Press release

TheatreUNCA presents “Spring Awakening”

TheatreUNCA will present the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” with 6 evening performances and one matinee, opening April 4 in UNC Asheville’s Carol Belk Theatre.

Based on the once-banned 1891 drama by German playwright Frank Wedekind, this ground-breaking rock musical depicts themes of teenage self-discovery, sex and violence, as adolescents grapple anxiously with their emerging adulthood.

As staged on Broadway with music by Duncan Sheik and words by Steven Sater, the drama is starkly set in the repressive Germany of 120 years ago, but the teens bring their emotions and yearnings – timeless and modern – to life through alternative rock music and lyrics.

The heart of “Spring Awakening” is its electrifying and heart-wrenching songs; the Broadway production helped launch Lea Michelle, now famous for her role on TV’s “Glee,” to stardom.

The TheatreUNCA production will feature new and original choreography by Asheville’s own Tina Foor (Asheville Community Theater, Asheville Center for Performing Arts) and performances by UNC Asheville students and alumni who are also members of the Asheville Ballet Company: Duncan Barnes, Alyssa Belcher, Caroline Urks, and Lyle Laney.

Directed by Laura Bond, UNC Asheville chair and professor of drama, the cast will include UNC Asheville students Adam Wise, Alexa Morreale, Ashlyn Holland, Benjamin Newnam, Daniel Tart, Elizabeth Acker, Hallie Banish, Italo Medelius-Marsano, Jacob Williams, James Granade, Katherine Behning, Nathan Singer, Olivia Medoff, Peter Oas, Rachel Siegel, Rebecca Morello, Sydney Herndon, and Taylor Mitchell.

The live band, under direction of Assistant Professor of Music Melodie Galloway, will feature Zachery Monard (guitar), Parker Heck (bass), Austin Harris (harmonium and lead guitar), Amaal Dass (drums), Erica Schinasi (violin), and Kristen Dominguez (keyboard).

Because of its sexual themes and language, this musical is recommended for mature audiences.

Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 4-6 and 11-13, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 7. Tickets are $15, general public; $12 for seniors and UNC Asheville faculty/staff; $8 for students, and are available at drama.unca.edu/theatre-unca. For more information, call 828/251-6610.