ALERT:
The Hills After Show on Monday, March 23rd (TODAY!), host Dan Levy shares his review of Spring Awakening on the “What Did You Do This Weekend?” segment, 2:30 pm, MTV
Much News did a taped interview with us. Not sure when it will air, but will most probably be tonight. Much News airs on Much Music on Mondays at 10PM ET and it is often repeated on MOD which airs M-F 5PM ET."
E-Talk hosts Ben Mulroney and Heather Lin will conduct a backstage interview with Steffi D on Tue March 24th. Airdate TBA (E-Talk airs weeknights at 7 pm on CTV).
Performance on Breakfast Television morning show on Thursday March 26th, starts at 6:00 am on CityTV.
*****UPDATED***** Entertainment Tonight(ET) Canada--interviews will air on Wed, March 25th, 7 pm.
REVIEWS
TORONTO SUN-- "In engineering a theatrical head-on collision between the past and the future, Sater, Sheik and Mayer have come up with something that is emphatically and gloriously today. Anyone who has ever been a youth, known a youth or, perhaps more importantly, is still a youth, is almost certain to respond".
http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/john_coulbourn/2009/03/20/8817891-sun.html
**UPDATED** GLOBE AND MAIL --"the overall effect is more jarring, more provocative and more intelligent than Rent" 3 out of 4 stars
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090320.wspringawake0320/BNStory/Entertainment/
NOW MAGAZINE--"Once the story of the teens starts throbbing, there’s no holding it back: not its tragedy, not its abuse and violence, not its anger and certainly not its exuberance...[a] uniformly talented company." 4 out of 5 stars
http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=168562
***UPDATED***HAMILTON SPECTOR--
"It deserved the armful of Tonys it took home on Broadway. this is a beautiful musical that reminds you what it means to be young and in love."
(read entire review for a hilarious account of a senior couple who wandered in thinking it was "Sound of Music" hee hee):
http://www.thehamiltonspectator.com/Entertainment/article/535107
**UPDATED**TORONTOSTAGE.COM--
"In a compelling story where nothing goes right for the characters, this is a musical staging where nothing goes wrong. Sharp vocals combined with stunning choreography gives the production vast audience appeal."
http://www.torontostage.com/reviews/springAwakening.html
They also had an interview with Christy and Blake. The interviewer is kinda hilarious:
TORONTO STAR
"Spring Awakening is one of the most exciting new musicals I've seen in years"
http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/Theatre/article/604742
BLOGTO
"Spring Awakening is a refreshing piece of musical theatre for our time" (They also mention a couple who was offended. Guess Toronto isn't as liberal as I thought!)
http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2009/03/spring_awakening_is_gonna_bruise_you/#comments
Not all the reviews were raves, although all had fantastic things to say about the production. A few wanted more nihilism, akin to the original Wedekind play and argued that we pulled our punches in our adaptation. Robert Cushman at the NATIONAL POST, for instance, wanted us to preserve the unsentimentality of the Wedekind's adults and didn't like that we gave Moritz' father a human moment where he is sobbing silently for the death of his son. This same reviewer also says, "Christy Altomare is a sweet Wendla, though one who looks better able to take care of herself than her story requires." It seems as if Cushman is wedded to the original source material and is not able to see Sater's adaptation as a different take on the material. He seems to think that Wendla should be the passive, innocent girl that Wedekind wrote. Our production team was hell bent on creating more of an arc for Wendla than Wedekind allows and making her a stronger character that young women today would be able to relate to, which I think ultimately makes her story all the more tragic (http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=1406840).
