 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| AdamRoebuck Studios, Productions, & Casting |
Spring's Awakening by Frank Wedekind and Translation by Eric Bentley
Synopsis
Spring's Awakening is the play that the Broadway musical is based off of - The play deals with a group of school
children just entering the age of puberty -- imaginative beings speculating about the mysteries of life. Wendla,
sent to her grave by her loving but prudish mother, is an exquisite, lovable child; Melchior, the innocent father of
Wendla's unborn baby, is a gifted boy whose thirst for knowledge leads him to inquire into the riddle of life, and
to share his observations with his school chums -- a youth who, in a free and intelligent atmosphere, might have
developed into an original thinker. That such a boy should be punished as a moral pervert, only goes to prove
the utter unfitness of our educators and parents. Moritz, Melchior's playfellow, is driven to suicide because he
cannot pass his examinations, thanks to our stupid and criminal system of education which consists in cramming
the mind to the bursting point.
Breakdown
Seeking actors and actresses 18 and older to play the various teens as well as the teachers and parents.
Wendla Bergmann: A girl who turns fourteen at the beginning of the play. She begs her mother to tell her the
truth about how babies are born but is never given sufficient facts. She conceives Melchior's child without any
knowledge of reproduction. She dies after she is given abortion pills by her mother and a midwife who lives
across the street from the family home.
Melchior Gabor: A fourteen-year-old boy. Melchior is an atheist who, unlike the other children, knows about
sexual reproduction. He writes his best friend Moritz an essay about sexual intercourse, which gets him expelled
from school after the suicide of his friend and the discovery of the essay. His parents send him to a reformatory
after his father discovers he has gotten Wendla pregnant.
Moritz Stiefel: Melchior’s best friend and classmate, a student who is traumatized by puberty and his sexual
awakenings. Moritz does not understand the "stirrings of manhood" and changes happening to him. A poor
student due to his lack of concentration and constant pubertal distractions, he passes the midterm exams at the
beginning of the play. However, Moritz is ultimately unable to cope with the harshness of society, and when his
plea for help from Fanny Gabor (Melchior’s mother) is declined, hecommits suicide.
Ilse: A carefree and promiscuous childhood friend of Moritz, Melchior, and Wendla. She ran away from home to
live a Bohemian life as a model and lover of various painters. Ilse only appears in two scenes throughout the
show, and is the last person to whom Moritz speaks before he commits suicide. She finds the gun he used and
hides it.
Hanschen (Hänschen) and Ernst: Two friends and classmates of Melchior and Moritz, who discover they are gay.
Hanschen is a manipulative individual who seduces the frail and timid Ernst. Towards the end of the play, they
confess their love for one another.
Otto, Georg, Lämmermeier and Robert: Schoolmates of Melchior and Moritz. They laugh at Moritz and tease
him when he threatens to shoot himself. Otto once had a sexual dream about his own mother, while 17-year-old
Lämmermeier still does not have sexual thoughts at all.
Thea and Martha: The schoolgirl friends of Wendla. Martha has a crush on Moritz and is physically abused by
her mother and father. Thea is attracted to Melchior.
Frau Bergmann: Wendla's mother, who seems not to want her child to grow up too quickly and refuses to tell her
daughter the truth about reproduction and sexuality.
Fanny Gabor: Melchior's mother. Liberally minded and very loving of her son, she protests sending Melchior to
a reformatory as disciplinary action only until she discovers that he raped Wendla.
Herr Gabor: Melchior’s father.
Sonnenstich: The cruel and oppressive school headmaster who expels Melchior from school upon learning of the
essay Melchior wrote for Moritz.
Knuppeldick, Zungenschlag, Fliegentod, Hungergurt: Teachers at Melchior’s school.
Pastor Kahlbauch: The town’s religious leader, who leads the sermon at Moritz’s funeral.
The Masked Man: A mysterious, fate-like stranger who appears in the final scene of the play to offer Melchior
hope for redemption.
Auditions
All previous times have been filled. The following appointment times are still available. To schedule your
appointment, please e-mail ScheduleMePleaseAdam@gmail.com a list of several audition times from the list
below that might work if possible.
*****Please note that at this time all audition spots are filled. However, send up an e-mail with preferences as to
what night would be best since we do get LOTS of cancellations. We are auditioning both Monday, February
27th, Tuesday, February 28th, Wednesday, February 29th, and Thursday, March 1st between 7PM and 9:45PM.
PLEASE NO WALKINS. You will be turned away.
You can also take advantage of our digital audition option. Simply click on this link, http://db.tt/6JDcqwV
and register a Dropbox account. Once you have that you can record your audition video with a webcam or
ISight cam and then DropBox it to us along with your picture, resume, and any other reel, ect..
Please prepare a 90 second cut of a contemporary monologue.
Auditions & rehearsals will be held at
Paul Michael's THE NETWORK
242 West 36th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues
3rd Floor
You must have a stapled headshot and resume with you at the time of audition for consideration.
Rehearsal Guidelines
The complete rehearsal schedule is posted below. There are 6 performances. However, the following roles ONLY
will be double cast and only perform 3 performances: Melchior, Wendla, Moritz, Mrs. Bergmann, Sunstroke and
the Man in the Mask. Please do not audition unless you are available for all of the rehearsals and performance
for at least one of the casts. You may not leave early and you may not be late for any rehearsals. Sickness is also
not an excuse for missing rehearsal unless you have hospital discharge papers.
Performance Guidelines
This production is non-equity and there is no pay. Performances will take place at the Times Square Arts Center
in Midtown NYC at the Roy Arias Theater Center's 5th Floor Off Broadway Theater.
