Spring Awakening
Auditions & Rehearsals
SHOW: Spring Awakening
DIRECTED BY: Kiegan Otterson
MUSIC DIRECTED BY: Vania Jerome
BOOKS AND LYRICS BY: Steven Sater
MUSIC BY: Duncan Sheik
PRODUCED BY: ProArts Playhouse
STAGE MANAGED BY: Lin McEwan
Mahalo for your interest in what will POTENTIALLY be the first show of the 2024-25 Season… Spring Awakening! An angsty rock musical adaptation of the seminal play about the trials and tribulations of growing up.
(Please note that due to the very specific casting needs of this show, we need to be sure that we can cast the show before confirming it for production.)
SHOW SYNOPSIS
The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, told by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater through what Entertainment Weekly called, “the most gorgeous Broadway score this decade [2000’s],” Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with a poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. The landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll that has exhilarated audiences across the nation like no other musical in years.
It is Germany, 1891, a world where the grown-ups hold all the cards. The beautiful young Wendla wonders aloud where babies come from… until Mama tells her to shut it and put on a proper dress. Elsewhere, the brilliant and fearless young Melchior interrupts a mind-numbing Latin drill to defend his buddy, Moritz – a boy so traumatized by puberty that he can’t concentrate on anything… not that the Headmaster cares. As Melchior and Wendla eventually fumble their way into one another’s arms, Moritz flounders and soon fails out of school. They, along with 8 of their friends, navigate teenage self-discovery and coming-of-age anxiety in a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion in the daring, remarkable Spring Awakening.
NOTE: Please be aware that Spring Awakening contains mentions of mental illness, abortion, death, and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, along with depictions of suicide and sexual content. Although no nudity will be used in this production besides a potential open shirt on one male-identifying character, this production will involve intimate contact between some cast members. As always, Boundary Training, Intimacy Direction, Fight Choreography, and coping exercises will be implemented in the staging of these scenes during the rehearsal process.
Please be sure to complete an audition form HERE. If you are unable to attend the audition, please contact us at [email protected] or 808-463-6550 to discuss possible alternatives.
ALL ROLES ARE OPEN and will receive remuneration. The director is seeking actors ages 18 and up. Seeking actors of all ethnicities and gender identities. All character ages are stage-ages and are flexible within reason.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or accommodation requests: ProArts Playhouse 808-463-6550; [email protected]
GENERAL POLICIES
PERSONNEL IN THE ROOM
BEFORE ARRIVING
Before arriving, please thoroughly review the audition page for the show you are auditioning for below, complete the Audition Form for that show, and email your head-shot or a clear photo of yourself and resume, to [email protected], if you have these materials available.
SAFETY MEASURES
We still asking people to observe basic safety precautions (such as not entering the theater within 24 hours of having a fever) and to acknowledge that the local, state, and federal health guidelines can change at any time, to which we are all subject.
REHEARSAL LOCATIONS
PERFORMANCE LOCATION
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Please be aware that for any productions that involve intimate contact between cast members, or scenes of emotional and physical violence, Boundary Training, Intimacy Direction, Fight Choreography, and coping exercises will be implemented in the staging of these scenes during the rehearsal process.
ProArts Playhouse is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination and harassment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, can contribute fully, and have equal opportunities. For complete information on our Anti-Harrassment Policy, click here.
ACCESIBILITY
Auditions
LOCATION
FIRST-ROUND AUDITIONS: VIA VIDEO
DEADLINE
Please send us your video to us by Friday, May 3rd
HOW: Please email your video to [email protected] or request a folder to which you can upload your video.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Two songs, 1-2 minutes in length each:
1) A 90’s ballad, could be pop or musical theater.
2) Something high energy or upbeat that shows the full power of your voice.
3) If you are able, please record yourself singing scales showing your vocal range.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
- Wendla Bergman (Pop Soprano) 18+. A sweet, but naive young girl who is trapped in her family’s unwillingness to teach her about the adult world, but with every passing day, she grows bolder and more curious about her body. Both vulnerable and a willing participant in her evolution.
- Melchior Gabor (Bari-Tenor) 18+. A headstrong, smart and charismatic schoolboy. He knows much more than the others because of what he reads in books and is able to see the corruption in society. His radical points of view about most things are correct but misunderstood. He falls in love with Wendla.
- Moritz Stiefel (Tenor) 18+. Melchior’s intense and nervous best friend. He has an overwhelming confusion relating to sexual feelings, which seems comedic at first, but quickly develops into a serious issue for him. The system has failed him. Highly sensitive and aware of his inability to fit into the system. Feels like a failure. One of the childhood four: Wendla, Melchior, Moritz and Ilse.
- Ilse Neumann (Pop Soprano/Belter) 18+. A misguided young girl who runs away from an abusive home to live in an artists’ colony. Kind and resilient while also broken and stuck in a cycle of abuse. There is a strong emotional connection between Ilse and Moritz; perhaps in another life they could have been happy together.