Cushman also wanted us to keep Melchoir as a rapist, and he is not alone in this. Christopher Hoile from EYE WEEKLY agrees, saying that by not making Melchoir a rapist, his character is "significantly less complex." (!!) And argued that "the score is too gorgeous for the material. It’s as if Sheik and Sater, contrary to the source, intentionally want to tone down the volatility of the themes." Canada wants us to be more violent! LOL. I think we need a moment to talk about this. We took great pains to create a more cohesive storyline for our three main characters. We did not believe that a play without a hero could succeed on Broadway. We didn't think the audience would root for Melchoir if he was a rapist. There's a reason this show was banned for 100 years! Thankfully, Hoile ends his review on a good note: "What impresses more than the once-shocking subject matter and Sheik’s languorous score is Mayer’s inexhaustible invention and the white-hot talent of the young performers who make it work (http://www.eyeweekly.com/arts/theatre/article/55230--spring-awakening)."
What do you think about these reviewer's views? We'd love to hear your comments below!
OTHER FEATURES
E-Talk Interview with Steffi D on CTV
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090320/steffi_d_090320/20090320/
Toronto Star: feature on Steffi D
http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/Theatre/article/597251
Canadian Press feature on Steffi D
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jGH_GHNPTrFl9qkQTixauqI3gxsw
Toronto Sun: Interview with Tom Hulce, “Musical Awakens New Career”
http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/stage/2009/03/18/8789536-sun.html
KYLE RIABKO: THE LEAD DOCUMENTARY
Perhaps the biggest exposure we've had in Canada was the airing of the brilliant documentary "Kyle Riabko: The Lead" on Bravo Canada (rumored to be re-airing on April 1st). We're so happy we gave them open access when they were filming.
What was remarkable about this doc was not only how it captured Kyle's journey to Broadway and beyond, but that they interviewed some of our fans-- and what emerges is an eye popping testimonial of how our show has helped these brave, young teens such as Chris from Houston, who had tried to commit suicide until our show gave him renewed strength to fight on, and Frances from Canada who was shy and withdrawn until she found a community of Guilty Ones where she belonged. It brought tears to my eyes. A fan posted clips from the documentary on Youtube. So cool to see the Broadway Guilty Ones being interviewed! Miss you guys! Enjoy!
3/23/09
Spring Awakening in Toronto: Press, Reviews, Events UPDATED
Posted by
Pun
Labels:
Bravo Canada,
Kyle Riabko,
MTV After Show,
Much News,
Reviews,
spring awakening,
Toronto
UPCOMING TOUR SCHEDULE
MILWAUKEE, WI
10/06/09 - 10/11/09
Uihlein Hall Marcus Center For The Performing Arts
929 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI
http://www.broadwayticketscenter.com
KANSAS CITY, MO
10/13/09 - 10/18/09
Music Hall
301 West 13th Street, Kansas City, MO
Non-subscription tickets on sale Sept 5, 2009 (subj to change)
http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/56473
800-982-2787
AUSTIN, TX
10/20/09 - 10/25/09
Bass Hall
23rd St & Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX
http://www.utpac.org/venues/bass_concert_hall
(512) 477-6060
SAN JOSE, CA
10/28/09 - 11/01/09
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts/BroadwaySanJose
http://www.broadwaysanjose.com/springawakening.php
(866)395-2929
SACRAMENTO, CA
Nov 4-15, 2009
Sacramento Community Center,
1301 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/index.cfm?page=629856
COSTA MESA, CA
Nov 17-29, 2009
Orange County Performing Arts Center
600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Ticketing number: 714.556.2787
http://www.ocpac.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=887&NavID=85
DENVER, CO
Dec 1-13, 2009
The Buell Theatre
Denver Performing Arts Complex
14th and Curtis Streets Denver, CO 80204
Non-subscription tickets on sale: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 (web only Oct 18)
Ticketing Number: (800) 641-1222
Groups: 303-446-4829
http://www.denvercenter.org/shows-and-events/Shows/SpringAwakening/Overview.aspx
HERSHEY, PA
Jan 5-10, 2010
Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave, PO Box 395 Hershey, PA 17033
Non-Subscription Tickets on sale: Mon Aug 17, 2009
Groups: 717-534-3412
