THEATER | ALBUQUERQUE
鈥楽pring Awakening鈥� opens at Musical Theatre Southwest on June 5
Rock musical set in 19th-century Germany mirrors today鈥檚 headlines
Published
Musical Theatre Southwest will experience a 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥� from Friday, June 5, through Sunday, June 28.
The show is a rock-style musical set in a small, conservative village in late 19th century Germany, but viewed through a very liberal lens, Robb Sisneros, the show鈥檚 director, said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an awakening, not just sexually, with the individual characters within their own bodies or their own thoughts,鈥� Sisneros said. 鈥淢ost of the musical numbers are their inner monologues and fantasies becoming real on stage for the audience.鈥�
He said the show is very relevant to present-day issues.
鈥淭he majority of the highlights in the story are a mere reflection of the headlines for today,鈥� Sisneros said.
He said in the present day, people are seeing women鈥檚 autonomy and access to healthcare taken away, and rights are being limited. He said it compares to how women were treated in the time period of the show.
鈥淲omen were second-class, sometimes even viewed as property during this timeframe,鈥� he said.
鈥淔or parents, sometimes women were a burden because they weren鈥檛 going to gain anything from them,鈥� Sisneros said. 鈥淭he idea of marrying them off was a higher priority for their own financial stability.鈥�
A consultant was brought in to help educate and also make performers comfortable with the physical and emotional portrayals, he said. One character, he said, would be considered on the spectrum in the modern-day.
鈥淭he actor, and I have gone in depth to be able to discuss questions on what and how his character should portray that, even though it鈥檚 not tapped into in today鈥檚 terminology,鈥� Sisneros said.
The setting and costuming for the production reflect the 19th century, but Sisneros said some aspects of the show offer a more modern perspective.
鈥淭he music and some of the blocking and some of the portrayals of the characters might be a little bit more modern take,鈥� Sisneros said, 鈥渁nd that鈥檚 how this musical is written.鈥�
The music is rock-style and speaks to a younger audience, he said. While it is influenced by the musical stylings of older generations, its storylines and themes make it youth-centric, with a focus on youth rebellion and revolt.
He said 鈥淪pring Awakening鈥� reflects American youth today and what they鈥檙e facing and will have to clean up.
鈥淭he younger generation needs to be portrayed, and they need their story told,鈥� Sisneros said.
Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.
