Lauren Rawitz, professional director, acting coach, and Buffalo Grove resident is starting her own theatre company, 4 Chairs Theatre. Her inaugural production is the multi-Tony Award-winning and winner of Best Musical, Spring Awakening. Based on Frank Wedekind's groundbreaking and controversial play (once banned in Germany), Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's brilliant rock score and searing emotional book take the story of sexual awakening, youth revolt, and self-discovery into a new century.
Charles Isherwood, formally of The New York Times, called the 2007 production "A brave new musical, haunting and electrifying by turns".
4 Chairs Theatre's mission:
4 Chairs Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre committed to providing a safe space for students, actors, and audiences of all ages, cultures, genders, races, abilities and walks of life. Our plays, educational programs, and concerts breathe humanity, empathy and truth. We amplify voices that are often excluded and uncover hearts that are often hidden. By replacing "You're too..." and "You'll never..." with "You're enough" and "You will..." we are determined to change the world, one show at a time. Pull up a chair. You can sit with us.
"Although the musical is set in 1891, the themes and messages ring true today. There are still many communities of people that are drowning in repression and ignorance," says Founder Rawitz. "It is easy to hide behind fear, turn away from the ugliness of hate, and deny the harm of exclusion, but if we open our eyes, ears and hearts, and see, listen, and feel, we can climb out of the darkness together, and create light that wasn't there before."
Parental Warning: Spring Awakening is Rated R: Contains mature/sexual language, themes, and content.
For ticket information, you can go here. All performances will be at 410 Sheridan Road, Second Floor, Highwood, IL, 60040.
The show is led by Johnny Barboza (Melchoir), Kaitlin Feely (Wendla), Jordan Radis (Moritz), Ari Dayan (Martha), Frankie Walsh (Ilse) Noah Chisman (Hanschen), Tim Graves (Ernst), Hannah Behm (Thea), Tomasso Jozwiak (Georg) Aaliyah Booth (Anna), and Max Rubinstein (Otto). The adult roles are portrayed by Denise Tamburrino and Mike Weaver.
Joining Lauren Rawitz (Director) is Aaron Kahn (Music Director), Jordan Radis (Choreographer), Andrew Hirsh (Stage Manager), Aliceson Hackett-Rubel (Costume Designer), Sara Gunther (Lighting Designer) Bob Pinta (Set Designer), Kailey Rockwell (Band Director), Kaitlin Feely and Jordan Radis (Assistant Production Managers) and Jacob Cohen (PR).
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