On Nov. 14, the theatre department debuted their production of “Spring Awakening,” their second show of the semester. With original plans to run through Nov. 17, the show was cancelled Thursday due to the College’s closing for the first snow of the season. The other three nights of the production were able to continue as scheduled and had a high turn-out.
“Spring Awakening,” which has music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater, is based on the play of the same name by Frank Wedekind, which was both written and set in Germany in the 1890s. The story follows a group of teens who are struggling with their discovery of sexuality and lack of guidance and support from the adults in their lives. There are several heavy themes in this show such as sex, abuse, and suicide, but the cast and crew handled these topics gracefully.
McDaniel’s theater professor Elizabeth van den Berg directed the production. Senior Trevor Haupt, junior Allisa Baker, and freshman Bryant Gutknecht starred as Melchior Gabor, Wendla Bergmann, and Moritz Stiefel.
The rest of the cast was comprised of Mikayla Braswell, Nailah Calhoun, Nicholle D’Anna, Matt Foley, Abigail Hayden, Cade Leek, Danny Marken, Ben Michaels, Mandy Murren, Anna Odell, Darrick Rowe, Anna Rozier, Sam Trapp, and Patsy Zetkulic.
This cast was comprised primarily of first years, transfer students, and other actors who were performing in their first McDaniel production. They were well-cast and talented, and the McDaniel community looks forward to see what they do next in the theater department.