http://www.hersheytheatre.com/performances_events/details.php?id=8952
CINCINNATTI, OH
Jan 12-24, 2010
Aronoff Center
650 Walnut Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
Non-subscription Tickets go on sale: Nov 2009
Ticketing (not avail until 11/9) 800.982.2787
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
FORT MYERS, FL
Jan 26-31, 2010
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
8099 College Parkway, SW Fort Myers, FL 33919
Non-subscription Tickets on sale: Sept 1, 2009 (Tentative)
Ticketing number: 800-440-7469
Groups: 239-489-3033, x 3122
http://www.bbmannpah.com/
CHARLOTTE, NC
Feb 2-Feb 7, 2010
Belk Theatre, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
130 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC
http://www.blumenthalcenter.org/
Group Tickets: (704) 379-1380
Ticketing number: (704) 372-1000
ROCHESTER, NY
Feb 9-14, 2010
Auditorium Theatre, Rochester Broadway League
885 E. Main Street Rochester, NY 14605
Ticketing Number: 800-745-3000
HARTFORD, CT
February 23-28, 2010
Bushnell Performing Arts Center
http://www.bushnell.org/
DURHAM, NC
MARCH 2-7, 2009
DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center
Ticketing: 919-680-2787
Groups: 919-281-0587
http://www.dpacnc.com
ATLANTA, GA
March 9-14, 2010
Fabulous Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Call Ticketmaster at (404) 817-8700
http://www.foxtheatre.org/
GREENVILLE, SC
March 16-21, 2010
The Peace Center
300 S. Main Street Greenville, SC 29601
Ticketing Number: 800-888-7768
Groups: 864-679-9201
http://www.peacecenter.org/
DALLAS, TX
March 23 - April 4, 2010
Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 650 Dallas, Texas 75201
Box Office: 214.880.0202
http://www.dallasperformingarts.org/
DETROIT, MI
April 20-May 9, 2010
3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202
Ticketing number: 800-982-2787
Group Tickets: 313-871-1132
http://www.nederlanderdetroit.com/
MIAMI, FL
May 11-16, 2010
Arsht Center
Box Office: 305.949.6722
http://www.arshtcenter.org/
ORLANDO, FL
May 18-23, 2010
Carr Performing Arts Center
401 West Livingston Street Orlando, FL 32801
http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/Orlando
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I send fan mail to the cast?
If you just want to send a quick note to all the cast members telling them you appreciate their work, you can email us here at totallytruckedblog (at) gmail (dot) com. I will be happy to forward your email to the cast, but to preserve their privacy, it is unlikely they will email you back (I will, though).
You can also send individual performers fan mail and care packages care of the theatre at which we are currently performing or will be performing. Go to the theatre's website (listed above), find their mailing address, write the actor's name as well as "Spring Awakening" and send c/o the theatre. Remember, we are often at these theatres for only a week so make sure to allow for delivery times. It's a better bet to send it to the theatre we will be going to next as they can always hold packages for us until we arrive. Letters received late will not be forwarded to our next location.
2. How Can I Audition for Spring Awakening?
From time to time, we have open calls in larger cities across the US. We will post any additional open calls here. Subscribe if you havn't already to keep informed. In the meantime, we've made it easy for you to submit yourself singing a folk/alternative rock song on video. Go to: http://www.springawakening.com/videoauditionsubmission/ Make sure your submission is less than 500 MB and is one of the accepted formats. Your screen should change and you should get a confirmation that says your submission has been received. Trust us, people are called in this way. Lucas Wells was cast because of an online submission!
3. How Do I Score On Stage Seats?
That is really up to the individual theatres. Most of them won't release the seats until just before performances because they want to make sure the house is sold first. Some do so online, although the ticketing systems they have in place often can't accommodate our unique seats onstage. Most of them are available only at the box office (though you can purchase them for a performance in the future). The Guilty Ones Street Team members have the rights to purchase these seats before the general public. Any seats left over will be released to the box office and may also be purchased as part of rush tickets (discounted, day-of tickets).
