BWW Interviews: Shepherd University Scene Stealers to Present SPRING AWAKENING

Spring Awakening, a modern rock musical featuring teenage student discoveries, will premiere this Friday at the Shepherdstown Train Station, produced by Shepherd University's student-run musical theater group, Scene Stealers.

Directed and musically directed by Paul Cabell, Spring Awakening tells the story of teenagers Melchior, Wendla, Moritz and their friends undergoing puberty and sexual discoveries in nineteenth century Germany. Despite asking for guidance and answers from the unforgiving adults around them, the teenagers struggle with their individual coming-of-age difficulties and their innocent actions have drastic consequences. Though set in nineteenth century Germany, the musical uses a modern rock-influenced score.

Spring Awakening is produced by the Shepherd University Scene Stealers, the student-run musical theater performance group. The show is entirely organized, rehearsed and run by students, which means students are responsible for scheduling and running rehearsals, obtaining props and costumes, confirming locations, advertising the show and many other duties. The Scene Stealers organization was founded in 2011 and this is the eighth full-length musical production the group has produced.

"I enjoy the rehearsals, getting to know and having fun with the other cast members. This semester there are so many new members in Scene Stealers and I have loved spending time with them" said J.J. Diaz, who plays the Lead Female Dancer.

"The most enjoyable aspect has definitely been how close we continue to become throughout the rehearsal process. This is a very heavy show, so for us to be able to come together and know we are going through this as a team is really an amazing feeling" said Sydney Clark, who plays Martha.

Spring Awakening, though featuring teenage characters, presents some very adult themes, including sexuality, teenage pregnancy, molestation and depression.

"One thing that definitely makes this production unique is the way that the director's vision shows the loss of innocence throughout the show" said Henry DeBuchananne, who plays Hanschen

"I would have to say that the most challenging aspect of this show would be how heavy it is. These are very serious topics and often require us to go to places [as performers] we wouldn't normally go. It stretches us as actors and as people, and I think that that is a blessing and a curse" said Clark.

The students and actors enjoyed the challenge of discovering and presenting varied characters for the audience.

"This production is unique because of the different personalities we bring to the table. As previously stated, there are so many new members in the group and they bring so many new perspectives and ideas to the group" said Diaz.

"Audiences can see this cast's interpretation of the different characters of this much loved show" said DeBuchananne.

"Every single character in this show has a story to tell, and I think that a lot of people can relate to these characters in one way or another" said Clark.

The Scene Stealers Spring Awakening cast is ready to bring this important story to life for an audience.

"These are stories that need to be told. All of these issues are, unfortunately, still going on today. Young people feel guilty for the way they think and feel during adolescence, and they shouldn't" said Clark.

"I think the audience will be touched by the many messages the show provides. Many of the struggles that each of the parents, teachers, boys, and girls go through in the show (which is set in 1891) are still very relevant today" said Diaz

The Spring Awakening cast features Matt Rothenberg as Melchior, Kira Northrup as Wendla, Brandon Kayda as Moritz, Jenn Dickey as Ilse, Jeremy Spangler as the Adult Male, Kirstie Wooten as the Adult Female, Candace Kenney as Anna, Corray LaFleur as Otto, Hannah French as Thea, Gill Levy as Ernst and Austin Susman as Georg.

Spring Awakening will run Nov. 7 and 8 at 8:00 PM and Nov. 8 and 9 at 3:00 PM at the Shepherdstown Train Station at 100 Audrey Egle Drive, Shepherdstown, WV. Spring Awakening is rated R for language and sexual content. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for non-Shepherd students and $7 for Shepherd students with a valid Rambler I.D. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved in advance. To reserve tickets, please visit http://scenestealers.weebly.com/.

Photo Credit: Shepherd University Scene Stealers

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