PCPA Theaterfest Presents SPRING AWAKENING, Now thru 3/23

Spring Awakening, the rock musical that took Broadway by storm, plays in the Severson Theatre tonight, February 27 - March 23, 2014.

A group of pubescent students navigate the anxieties of coming-of-age in a provincial world as their budding sexuality takes us from youthful lust to tragic consequences.

The ground breaking play fuses morality, sexuality, and rock and roll, and caused critics to exclaim that it awakened Broadway like no other musical. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and was hailed by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle as the Best Musical of the Year.

Director Valerie Rachelle said that Spring Awakening is a timeless story because the issues teens have faced over the generations have changed little. Ultimately it's about communication, or the lack thereof, between parents and their children.

The Spring Awakening creative team includes Music Direction by Callum Morris, Scenic Design by DeAnne Kennedy, Costume Designs by Robin Newell, Lighting Design by Jennifer 'Z' Zornow, and Sound Design by Elisabeth Rebel. Stage Manager is Heather Patterson.

The cast features Resident Equity Artists Andrew Philpot and Elizabeth Stuart as the Adult Figures. Acting Interns are cast as follows: Casey Canino as Wendla, Lucas Blair as Moritz, and Andrea Hilbrant as Martha. Conservatory students include Benjamin McNamara as Melchior, Amanda Farbstein as Ilse, Holly Halay as Thea, and Noelle Sisneros as Anna.

Written by Frank Wedekind in 1891 Spring Awakening was banned for exposing the exhilaration, trials, and tribulations of teens and the price of coming of age. He referred to the play as a tragedy of childhood and dedicated it to parents and teachers, though at the time the social significance was lost on them and instead he was considered base and perverted. The musical features music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. The original Broadway cast album received a Grammy Award.

Show Advisory: Spring Awakening is most appropriate for audiences 17 years of age and older due the adult language and mature themes including sexual content.

Spring Awakening will run February 27 - March 23, 2014 at the Severson Theatre, 800 S. College Dr., Santa Maria, CA - GPS: 1100 S. Bradley. Tickets $29.50 - $37.50 with discounts for previews, seniors, students, and children Times 1:30 matinees are Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday; 7pm evenings are Friday, Saturday, and Thursday Preview Feb. 27. Box Office Wed - Sunday 12:30 - 7pm; call (805) 922-8313 or go online at www.pcpa.org.

PCPA supports a unique, fully-accredited vocational training program for aspiring actors and theatre technicians. It is the only training program of its kind offered by a community college in the United States.

Pictured: Lucas Blair as Moritz

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