7/10/09

Reviews--Spring Awakening at the Kennedy Center, DC

Wendla and Melchior Embrace
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus for Spring Awakening

WASHINGTON POST

It's a lot hotter inside the Kennedy Center these days, and the thermometer hasn't budged one bit. The altered state is a matter of tone rather than climate, its source the turbulent stylings of the Eisenhower Theater's new summer tenant: that splendidly soul-stirring musical of raging teenage hormones, "Spring Awakening."


WASHINGTON TIMES (4 OUT OF 4 STARS!)

The radical scholar Melchior (Jake Epstein, from "De Grassi High: The Next Generation," appealingly broody and intense) is more textbook-experienced in sexual matters, and he strives to put his knowledge into practice with the almost tragically innocent Wendla (Christy Altomare, agleam with vulnerability and hope). Sexuality also is expressed as release — with Hanschen (Andy Mientus, a suave seducer) self-pleasuring in "My Junk" to the meter of Desdemona's death scene from "Othello" — or as a means of control, as Martha (an affecting Sarah Hunt) painfully relates in "The Dark I Know Well." Experimentation is even depicted, with an awkward attempt at S&M and, later, same-sex canoodling ("The Word of Your Body").



Also some great features.

This one, in the Washington Post, talks about how rock music is changing musical theatre and Spring Awakening is featured prominently: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/03/AR2009070300067.html

Here's a Don't Miss! interview with our "Bitch of 40" stars, Angela Reed and Todd Cerveris on DC Theatre Scene:




Wendla and Melchior Hand
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus for Spring Awakening

MORE REVIEWS: UPDATED 7/16/09

The Onion

As the great sage Bristol Palin once told People magazine, "If girls realized the consequences of sex, nobody would be having sex. Trust me. Nobody."
As the teens in the musical cope with their growing urges and nocturnal emissions, one sexually enlightened student, Melchior (Jake Epstein), writes an explanatory pamphlet—sort of an illustrated, Germanic Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
http://dc.decider.com/articles/spring-awakening-at-the-kennedy-center,30224/


DCist (Blog)
Invigorating! With so many cookie cutter musicals and anemic remakes coming out of Broadway, it feels almost a privilege to get a glimpse of one of the more experimental productions to find some New York success...Part of the thrill of Spring Awakening is watching the young but extremely talented cast, clearly in the early stages of their careers.
http://dcist.com/2009/07/an_invigorating_spring_awakening_at.php


DC Theatre Scene.com "Stunning" "Will Blow Your Mind."
Forget the cute marketing advertisements with a free-spirited young couple locked in a sweet embrace with the caption, “You’ll never forget your first time.” Those of us who have seen the show multiple times can attest to Awakening’s tough thematic content and the dark, somber reality of abuse, death, and fragile emotional breaking points just a heart beat away from a fatal snap.
http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/07/13/spring-awakening-3/

The Sentinel Papers (Suburban Newspapers)
Every generation thinks it is the generation that discovers sex. Currently at the Kennedy Center is a rousing production of the Tony Award winning musical Spring Awakening, which takes a century old play about rebellious youth and adds an adrenaline jolt of contemporary angst to the proceedings. Times may change, but human nature does not.
http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/entertainment/Spring-Awakening

EDGE (GLBT Newspaper)
It’s won 8 Tonys, and has since gone to rock the theatre world with its presence.
This juggernaut production, which has had descriptions ranging from "rock opera" to "teenage melodrama", is best known as Spring Awakening... a no-holds-barred, extensively urgent tale of very small proportions, painting itself as half neo-realist, half dialectical theatre - a paradox in the making.
http://www.edgewashington.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=reviews&sc3=&id=92584

DC Met Blogs
Spring Awakening Rocks The Roof Off Kennedy Center
With a strong entertaining story and bombastic musical performances, Spring Awakening is one of the most energizing pieces to come to DC this summer. It’s like American Pie but classier and with music and dance.
http://dc.metblogs.com/2009/07/16/spring-awakening-review-kennedy-center/

Here's the link to the video of Christy and Jake's interview on Let's Talk Live. (I took away the embedded version because it was automatically playing): http://www.letstalklive.tv/n_videoplayer.cfm?video=ltlmusical0715.wmv&id=347


Get your tickets now~ Spring Awakening plays at the Kennedy Center through August 2nd, 2009. http://www.kennedy-center.org or call 202-467-4600.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

9 comments:

Irene from Guam said...

Congrats on the good reviews! You deserve it. :)
the show is absolutely spectacular and you're all very talented.
I'm so glad I got to watch it twice. :D
Love you all.

Anonymous said...

im listening to christy's After You Cd and it's so amazing!
i love I Let It Slip.
and Long Day
i love all of them so far. i'm not done listening to them yet. i'm listening to I Dont Wanna Know.

Anonymous said...

I love Jake Epstein!
love him love him love him!
muy talented!
very cute!

nicholas pilapil said...

Yay thanks for posting my video!

ATUgirl said...

Loving the new pro-shot photos with Jake! Hope to see more

Anonymous said...

<3 Jake Epstein <3
marry me ;D

Anonymous said...

Here is the direct link for the "Let's Talk Live" interview: http://www.letstalklive.tv/n_videoplayer.cfm?video=ltlmusical0715.wmv&id=347

Pun (blog admin) said...

Thanks, Anonymous! I edited the post with your link.

Anonymous said...

Jake Epstein is purely amazing and he's probably the greatest Melchior to ever live :) As soon as he performed "All That's Known," I was so in love.

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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!





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