Frank wedekind article about frank wedekind by the free. Spring awakening, the rockmusical adaptation of frank wedekinds 1891. Apr 01, 2000 spring s awakening applause libretto library wedekind, frank on. Spring awakening has a large cast but it does not have any ensemble scenes like this. First, spring awakening followed the plays structure and themes almost exactly. Moral entanglement in wedekinds fruhlings erwachen. Spring awakening addresses a large number of loosely related themes primarily through a series of dialogues. The dress of the actors ought to be in the old spanish fashion. This version of frank wedekinds extraordinary play spring awakening was specially commissioned by the royal shakespeare company. As seen in spring awakening, many of his plays put forward the idea that repression of sexuality causes unneeded tragedy. It is originally based on a german play written by frank wedekind. The project gutenberg ebook of the awakening of spring, by frank wedekind this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
Spring awakening, which opens friday night at the clarice smith performing arts center, merges dancing and acting while touching not only on sexual themes but also several others. The project gutenberg ebook of the awakening of spring, by frank. Spring awakening media, art, and performance, university. Feb 07, 2009 h owever repressed the adolescent, her heart beats to the rhythm of rock. Taking on the topic of sexual oppression at the turn of the 19th century, frank wedekinds spring awakening drives straight through the soul of puberty. Spring awakening is an experience that will remind some of us of the fragile beauty of youth as well as its capacity for self.
Wedekinds themes of the sexual awakening of teenagers were ahead of his time, in fact, ahead of freud. Spring awakening ebook by frank wedekind rakuten kobo. Spring awakening is produced by ira pittelman, tom hulce, jeffrey richards, jerry frankel and the atlantic theatre co. Fruhlings erwachen also translated as springs awakening and the awakening of spring is the german dramatist frank wedekinds first major play and a seminal work in the modern history of theatre. Based on the 1891 novel by frank wedekind, spring awakening is a rock musical that uses a driving and unforgettable score to celebrate discovery, rebellion, and. This tonywinning musical adaptation of frank wedekinds 19th century drama tells the story of teenagers discovering their sexuality. Successfully produced by max reinhardt in 1905, the play is a series of brief scenes, some poetic and tender, others harsh and frank, dealing with the awakening of sexuality in three adolescents. The frank sexuality and sexual experimentation depicted in spring awakening immediately positioned it as an extremely controversial work and led to the decadeslong censorship of certain scenes and lines in the play. Fruhlings erwachen is the german dramatist frank wedekinds. Around the time spring awakening was written in 1891, freud was just beginning his study of psychoanalysis. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Notes on the lyrics of spring awakening by steven sater frau 1 frau is the proper way to address a married woman. Spring awakening study guide contains a biography of frank wedekind, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
Spring awakening original cast recording duncan sheik. Set against a repressive and provincial backdrop, spring. Feb 11, 2011 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The frank wedekind play has been updated, set to music, and will open as a major broadway musical in spring, 2003. Analysis and discussion of characters in frank wedekinds spring awakening. Set in late19thcentury germany, the musical tells the story of teenagers discovering the inner and outer tumult of teenage sexuality.
The play was originally dedicated to all parents and teachers. Set in late 19thcentury germany, this groundbreaking musical explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood as a. A mighty spring awakens at san jose rep chad jones. The teachers at school blame moritz suicide on the essay melchior wrote to him about sex. Mar 26, 2017 spring awakening to go wedekind in 11. The young moritz, terrorized by the world around him, and especially by his teachers, shoots himself. Wedekinds notorious play spring awakening influenced a whole trend of modern drama and remains relevant to todays society, exploring the oppression and rebellion of adolescents among draconian parents and morals. Spring awakening hope mill theatre, manchester the. Based on the 1891 play by frank wedekind, the unique approach keeps the story in 19 th century germany but puts the songs in a hardrocking modern idiom.