4. How Do I Join The Guilty Ones?
The National Guilty Ones Street Team is a way for fans of the show in each of our tour stops to help us spread the word. You will get access to parties, meet and greets, and other special events while meeting new friends who share your passion for the show, all while gaining some valuable marketing experience. You must be at least 15 yrs old. Email your contact info to nationalguiltyones (at) gmail (dot) com.
5. Can I Get Discounts?
From time to time, a theatre may offer us discounts to send out to our fans. We will post any here on the blog. Subscribe now!
6. Who runs this site? This site was created for fans to stay connected with our touring cast and follow their adventures around North America. Ideally, it would be in the voice of the cast members. Unfortunately, our cast members are often too tired or busy to post lengthy blog posts on a regular basis. Company members will contribute a post from time to time and every month we will have a compiled blog post that most every company member will participate in. The other stuff like updates, etc, will be posted by me. My name is Pun. I work for the production, love this show, its cast, and our fans, and I'm so very glad you're here!
Co 231 W 39th Street Suite 1200 New York, N.Y. 10018.
If you just want to send a quick note to all the cast members telling them you appreciate their work, you can email us here at totallytruckedblog (at) gmail (dot) com. I will be happy to forward your email to the cast, but to preserve their privacy, it is unlikely they will email you back (I will, though).
You can also send individual performers fan mail and care packages care of the theatre at which we are currently performing or will be performing. Go to the theatre's website (listed above), find their mailing address, write the actor's name as well as "Spring Awakening" and send c/o the theatre. Remember, we are often at these theatres for only a week so make sure to allow for delivery times. It's a better bet to send it to the theatre we will be going to next as they can always hold packages for us until we arrive. Letters received late will not be forwarded to our next location.
2. How Can I Audition for Spring Awakening?
From time to time, we have open calls in larger cities across the US. We will post any additional open calls here. Subscribe if you havn't already to keep informed. In the meantime, we've made it easy for you to submit yourself singing a folk/alternative rock song on video. Go to: http://www.springawakening.com/videoauditionsubmission/ Make sure your submission is less than 500 MB and is one of the accepted formats. Your screen should change and you should get a confirmation that says your submission has been received. Trust us, people are called in this way. Lucas Wells was cast because of an online submission!
3. How Do I Score On Stage Seats?
That is really up to the individual theatres. Most of them won't release the seats until just before performances because they want to make sure the house is sold first. Some do so online, although the ticketing systems they have in place often can't accommodate our unique seats onstage. Most of them are available only at the box office (though you can purchase them for a performance in the future). The Guilty Ones Street Team members have the rights to purchase these seats before the general public. Any seats left over will be released to the box office and may also be purchased as part of rush tickets (discounted, day-of tickets).
4. How Do I Join The Guilty Ones?
The National Guilty Ones Street Team is a way for fans of the show in each of our tour stops to help us spread the word. You will get access to parties, meet and greets, and other special events while meeting new friends who share your passion for the show, all while gaining some valuable marketing experience. You must be at least 15 yrs old. Email your contact info to nationalguiltyones (at) gmail (dot) com.
5. Can I Get Discounts?
From time to time, a theatre may offer us discounts to send out to our fans. We will post any here on the blog. Subscribe now!
6. Who runs this site? This site was created for fans to stay connected with our touring cast and follow their adventures around North America. Ideally, it would be in the voice of the cast members. Unfortunately, our cast members are often too tired or busy to post lengthy blog posts on a regular basis. Company members will contribute a post from time to time and every month we will have a compiled blog post that most every company member will participate in. The other stuff like updates, etc, will be posted by me. My name is Pun. I work for the production, love this show, its cast, and our fans, and I'm so very glad you're here!
Co 231 W 39th Street Suite 1200 New York, N.Y. 10018.