- Hänschen Rilow (Tenor) 18+. A cunning and attractive schoolboy, who manipulates the other students, especially Ernst, whom he seduces. Like Melchior, he also appears to be very intelligent, but uses his knowledge in favor of the system.
- Ernst Robel (Bari-Tenor) 18+. A sweet and naive classmate. He is Hänschen’s love interest.
- Martha Bessell (Alto/Belter) 18+. One of Wendla’s friends, who has been abused by her father, and she keeps the worst of the abuse to herself. She has a crush on Moritz, and is chastised by the other girls for it. Best friend of Anna and protective of her.
- Anna (Mezzo-Soprano) 18+. A kind school girl and Martha’s best friend. She is more aware of injustice than the other girls and recognizes that what happens to Wendla is wrong. Has a secret crush on Martha.
- Thea (Alto) 18+. A confrontational school girl and Wendla’s best friend. Outwardly believes the adults but secretly questions the blind faith demanded of her. Does not want to rock the boat.
- Georg Zirschnitz (Tenor) 18+. A hormonal schoolboy who lusts after his older, busty piano teacher.
- Otto Lämmermeier (Bari-Tenor) 18+. Another schoolboy who has a disturbing dream about his mother
- Adult 1 (Mezzo-Soprano) Female, 40+. Playing multiple roles: Frau Bergman: Wendla’s mother; Fraulein Knuppeldick: an associate of Headmaster Knochenbruch Frau Bessell: Martha’s mother, Fräulein Grossebüstenhalter: Georg’s piano teacher; Fanny Gabor: Melchior’s mother
- Adult 2 (Bari-Tenor). Playing multiple roles: Herr Sonnenstich: a schoolteacher; Herr Stiefel: Moritz’s father; Schmidt: the abortionist; Herr Neumann: Ilse’s Father
CALL-BACKS
DATE: Sunday, May 5th from 2-5pm
LOCATION: ProArts Playhouse 1280 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, on the Makai side of Azeka Plaza
WHAT TO PREPARE: We will have you sing songs and read sides from the show individually alongside a reader or with other actors. Scenes and songs will be available HERE as of April 23rd. Please be familiar with these scenes and songs, but they do not have to be fully memorized.
Rehearsals
ABOUT REHEARSALS
This Season we will be rehearsing shows for longer periods of time but with fewer rehearsals per week. We’ve found that this makes doing shows accessible for more people and allows people the time they need to work on lines at home.
FIRST READ-THROUGH
Most likely the afternoon of Saturday, June 1st
REHEARSAL COMMITMENT
For this show, our rehearsals will be spread over 8 weeks, with 3-5 rehearsals per week. We will not rehearse more than 5 times a week. The final schedule will be determined based on people’s availability, so the schedule below is approximate.
- June 3rd through July 25th: Rehearsals at ProArts
- July 20th through July 25th: Tech Week Please note that during tech week, rehearsal hours are longer.
- July 25th: Preview performance for small invited-only audience
- Possible (but unlikely) pick-up rehearsals to be scheduled during show weeks, depending on the schedule of the actors & need for pick ups.
LIKELY REHEARSAL TIMES
NOTE: Please remember that, as stated above, this does not mean that rehearsals will take place every day of these potential days! These are simply our options! And the schedule may vary from week to week.
- Potential rehearsal times: Sunday through Thursday Evenings ideally 6:00pm – 9:00pm and Saturdays from either 10:00am to 2:00pm or 11:00 am to 3pm
- Day rehearsals are possible if that better suits the actors’ schedules
- Sitzprobe will take place on the Saturday before the show opens and will be anywhere from 4 to 7 hours long during the day, depending on our needs; food will be provided. PLEASE BE SURE OF YOUR AVAILABILITY FOR THIS DAY.
- Tech rehearsals will be longer, but will never go past 11pm
REHEARSAL LOCATIONS
ProArts Playhouse in Kihei and potential alternate locations in Kihei, Wailuku, or Kahului
PERFORMANCE LOCATION
ProArts Playhouse
CONFLICTS
Please verify your availability for all performances and list any conflicts for potential rehearsals. Conflicts beyond May are not possible.
PERFORMANCE DATES
- 11 performances between July 26th and August 11th (*PLEASE NOTE: Based on actor/crew availability, we may move the performance schedule back by one week to August 2nd through August 18th.)
- Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm
- Possible extension: If the show sells out quickly, we will consult with the cast and crew about adding additional performances the week after the scheduled closing.
- The final rehearsal of tech week on Thursday, July 25th will be a “preview” performance with a small invited audience. This audience will be instructed that “holds” and tech fixes may still occur during this performance.
Location Address
Azeka Plaza-Makai/Ocean Side
1280 South Kihei Rd
Kihei, HI 96753
(808) 463-6550
Mailing Address
PO Box 2017
Kihei, HI 96753