In 1896, he abandoned his previous study of hypnosis and began studying, where he argued that. As they connect with each other, they find love in the face of tragedy. I am really keen to point an assistant director for different reasons, however. What are the main themes in wedekinds spring awakening. Graduating seniors are listed alphabetically under each of reeds five academic divisions, followed by interdisciplinary majors and masters graduates. Yet, in the nowfamed 2006 broadway production of frank wedekindbased spring awakening, the time and place are. His plays satirized the extremely repressive culture that antagonizes the children in spring awakening. In this play, the author shows the theme of sexuality in adolescents. There, several students intercept a letter from wendla. A childrens tragedy kindle edition by wedekind, frank, farrelly, dan. The latter play is most known today because of its use as the basis for the musical with book and lyrics by steven sater and music by duncan sheik. It turned frank wedekinds 1891 drama about blooming adolescent sexuality into one of the definitive teen musicals of the new millennium. Springs awakening is a play that concerns the sexual awakening and sexual torment of teenagers.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading springs awakening. Number eighty five in nhbs drama classics series, providing the worlds great drama at a great price. Thats the idea which propels steven sater and duncan sheiks musical spring awakening. Frank wedekind spring awakening lyrics and tracklist genius. Karen fricker finds out what teenagers think of the musical. Its fourteenyearold heroine, wendla, is killed by abortion pills. Spring awakening study guide contains a biography of frank wedekind, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and. Count almaviva, a grandee of spain, the unknown lover of rosina, appears in the first act in a satin waistcoat and breeches, wrapd up in a large spanish brown cloak. The english music is by duncan sheik and the script book by steven sater. Music and lyrics by linmanuel miranda, book by quiara alegria hudes, conceived by linmanuel miranda in the heights is an exciting musical about life in washington heights, a tightknit community where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.
Spring awakening, a 2006 musical adaptation of the 1891 play by frank wedekind, explores the confusing emotions of teenage sexuality, including puberty, and the lack of sex education in the setting of late 19th. The source for the broadway musical, this boldly honest and cuttingedge classic launched 20th century avantgarde theatre, yet manages to remain fresh and unsettling even in our own sexsaturated culture. The original cast recording of spring awakening won the 2008 grammy award for best musical show album. The themes it addresses and the sheer energy of the writing make this masterpiece of german symbolism startlingly relevant today. She comes in to tell catherine and raina that the windows and shutters are to be closed and fastened because the. In the spring awakening timeline, these events occurred within thirty years of wedekinds original text. Spring awakening, a play by frank wedekind translated by jonathan franzen in a culture where lies about adolescence prevail, this funny and honest play is more relevant than ever unsettling even in our own sexsaturated culture. Although very brief and lacking in extreme detail, this. Wedekind s notorious play spring awakening influenced a whole trend of modern drama and remains relevant to todays society, exploring the oppression and rebellion of adolescents among draconian parents and morals. Spring s awakening is a tragicomedy of teenage sex. In spring awakening wedekind not only dramatizes one such suicide, but also critiques the damaging effects of authoritarian, paternalistic culture. Spring awakening contains mature themes, sexual situations and strong language. Analysis ofthe play spring awakening, by frank wedekind.
Expressionism as artistic form spring awakening dramaturgy. Spring awakening is a tony awardwinning rock musical with music by. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Set in late 19thcentury germany, the musical tells the story of teenagers discovering the inner and outer tumult of teenage sexuality. Wedekind, an expressionist dramatist who, by the end of the nineteenth ce ntury, in 1891, wrote springs awakening. After reading springs awakening by frank wedekind and delving into this expressionist play, i saw the broadway musical of spring awakening. Spring awakening, a play by franz wedekind, was written in 1890 but its performances were heavily censored until the 1960s. Their peers experience a new awakening as well, making new discoveries of their own.
It was written sometime between autumn 1890 and spring 1891, but did not receive its first performance until 20 november 1906 when it premiered at the deutsches theater. The first production in the united states took place in 1912, but since the play was in german it. And so they must go refill them, and are no longer home when he finally comes to call. It was shocking in its day, and still is somewhat today, despite the openness of our society. At the second act, dressd as a cavalier, with wiskers and short boots. First performed under heavy censorship in germany in 1906, frank wedekinds play follows the dawning sexual awakening of a group of teenagers. Themes in spring awakening another important topic in this play and especially this scene is sex education. A little feedback isnt likely to bother anyone at the atlantic, where composer duncan sheik and lyricistlibrettist steven saters new version of spring awakening explodes in a burst of power.