12 comments:
When I was posting links to the reviews on TGO, I noted the same thing -- that a lot of the reviewers seemed to spend an awful lot of time arguing about how they dislike ways that the musical differs from the original play rather than actually reviewing the show they were seeing. What I thought was particularly interesting about this is that it's arguable that it's because of the musical that the stage play has had such a resurgence, so these reviewers were possibly more familiar with it than they would have been two-plus years ago when Spring initially launched. Of course one of the reviewers (I think it was the National Post) had clearly hated the show on Broadway so much that he was relishing an opportunity to have another go at insulting the adaptation. I was glad to see that the cast's performances were generally well received, and it shows the strength of the leads that no one seemed to agree whether Blake or Matt was the best.
Oh, please ignore the National Post. Most Canadians do, I assure you!
If critics want to argue source material and interpretation, let them have at it. I know that for myself, it's the strength of the acting, voices and music that are of interest to me at a musical. If I love those aspects, and I'm moved by them, that's what matters.
For example, I loved the musical Wicked, and couldn't possibly care less about its faithfullness to the source material. The same goes for Spring Awakening.
Loved the clips, as always
Lol, just like anonymous said above me, the critics were harsh when they were talking about wicked, they said that it would never become popular, that although the score was gorgeous it was too complicated. And look at it now, it's a phenomenon, =D. Plus, the job of critics is to criticize work, no matter how good it is. If they have so much to say about it, I would like to see any one of them get up on stage to do what the performers in this show do, or go behind the scenes and try to write a better score, honestly, XD. If you want a true review, go read the ones written by audience members, not critics. On the topic of reviews, www.psychopathicsanity.blogspot.com. I was there on stage for the evening performance on the eighteenth, and it was amazing, =D
Also, why did the eaton's center show have to be at noon? XD I would have loved to go (I've seen all four shows, XD), I have schooooool, lol.
Did you not find the one in the Globe and Mail?
3 stars, out of four, but it takes perfection to make them happy and they don't give out halves, so it's pretty darn good.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090321.ASPRING20/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Theatre/
I'm sure the theatre sizing is difficult, but I'm not there, so I can't say for sure.
Canadian society isn't that much different. I suppose we are a bit more moderate, but not that much so.
The musical is not the play, and that is really not a particularly effective way to look at the musical.
All that said, Canada loves you Spring Awakening! (And please come to Vancouver!)
Yes please ignore the National Post. Like Anonymous said, most Canadians do.
I was wondering if there was an approximate time for Breakfast Televison that the cast will be on. 6-9 is a really long time. Will they be on the first half or the second half?
National Post is a piece of drivel puppetted by its owner. It's the worst paper in Toronto save the Sun, which is a sensationalistic piece of crap that encourages moral panic through misleading headlines. Eye Weekly is Toronto Star's competitor with Now Magazine, and it seems they intentionally try to look down at everything Now likes just to be contrary at times. The Torontoist blog does the same (Eye Weekly folk work there) with BlogTo. Oh the drama llamas!
I happen to feel, as someone who was raped, that the changes to the character of Wendla give her more modern appeal, and as much as I appreciate the daring of Wedekind's work for its time, I much prefer the changes made for the musical. I love Moritz, but would hardly love him if he were telling Melchior it's cool to die.
What a wonderful little documentary! Kyle's so lucky that such a huge moment in his life has been documented like that. Amazing :))
Ummmmm... so the interview never appeared on ET:Canada on Wednesday March 25. What happened??
Can someone please take a video of the performances at the Eaton's centre and throw them up on the blog. I wish I could be there because I also saw We Will Rock you and thought it was great, but Toronto is a bit of a trek from Sarnia and I have school...
Hey everyone,
Does anyone know when Kyle will be back as Melchoir in TORONTO? I am hearing rumours as April 12.. does anyone know?
I just saw the promo on E-Talk. Steffi's interview airs tomorrow (Wednesday April 1rst) at 7 on CTV.
-Alison
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