Arts & Entertainment

Heat of the moment

Heady ‘Awakening’ explores teen lust in coming-of-age hit musical

Published

13 years ago

June 14, 2012

‘Spring Awakening’
Keegan Theatre
Church Street Theatre
1742 Church Street, NW
Through July 8
$40, $35 students/seniors

The cast of Keegan Theatre’s production of ‘Spring Awakening.’ (Photo by C. Stanley Photography; courtesy Keegan)

Surprisingly, it’s a plaintive ballad that haunts both acts of “Spring Awakening,” the explosive trail-breaking rock musical now onstage in an excellent production by the Keegan Theatre. “The Word of Your Body” is sung by two pairs of young lovers who are about to dive into the dangerous and mysterious world of sex. With a fascinating blend of naiveté and awareness, they sing, “O, I’m gonna be wounded. O, I’m gonna be your wound.”

In Act One, it’s sung by Melchior and Wendla; in Act Two it’s sung by Hanschen and Ernst. In an unusual twist, it’s the straight couple and not the gay couple who come to a tragic end.

“Spring Awakening” is based on a controversial play by the remarkable German playwright Frank Wedekind. Although written in 1891, the play was not performed until 1906 and has since had a long history of censorship as it deals frankly with complex issues of sexual and intellectual awakening, adolescent rebellion, sadomasochism, political and intellectual repression, suicide, abortion, sexual abuse, gender and homosexuality.

The plot centers on Melchior Gabor (Vincent Kempski), a charismatic and intelligent teen rebel, his innocent but curious girlfriend Wendla (Ali Hoxie) and his tormented best friend Mortiz Steifel (Paul Scanlan). While Melchior and his classmates (including Hanschen and Ernst) deal with oppressive schoolmasters and uncontrolled sexual yearnings, Wendla and her friends deal with parental abuse and neglect.

Indie musicians Steven Sater (book and lyrics) and Duncan Sheik (music) have turned this 1891 German drama into a contemporary rock musical with exceptional ingenuity and creativity. Sheik and Sater wisely keep most of the plot intact and keep the action in its original time period. However, as the teenagers express their inner feelings, their inner rock stars erupt, electric guitars serving as a timeless expression of teen angst. The concept works really well and the show deservedly swept the 2007 Tony Awards.

Directors Mark A. Rhea and Susan Marie Rhea handle this challenging material with great finesses and sensitivity, guiding the talented cast through their scenes with an effective blend of comedy and tragedy. The musical staging is generally fluid and eye-catching as the cast moves from the relative still of the book scenes to the explosive outbursts of the songs. Musical Director Jake Null gets great instrumental performances from a superb 10-piece band and outstanding vocal performances from powerhouse singers with exceptional range and diction.

The cast is uniformly strong, with outstanding performances from Nora Palka as Ilsa and Charlotte Akin as the Adult Women. Palka’s rich voice brings great poignancy to songs where she tells about horrible sexual abuse (“The Dark I Know Well”) and where she tries to save the suicidal Moritz (“Blue Wind”), but she also shines when she leads the cast in the moving finale (“The Song of Purple Summer”). Akin is delightful in several small roles, showing great comic flair as a busty piano teacher and a mean schoolmistress, severe earnestness as Wendla’s mother and deeply moving sensitivity as Melchior’s sympathetic mother.

There are, unfortunately, a few missteps (quite literally) in this otherwise fine production. The choreography by Kurt Boehm sometimes undermines the delicate balance between the period setting and the contemporary rock score; fluttery hand gestures, cartwheels and moves from Michael Jackson videos feel out of place. The direction of the three-member ensemble is also rather awkward. The switch from teenagers to angels of death clutters the final scene and their costuming and blocking is frequently distracting.

While most cultural venues have already slipped into more escapist summer fare, Keegan Theatre deserves a round of applause for ending their season with more challenging material. LGBT audiences will find “Spring Awakening,” with its positive portrayal of homosexuality and complex depictions of sexual politics, especially rewarding.

Related Topics:Keegan Theatre Out & About Spring Awakening

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Out & About

Delaware beaches ring in holidays with tree lightings

Festivities in Rehoboth preceded by a sing-along

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Photo by f9photos/Bigstock)

The Rehoboth Beach annual tree lighting at the bandstand will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Festivities are preceded by a sing-along by Clear Space Theatre beginning at 6:30 p.m.

And if you’re not tired of tree lightings at the beach, check out the annual Dewey Beach tree lighting along Rt. 1 at Fifer’s market on Saturday, Nov. 29. Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. and include local businesses offering food and drinks along with the lighting.

Out & About

DC Center announces annual Thanksgiving program

‘Our food programs are about more than just meals’

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Photo by alexraths/Bigstock)

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will launch its “Annual Thanksgiving Food Program” on Thursday, Nov. 27.

This program, alongside several ongoing initiatives, will ensure that D.C.’s queer community has nourishment, dignity, and connection year-round. Beyond the Thanksgiving holiday, the Center continues its commitment to food access through several vital programs.

The Free Food Pantry, supported by Wegmans Food Market, provides shelf-stable essentials, available to anyone in need. The Food Rescue Program, in partnership with Food Rescue DC, offers ready-to-eat meals while helping to prevent food waste. In collaboration with Hungry Harvest and MicroHabitat, the Fresh Produce Program distributes seasonal fruits and vegetables weekly through a simple lottery registration. Additionally, the Farmers Market Program, in partnership with Food For Health and AHF, brings locally sourced produce directly to the community each month, promoting healthy eating and supporting local growers.

“Our food programs are about more than just meals, they’re about nourishment, connection, and care,” said Kimberley Bush, executive director of the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. “In these uncertain times, we are proud to stand with our community and ensure that every person, regardless of circumstance, feels seen, supported, and fed, because everyone deserves a place at the table.”

For more information about the Thanksgiving Program or ongoing food initiatives, please visit thedccenter.org or email [email protected].

Calendar

Calendar: November 21-27

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, November 21

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., NW. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected].

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 6 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome. There will be card and board games on hand. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, November 22

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].

Sunday, November 23

A Tour of Her Own will host “Walking Tour: Over The Rainbow Queer Feminist HIstory” at 10 a.m. at Farrgut Square. Guests are encouraged to come explore feminist history through a queer lens and discover how D.C. has been a pivotal location for the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

KhushDC will host a screening of “The Queen of My Heart” at 2 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This queer, Pakistani film is described as “a vibrant, genre-blending mother-daughter dramedy that explores queerness, memory, and the Bollywood dreams that shape us.” Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, November 24

Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

“Soulfully Queer: LGBTQ+ Emotional Health and Spirituality Drop-In” will be at 3 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This group will meet weekly for eight weeks, providing a series of drop-in sessions designed to offer a safe, welcoming space for open and respectful conversation. Each session invites participants to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and belonging at their own pace, whether they attend regularly or drop in occasionally. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.

Queer Book Club will be at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. This month’s reading is “The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. For more information, email [email protected].

Tuesday, November 25

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.

Wednesday, November 26

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.thedccenter.org/careers.

“Movement for Healing with Felicia Taliaferro” will be at 3 p.m. This is a space for nervous system nourishment and embodied restoration. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Asexual and Aromantic Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. Currently, this group is a meeting place for both identities, but we realize that as time passes, the groups may choose to host individual meetings.For more details, email For more information, email [email protected].

Thursday, November 27

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.