City circle theatre company announces 20202021 season. Spring awakening made a huge splash when it hit broadway in 2006, thanks to its racy subject matter and altrock score by duncan sheik best known for his 1996 single barely breathing. The maidens await the coming of the heavenly bridegroom, but some have neglected to take oil for their lamps. Abandoning any pretence of objectivity or realism, wedekinds a spring awakening tells the timeless story of one generations struggle to come to grips with the emotional and physical changes of adolescence, in the context of the earlier generations social and sexual mores. Melchior is not allowed to defend himself and is expelled. The premise leaps from and incorporates ideas and themes from. Spring awakening is a rock musical based on the german play spring awakening 1891 by frank wedekind. Fruhlings erwachen also translated as spring s awakening and the awakening of spring is the german dramatist frank wedekind s first major play and a seminal work in the modern history of theatre. Frank wedekinds 1890 play spring awakening depicts the horrors of adolescence in a repressive society, ending in death for various young. Frank wedekind s controversial 1891 play spring awakening which follows a group of young german teens who struggle through their newly discovered sexual feelings without any guidance from their parents, which proves to be fatal for some characters was subject to censorship for practically a century. Spring awakening explores the sexual awakening of teenage boys and girls in germany in the late 1800s.
So close is wedekind to the soul of the child that he succeeds in unveiling before our eyes, with a most gripping touch, its joys and sorrows, its hopes and despair, its struggles and tragedies. It is the source material for the contemporary rock musical spring awakening. Lyricistlibrettist steve sater, who adapted frank wedekind s controversial 1891 play spring awakening into a musical along with composer duncan sheik, cites the shootings at columbine as an inspiration to take on the story of adolescent explorations into sex and identity at a german secondary school. Faber and faber publicity page dtv publicity page fruhlings erwachen text german interview with franzen in new york. The censorship of frank wedekinds spring awakening. The introduction to this edition of spring awakening includes a short biography of frank wedekind a guide to what happens in the play. The awakening of spring is the german dramatist frank wedekind s first major play and a seminal work in the modern history of theatre. Based on the 1891 novel by frank wedekind, spring awakening is a rock musical that uses a driving and unforgettable score to celebrate discovery, rebellion, and finding ones own way. Based on frank wedekind s 19th century play of the same name, spring awakening tells the story of a group of teens discovering themselves in new ways their repressive upbringing never allowed. Librivox recording of the awakening of spring, by frank wedekind. Both songs had the same theme, but because the directors had to reduce time for. Puberty sexuality rape oppression sexual repression. Read texts from spring awakening and join the genius community of scholars to learn the meaning behind the words.
May 16, 2019 their peers experience a new awakening as well, making new discoveries of their own. See more ideas about spring awakening, awakening and spring. Springs awakening was published in 1891 by frank wedekind. Frank wedekind s play spring awakening represents an adults reflection on childhood, the repercussions of ignorance, and the consequence of inhibiting the spread of knowledge to those without it. The listing includes the academic department in which the student majored, followed by the title of the students senior thesis or graduate degree paper. Culturally corresponding to victorianism in the united kingdom, wilhelminism named. I watched a performance of the show on youtube while simultaneously perusing the script in sidebyside windows so that i could follow along, and fell in love with it. Also discover topics, titles, outlines, thesis statements, and conclusions for your comedy essay. The original production of spring awakening, the musical based on the 1891 play by frank wedekind, was so vivid, so powerful and so widely seen throughout the bay area, its rather astonishing that san jose repertory theatre has the cheek to produce the shows first regional production.
The barber of seville, or the useless precaution online. It was being banned from being performed in germany until. The awakening of spring work by wedekind britannica. The musical is based on the controversial 1891 play of the same title by frank wedekind. Wedekind wrote springs awakening, his first play, in 1891 in wilhelmine germany. Following a sevenweek run at the lyric hammersmith, spring awakening transfers to the novello theatre on 21 march, joining. Wedekinds spring awakening given new life by franzens translation and stevens direction in the daily gazette. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read spring awakening. In a surprisingly intimate production for its page commons location, this past weekend powder and wigs spring awakening impressed audiences and tackled difficult issues with grace. Spring awakening bartell theatre madison wisconsin. It is set at the end of the nineteenth century, a time when the forces of repression and the forces of desire were about to come into cultural conflict. Other than melchior, none of the teenagers have an understanding of what they are experiencing.
