The young and talented are taking over the entertainment business. That is certainly the case for the musical “Spring Awakening,” the Tony Award-winning mega-hit showing at the Hult Center on Tuesday. The musical produced two huge stars from the “Glee” cast and surpassed the popularity of the longer-running musical “Wicked.”
Even before the hit TV show “Glee” popularized musicals again, “Spring Awakening” made its mark when it premiered in New York in 2006, then starring soon-to-be “Glee” cast members Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff.
The musical’s talented cast of young twenty-somethings portrays some serious subject matter that many young people of the same age can relate to, such as sexuality, masturbation, abortion, homosexuality, rape, child abuse and suicide.
Though much of the subject matter is dark, the musical is energized with alternative rock musical numbers and angst-ridden songs like “The Bitch of Living.”
Courtney Markowitz, 22, who portrays the character Ilse in the current national tour of the musical, said many of its fans are young people who relate closely to the subject matter and music from the show.
“It’s rewarding but difficult to know people sitting in the audience seeing that know what you’re talking about,” Markowitz said. “I think, ‘Someone in the audience needs this show.’”
Markowitz’s character, Ilse, a childhood friend of the main characters, is forced to grow up early after she runs away from her sexually abusive home to become a Bohemian.
Another character, Martha, is also sexually abused at home, but she keeps it a secret for fear of ending up like Ilse ­— on the streets.
Markowitz said such serious subject matter is, unfortunately, so prevalent to issues happening today, like bullying, homosexuality and abuse.
“It’s really valuable to show it,” she said. “It’s the perfect time for the show to be going around.”
The musical is a rock adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play “Spring Awakening” by Frank Wedekind. The adaptation is set during the same time period, but is modernized with alternative rock music written by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater.
The material in the 1891 novel is considered controversial even by today’s standards for its graphic portrayal of rape and sexuality.
Sheik and Sater, however, changed some of that dark material to make it more touching and relatable for its audiences.
Markowitz believes the show’s themes of adolescence and self-discovery are themes that transcend time, and that is part of the reason why the show has become so popular with all age groups.
For teenagers and college-aged students, shows like “Spring Awakening” have a relevant message that may be personal and important for them.
“We’re the same age or younger than most of the audience. We perform all the things they’ve gone through … it’s the most fresh and recent for them,” she said.
In recent years, more TV shows, movies and musicals have not been afraid to explore once-controversial and taboo aspects of adolescence and growing up. And the young and talented stars and artists who are a part of these shows are a key reason why they have been so successful.
“(The role) really chose me,” Markowitz said. “It’s such a popular show; I’ve been really spoiled.”
Markowitz said she is glad to be a part of a unique show.
“(The audience) thanks us for the courage for performing what they can’t talk about,” she said. “It’s really rewarding.”
Tickets for Spring Awakening range from $30-$52.50. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
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