Tullahoma’s Alpine Chateau Restaurant will present Tennessee’s community theatre premiere of 2007’s Tony Award-winning best musical Spring Awakening on February 24 at 9:30 p.m. and February 25 at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at The Historic Coker Building, 401 Wilson Avenue.
Set in late-19th century Germany, Spring Awakening tackles the taboo subject of adolescents discovering the truths and lies, joy and repercussions, of their emergence into adulthood. Like the age it depicts, the show is full of boundless happiness and profound pain, according to a press release: “In typical Expressionist style, physical realities of time and space are purposely distorted in the production in favor of the expression of true meaning and pure emotion. Spring Awakening speaks through dreamlike imagery and lyrics.”
Spring Awakening was originally written in German in 1890 by playwright Frank Wedekind, but was not performed until 1906 due to its, then controversial, themes. The first American production opened in 1916 in New York City and was limited to a single performance for an invited audience. The first British mounting had only two performances and was heavily censored. Spring Awakening remained relatively obscure until the Broadway musical adaptation debuted in 2006.
This punk rock, musical adaptation opened off Broadway in 2006, quickly moving to Broadway, where it garnered eight Tony Awards (it was nominated for 11), including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, Best Score and Best Featured Actor. The production also won four Drama Desk Awards. Its London production won four Olivier Awards. It features music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater.
This show contains adult language, depicts adult situations and explores adult themes. No one under 18 will be admitted without a parent or adult guardian.
Spring Awakening features several award-winning, young actors including Michael Adcock (Broadway World Tennessee’s Best Featured Actor in a Musical) as Melchior, Blair Allison (First Night's Top 11 Young Actors to Invest In) as Wendla, Matt Hunter (BWW’s Best Young Male Actor) as Ernst, Morgan Farmer (American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan District Acting Award Winner) as Anna, Boiler Room and Nashville Dinner Theatre veteran Arron Holman as Moritz, MTSU’s Kate Byrd, Jamie Kirkland, John David Welch as ilse, Marthe and Georg, and local audience favorites Katelyn Walker, Aaron Brooks and John Luc as Thea, Hanschen and Otto.
The show is produced by the same team behind MRC’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone: Robert Allen, director; Cary Street, choreographer and Erica Wonder, music director.
Only 45 reservations per showing are for each performance. Seats should be confirmed as soon as possible by texting (931) 581-9992 or emailing RTA37388@yahoo.com. Tickets may be paid for at the door by cash, credit card, PayPal or check. Tickets are $13.
Dinner reservations may be made separately by calling the Alpine Chateau at (931) 571-8851. Audience members should plan to arrive for dinner at least an hour before the start of the chosen performance.