The awakening of spring is laid in three acts and fourteen scenes, consisting almost entirely of dialogues among the children. Spring awakening and the power of inclusive art the atlantic. Sep 19, 2012 a student edition of wedekind s classic 1891 expressionist play about adolescent sexuality. In short, yes spring awakening is an experience for anyone who has lost or loved and still lives passionately. Based on the german play by frank wedekind, this production allows vision through the eyes of teenagers in the late 1800s, showing how their issues relate to teens today. Spring awakening is a rock musical, based on the 1891 german play spring awakening by frank wedekind, originally banned for exposing the trials and tribulations of the price of growing up. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. He was also a journalist and publicist, and he worked on the staff of simplicissimus.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of spring awakening by frank wedekind. Spring awakening, first premiered in 1906 spring awakening synopsis act 3. Director michael michettis lean, mean and strippedtotheextreme version of the bards masterwork is out to raise your hackles. The playwright has attacked his theme with european frankness. The project gutenberg ebook of the awakening of spring, by. First, to get around the perennial problem in oxford of short rehearsal periods. Instead of the coherent drama of conventional type, wedekind has given us a. It is based on the 1891 german play spring awakening by frank wedekind. A childrens tragedy and millions of other books are. One might argue that wedekind used sexuality to provoke thought and raise questions rather than merely to shock viewers.
Based on frank wedekinds coming of age exploration of youthful sexual awakening, steven sater and duncan sheiks rockpop musical helps a more modern audience connect with the themes littered. Springs awakening applause libretto library frank wedekind on amazon. The storyline takes place around 1892 in germany where, at the. Mar 17, 2017 frank wedekinds controversial 1891 play spring awakening which follows a group of young german teens who struggle through their newly discovered sexual feelings without any guidance from their parents, which proves to be fatal for some characters was subject to censorship for practically a century. In frank wedekind his tragedy fruhlings erwachen the awakening of spring, also published as spring awakening created a scandal. Everyone experiences the teen years differently, some people excel during this time while others feel lost and alone. This play got me to think of connections to wedekinds play, to the expressionist theatre, and to modern day. Oct 29, 2015 this version of frank wedekinds extraordinary play spring awakening was specially commissioned by the royal shakespeare company. Spring awakening is about growing as an individual, discovering yourself, and learning how to live in a world that seems to be constantly changing.
An analysis of the main themes in spring awakening by. The censorship of frank wedekinds spring awakening project. Gorilla theater productions contemporary approach to the comingofage story confronts themes of reproduction, rape and suicide so incisively its subtitled a childrens tragedy through may 14. Right from the start we see there is a clear need for sexual education. Spring awakening is rated r, as it has adult language and deals with many mature themes including. Feb 18, 2009 o ne of the buzziest, edgiest shows in london is heading to the west end. He had it published at his own expense in 1891, but it was not performed until wedekind started his own repertory company in 1906.
Wedekind, frank article about wedekind, frank by the. The scale and allure of broadway theater has often made it a window of sorts. This pdf contains the full english text of the lulu plays by frank wedekind as well as his play spring awakening. Larissa maggard major works data sheet major works data sheet page 2 major works data sheet page 3 characters name role in the story significance adjectives marlow kurtz general manager kurtzs intended marlows aunt russian trader african mistress of kurtz protagonist, narrator of interior story. In addition to being a precursor to the expressionism movement, wedekind is often compared to brecht. The plot lacks a clear structure, and many of the characters are indistinguishable from. Dec 21, 2010 this is the song totally fucked from jonathan groff and lea micheles last performance of spring awakening on may 18th at the eugene oneill theatre.
The musical adaptation of this once banned work is penned by tony award winners duncan sheik music and steven sater book and lryics. Mar, 2003 frank wedekind s play spring awakening represents an adults reflection on childhood, the repercussions of ignorance, and the consequence of inhibiting the spread of knowledge to those without it. A forerunner of the expressionists, he employed grotesque fantasy and unconventional characters in order to attack. A student edition of wedekinds classic 1891 expressionist play about adolescent sexuality. Thtr 3011 final exam study guide flashcards quizlet.