Rehearsal & Performance Schedule
Synopsis
Spring's Awakening is the play that the Broadway musical is based off of - The play deals with a group of school
children just entering the age of puberty -- imaginative beings speculating about the mysteries of life. Wendla,
sent to her grave by her loving but prudish mother, is an exquisite, lovable child; Melchior, the innocent father of
Wendla's unborn baby, is a gifted boy whose thirst for knowledge leads him to inquire into the riddle of life, and
to share his observations with his school chums -- a youth who, in a free and intelligent atmosphere, might have
developed into an original thinker. That such a boy should be punished as a moral pervert, only goes to prove
the utter unfitness of our educators and parents. Moritz, Melchior's playfellow, is driven to suicide because he
cannot pass his examinations, thanks to our stupid and criminal system of education which consists in cramming
the mind to the bursting point.
Breakdown
Seeking actors and actresses 18 and older to play the various teens as well as the teachers and parents.
Wendla Bergmann: A girl who turns fourteen at the beginning of the play. She begs her mother to tell her the
truth about how babies are born but is never given sufficient facts. She conceives Melchior's child without any
knowledge of reproduction. She dies after she is given abortion pills by her mother and a midwife who lives
across the street from the family home.
Melchior Gabor: A fourteen-year-old boy. Melchior is an atheist who, unlike the other children, knows about
sexual reproduction. He writes his best friend Moritz an essay about sexual intercourse, which gets him expelled
from school after the suicide of his friend and the discovery of the essay. His parents send him to a reformatory
after his father discovers he has gotten Wendla pregnant.
Moritz Stiefel: Melchior’s best friend and classmate, a student who is traumatized by puberty and his sexual
awakenings. Moritz does not understand the "stirrings of manhood" and changes happening to him. A poor
student due to his lack of concentration and constant pubertal distractions, he passes the midterm exams at the
beginning of the play. However, Moritz is ultimately unable to cope with the harshness of society, and when his
plea for help from Fanny Gabor (Melchior’s mother) is declined, hecommits suicide.
Ilse: A carefree and promiscuous childhood friend of Moritz, Melchior, and Wendla. She ran away from home to
live a Bohemian life as a model and lover of various painters. Ilse only appears in two scenes throughout the
show, and is the last person to whom Moritz speaks before he commits suicide. She finds the gun he used and
hides it.
Hanschen (Hänschen) and Ernst: Two friends and classmates of Melchior and Moritz, who discover they are gay.
Hanschen is a manipulative individual who seduces the frail and timid Ernst. Towards the end of the play, they
confess their love for one another.
Otto, Georg, Lämmermeier and Robert: Schoolmates of Melchior and Moritz. They laugh at Moritz and tease
him when he threatens to shoot himself. Otto once had a sexual dream about his own mother, while 17-year-old
Lämmermeier still does not have sexual thoughts at all.
Thea and Martha: The schoolgirl friends of Wendla. Martha has a crush on Moritz and is physically abused by
her mother and father. Thea is attracted to Melchior.
Frau Bergmann: Wendla's mother, who seems not to want her child to grow up too quickly and refuses to tell her
daughter the truth about reproduction and sexuality.
Fanny Gabor: Melchior's mother. Liberally minded and very loving of her son, she protests sending Melchior to
a reformatory as disciplinary action only until she discovers that he raped Wendla.
Herr Gabor: Melchior’s father.
Sonnenstich: The cruel and oppressive school headmaster who expels Melchior from school upon learning of the
essay Melchior wrote for Moritz.
Knuppeldick, Zungenschlag, Fliegentod, Hungergurt: Teachers at Melchior’s school.
Pastor Kahlbauch: The town’s religious leader, who leads the sermon at Moritz’s funeral.
The Masked Man: A mysterious, fate-like stranger who appears in the final scene of the play to offer Melchior
hope for redemption.
Auditions
All previous times have been filled. The following appointment times are still available. To schedule your
appointment, please e-mail ScheduleMePleaseAdam@gmail.com a list of several audition times from the list
below that might work if possible.
*****Please note that at this time all audition spots are filled. However, send up an e-mail with preferences as to
what night would be best since we do get LOTS of cancellations. We are auditioning both Monday, February
27th, Tuesday, February 28th, Wednesday, February 29th, and Thursday, March 1st between 7PM and 9:45PM.
PLEASE NO WALKINS. You will be turned away.
You can also take advantage of our digital audition option. Simply click on this link, http://db.tt/6JDcqwV
and register a Dropbox account. Once you have that you can record your audition video with a webcam or
ISight cam and then DropBox it to us along with your picture, resume, and any other reel, ect..
Please prepare a 90 second cut of a contemporary monologue.
Auditions & rehearsals will be held at
Paul Michael's THE NETWORK
242 West 36th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues
3rd Floor
You must have a stapled headshot and resume with you at the time of audition for consideration.
Rehearsal Guidelines
The complete rehearsal schedule is posted below. There are 6 performances. However, the following roles ONLY
will be double cast and only perform 3 performances: Melchior, Wendla, Moritz, Mrs. Bergmann, Sunstroke and
the Man in the Mask. Please do not audition unless you are available for all of the rehearsals and performance
for at least one of the casts. You may not leave early and you may not be late for any rehearsals. Sickness is also
not an excuse for missing rehearsal unless you have hospital discharge papers.
Performance Guidelines
This production is non-equity and there is no pay. Performances will take place at the Times Square Arts Center
in Midtown NYC at the Roy Arias Theater Center's 5th Floor Off Broadway Theater.
Rehearsal & Performance Schedule
|