10/30/09

News Wrap Up: 4 Star Reviews Spring Awakening in San Jose

Wow! Reviews for Spring Awakening in San Jose are just stellar. We couldn't have asked for more love... Check them out:

San Jose Mercury News Review
Review: 'Spring Awakening' rocks San Jose

The daring new musical "Spring Awakening" rocked so hard it took Silicon Valley by storm Wednesday night. An electric jolt of youthful angst and yearning that revolutionized the usually staid genre of Broadway, this musical is perhaps the coolest one ever to grace San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts, where it runs through Sunday.

This audacious mash-up of 19th-century themes and cutting-edge alt-rock takes our breath away from start to finish. Frank Wedekind's once-scandalous 1891 tragedy about adolescents awash in lust, fear and chaos is now the height of hip. The Tony-winning rock musical is worshipped by flocks of teens known as "Guilty Ones," many of whom were texting like maniacs at the intermission....
http://www.mercurynews.com/theater-museums/ci_13669292


Metro San Jose Review
Spring Soars

The acclaimed Broadway musical about growing up in the 1890s in a small German town is more than one thing; it is not easy to define and file away in an alphabetized sock drawer. This show is a collision of a rock spectacle and a powerhouse musical that expresses the angst and inner turmoil of growing up in an oppressive society. And just like the musical itself, the children are not just students. They are lovers, explorers, dreamers and pirates who remind the audience that no matter what the time period or the place, there were always children who felt that anxious tug when they turned from caterpillar to butterfly.
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.28.09/stage-spring-awakening-0943.html

Taylor Moritz

Stark Silver Creek Review
Theater review: ‘Spring Awakening’ delivers Broadway hit to San Jose in style

...what makes Spring Awakening so good, is how it all comes together so well. The music blends in with the story, carrying our emotions along for a rocking (and occasionally, joyfully loud) ride. In between the exciting drum and guitar work, though, there is character depth, and meaning behind actions. We feel and relate to their circumstances. Better yet, we are drawn to Melchior’s intelligent perspective, documented in his journal, that prevents the following events from becoming standard melodrama.

Spring Awakening is another Broadway gift to San Jose. Enjoy it as soon as possible (it’s only here for five days; 6 performances remain after this afternoon’s) and thank the lucky stars (or Dutch company Nederlander) we get to experience something so entertainingly fresh and vibrant. Colorful memories of high school years gone by is just icing on the Kuchen.
http://www.starksilvercreek.com/2009/10/theatre-review-spring-awakening-delivers-broadway-hit-to-san-jose-in-style.html

Check out this video blog Stark Silver Creek did of Opening Night and Cast After Party in San Jose. Make sure you make it to the middle of the video, where Christy Altomare, Andy Mientus, and three of our Guilty Ones in San Jose are interviewed!

On Location: Spring Awakening opening night and cast interviews, San Jose from StarkSilverCreek.com on Vimeo.



San Mateo Daily Journal

I needed..to find out whether “Spring Awakening,” justified all of those theater awards it gathered in 2007, and yes, it did...And, if this is a touring company, one would wonder how much better the original show might have been.

With a “knockout” musical score, this “pop rock” musical is one of those theater works that “snap, crackle and pop,” from the opening until the last delicious spoon full. It is one of those tightly written and symbolic masterpieces of modern musical theater that takes just enough time to say what it needs to and moves on, ultimately, to enter the permanent repertoire of American theater works.

My conclusion: The record number of awards was justified and if you, as I, had missed this production before, now is the time to catch an excellent touring version of a certain future musical classic.

http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=arts&id=118931

Bay Area Stage and Screen (blog)

Not since Hair shocked Broadway audiences in 1968, has their been a musical that has so enlivened the genre. Spring Awakening, currently showing right now with the new company - Broadway San Jose - through Sunday, busts down the doors of propriety and jolts us into a teenage reality. Never has there been a musical that so honestly depicts the travails of growing up.

With the departure of our beloved American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the Nederlander Corporation is doing a wonderful job of bringing Broadway to the South Bay. I miss AMTSJ very much for a myriad of reasons, but I am glad that Nederlander seems to be making a valiant effort to keep us in the Broadway loop so to speak.
http://bayareastage.blogspot.com

ALSO, CHECK OUT THIS GREAT INTERVEW WITH JAKE EPSTEIN IN THE MERCURY NEWS:

Q: Why did you choose to try out for "Spring Awakening"? More specifically, what is it about the play that particularly drew you to this role?

A: Well, I saw the show on Broadway in 2006 and just completely fell in love with it. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, like I was just on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had chills for half the play. I thought it was just the amalgamation of rock music and theater, and I just thought it was so cool. Two years later I (actually went to) an open call in Toronto, my home, 'cause I heard they were looking for replacements on Broadway. ...

Q:In "Degrassi" you played a brooding musician with bipolar disorder and in "Spring Awakening" you play a kind of rebellious trickster who leads his classmates against
Advertisement
society. So, why did you want to play a character so drastically different from Craig?

A: (laughs) Well, it's funny. I don't even think of it as that totally different from Craig. I mean, I brought so much of myself to "Degrassi," and I think in the same way I sort of related a lot to some of Melchior in "Spring Awakening" as well. So, yes, they are two completely different characters, but I think of them as parts of myself. And I think if anything, it's actually the opposite — that I recognized parts of myself in these characters and (it) made me want to play them, not that they were so different, but the fact that I could relate to them.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13645370

2 comments:

garyl_runaway said...

I watched the matinee show at SJ yesterday. I was wondering what went thru Taylor's mind when the microphone fell after "Don't do Sadness/ Blue Wind?" Andy left such an inspiration on me. Keep truckin', keep rockin'!

Spencer said...

Another review of the San Jose production:
http://tinyurl.com/SpringAwakeningOnTour

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

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.

Blog Archive