Spring's Awakening July 3, 2008

An exciting new adaptation by the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble of Frank Wedekind's masterpiece, "Spring's Awakening", will run July 3 though July 26 at The Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica.

Written in 1891, "Spring's Awakening" follows the lives of three teenagers, Melchior, Moritz and Wendla, as they navigate their entry into sexual awareness. First performed in Germany in 1906, Wedekind's controversial play closed after one night in New York in 1917 amid charges of obscenity and public outrage. For the better part of the twentieth century Wedekind's intense body of work was largely unpublished and rarely performed. Yet the play's subject matter - teenage desire, suicide, abortion, and homosexuality - is as explosive and important today as it was a century ago.

"With the Tony Award-winning musical version coming to Los Angeles in the fall, we wanted to offer L.A. audiences the chance to experience the original, groundbreaking script in all its urgency," commented director Evan Drane.

In 1890s Germany, three children embark on a mission to explore their newfound interest in sex, a subject actively suppressed by the adults in their lives. The children's experimentation leads to grave consequences, culminating in the erasing of all that is familiar. Wedekind called his play "a tragedy of childhood" and dedicated the work to parents and teachers.

"Spring's Awakening" runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, July 3 through July 26, except Friday, July 4 which is dark. There will be one Wednesday evening performance on July 23 at 8 pm. All tickets are $20.00. The Powerhouse Theatre is located at 3116 2nd Street in south Santa Monica, just off Main Street between Rose and Marine. For reservations and information, call (310) 396-3680 x3 or visit www.latensemble.org.

Official Website: http://www.latensemble.org