Spring Awakening opened on Broadway in 2007. When Heather and I had the opportunity to see it, I said it was the new Rent and that its appeal would be for a new generation of younger people who wanted a musical about them and their feelings. I must confess that I was hesitant about presenting this musical at Suffield because I worried about the reaction to this show. The original blocking was at times graphic, and its content uncomfortable. But, there was something about it - its power, its music...its relevance. The theater is meant for more than just entertainment. It can be used as an opportunity to open up communication, to bring difficult topics to the forefront. I felt that one of the messages behind the show was particularly important for our students – that they are not alone. Just as teenagers in Western cultures share many common experiences in school, all experience the secret in plain sight that is adolescence. Any Suffield student would agree that being a teen is not easy. In Spring Awakening, when the teenagers have the thoughts and feelings of adolescents, each sees him or herself as alone in the struggle. By producing this musical, I hope to acknowledge the struggles of our teenagers and help them realize they are not alone in their journey through adolescence.
As a director, I recognized that there was so much within this musical that could be re-interpreted to make it appropriate for the Suffield Academy community, without losing the original intentions of the author. I would be able to have a different vision of the show, something that was uniquely Suffield's. I realize the risk I am taking in producing this show at Suffield. Spring Awakening holds nothing back. It freely discusses sex, religion, education, parental failings and suicide. It exhibits violence, profanity, love and death. While not your typical "high school musical", I hope you will be able to see the beauty and importance of Spring Awakening. It will be like no other version of the show you may have seen.
I would not be able to do any of this with out the support of some faculty members who also see the value in this production. Their dedication to bringing this performance to the Suffield stage and enhancing the educational aspects of the show has been remarkable. Please take the time to enjoy our lobby display regarding some of the themes associated with this musical. Talk about it. And to those faculty that have volunteered their time to help with this message - a sincere Thank You.
Our cast’s talents and commitment to this musical makes our pride in presenting this production easy. They are an amazing cast and their work should not be missed. I applaud their maturity while tackling this show.
At Suffield, we always try to bring our audiences the highest quality performances. Spring Awakening is no exception.
Enjoy the show!
-Thomas Dugan
Director
