All shall know the wonder...
A year ago Christmas I was up in LA visiting friends. Michael and Kevin are Broadway gays in more than a few ways and while we were relaxing and enjoying each other's company they suddenly lit up about a new musical that we had to hear. They put in a CD and the first track they played was called "The Bitch of Living". Seemed like fun. As they described the musical my interest increased... Teenage angst, discovery of self, rock soundtrack for a period piece. Then they played "Totally Fucked" and I was sold. I went home with a copy of the cast recording but I have to say, I listened to it a few times and then set it aside.
Almost a year later Mikey and Matt were able to see it on Broadway and when they did it made me remember the musical that Kevin and Michael had been so crazy about. I went back to the cast recording and started listening again and I was drawn back to it. In October of '07 I went to NYC to visit Jeff and Kevin got me seats for Spring Awakening. All the leads from the original cast were still in it at this point and they were riding high from Tony wins for Best Musical, Best Supporting Actor, and others as well. I was 4th row, left center and when the lights went down and the cast came on I was overwhelmed. See, to listen to the music is one thing... But to see the performance is something entirely different. I found myself connecting to the piece in ways I never thought I would. For me, I think it was identifying not only with Malcior's quest for understanding and truth, but Morirtz's feelings of helplessness. It made me think back to my teens and how lost and alone I felt trying to figure out my own emotions and a sexuality that seemed to have far more control over my thoughts than anything else.
The Original Cast of Spring Awakening
Two days later Jeff and I were at the TKTS booth figuring out what we wanted to try and see. They had good seats for Xanadu and I almost said yes. But instead, I just said "let's go to the Spring Awakening theater and try and get last minute cancellations". So we did. We were first in line and we ended up with 5th row right center. The performance that night was even more amazing. The audience was so connected and the actors responded with electric performances. It was like being at a rock concert. There was so much energy and emotion being passed from the seats to the stage and back. I was a mess by the end of it all. I felt like I had been watching home movies of my life that I never knew to previously exist. And I don't mean that the events of the show mirror my own but that the emotions seemed so real and familiar. The experience was so cathartic. I knew I wanted more.
Times Square - Taken moments after scoring those awesome seats for the second performance...
Spring Awakening opened in San Diego a week ago Friday and I was there. Front row center. It's a solid cast. That first night the audience was really there and the performance was great. Sitting that close I felt really connected. A week later I went again with the bears. We were sitting a little farther back in a theater that had not sold out. The energy wasn't quite there but the performance, again, did not dissappoint. I was really happy that most of the guys dug the show. I found that a few of the guys even connected with it on a deeper level as well. And it's not uncommon. There are fan clubs, huge groups of people who go back again and again to see the show. Of course, I think the average age is about 18-20 but hey, what can I say? I've always had a bit of a 14 year old girl in me...
Song of Purple Summer
I'm going back to see it again on Friday. I wanted one more chance to see it with the calibur of actors involved. After I bought the ticket I got an email about stage seating and I realized I wanted to experience that as well. See, for this show they have a certain amount of seats on the left and right of the stage so you are right there, within the performance. I went online and for Saturday's performance they had one on stage seat left. Kizmet.
Last Friday - After opening night...
After Saturday I'll go back to a life without On Demend availabilty of one my favorite Broadway shows ever. But I know it's only a play button away. I can sink back into the experience and let my wander where it will. If you're counting, yes - Saturday will be my 6th time to see it. I can't wait!
Check out The "Bitch of Living" from the Spring Awakening Website (where you can find more music and information about the show):
I can't recommend enough for you to try and see the show in New York or when the tour comes through your city.
Last but not least - this is a copy of "Totally Fucked" from the final performance of the two primary leads - The audience goes nuts and the energy is crazy.
Almost a year later Mikey and Matt were able to see it on Broadway and when they did it made me remember the musical that Kevin and Michael had been so crazy about. I went back to the cast recording and started listening again and I was drawn back to it. In October of '07 I went to NYC to visit Jeff and Kevin got me seats for Spring Awakening. All the leads from the original cast were still in it at this point and they were riding high from Tony wins for Best Musical, Best Supporting Actor, and others as well. I was 4th row, left center and when the lights went down and the cast came on I was overwhelmed. See, to listen to the music is one thing... But to see the performance is something entirely different. I found myself connecting to the piece in ways I never thought I would. For me, I think it was identifying not only with Malcior's quest for understanding and truth, but Morirtz's feelings of helplessness. It made me think back to my teens and how lost and alone I felt trying to figure out my own emotions and a sexuality that seemed to have far more control over my thoughts than anything else.
The Original Cast of Spring Awakening
Two days later Jeff and I were at the TKTS booth figuring out what we wanted to try and see. They had good seats for Xanadu and I almost said yes. But instead, I just said "let's go to the Spring Awakening theater and try and get last minute cancellations". So we did. We were first in line and we ended up with 5th row right center. The performance that night was even more amazing. The audience was so connected and the actors responded with electric performances. It was like being at a rock concert. There was so much energy and emotion being passed from the seats to the stage and back. I was a mess by the end of it all. I felt like I had been watching home movies of my life that I never knew to previously exist. And I don't mean that the events of the show mirror my own but that the emotions seemed so real and familiar. The experience was so cathartic. I knew I wanted more.
Times Square - Taken moments after scoring those awesome seats for the second performance...
Spring Awakening opened in San Diego a week ago Friday and I was there. Front row center. It's a solid cast. That first night the audience was really there and the performance was great. Sitting that close I felt really connected. A week later I went again with the bears. We were sitting a little farther back in a theater that had not sold out. The energy wasn't quite there but the performance, again, did not dissappoint. I was really happy that most of the guys dug the show. I found that a few of the guys even connected with it on a deeper level as well. And it's not uncommon. There are fan clubs, huge groups of people who go back again and again to see the show. Of course, I think the average age is about 18-20 but hey, what can I say? I've always had a bit of a 14 year old girl in me...
Song of Purple Summer
I'm going back to see it again on Friday. I wanted one more chance to see it with the calibur of actors involved. After I bought the ticket I got an email about stage seating and I realized I wanted to experience that as well. See, for this show they have a certain amount of seats on the left and right of the stage so you are right there, within the performance. I went online and for Saturday's performance they had one on stage seat left. Kizmet.
Last Friday - After opening night...
After Saturday I'll go back to a life without On Demend availabilty of one my favorite Broadway shows ever. But I know it's only a play button away. I can sink back into the experience and let my wander where it will. If you're counting, yes - Saturday will be my 6th time to see it. I can't wait!
Check out The "Bitch of Living" from the Spring Awakening Website (where you can find more music and information about the show):
I can't recommend enough for you to try and see the show in New York or when the tour comes through your city.
Last but not least - this is a copy of "Totally Fucked" from the final performance of the two primary leads - The audience goes nuts and the energy is crazy.
Click to view