VICTORIA — This city’s first-ever production of “Spring Awakening,” the hit musical about teenage innocence and sexuality, is on stage now at the Belfry Theatre, replete with its rock ‘n’ roll score and young actors from the Canadian College of Performing Arts.
“Awakening” won eight Tony Awards in 2007 — including Best Musical — and has since come to stages across the United States.
For the Victoria run, third-year students from the college are working with Belfry artistic director Michael Shamata.
The show, whose music by Duncan Sheik is reminiscent of other rock operas such as “Rent” and “Hair,” is a rock opera based on the controversial 19th-century German play by Frank Wedekind. And “Spring Awakening” has sparked controversy, with its portrayal of adolescent sexual curiosity and the consequences of depriving young people of information, according to the Belfry’s website, www.Belfry.bc.ca.
“Its rock score with song titles such as ‘The Bitch of Living’ and ‘Mama Who Bore Me’ make the musical very relevant and relatable to today’s youth,” the site continues.
“Awakening” plays at the Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave., through Sunday, Nov. 2. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday, with tickets at $29.93 with tax for adults, $22.44 for students and $26.93 for seniors.
For tickets and information, contact the Belfry box office at 250-385-6815 or visit www.belfry.bc.ca. For details about the Black Ball Ferry Line between Victoria and Port Angeles, visit www.cohoferry.com or phone 360-457-4491.
