Britta Sicora Performs in Musical 'Spring Awakening'

2013 Apr 16

Britta Sicora of St. Louis Park, Minn., is performing in the spring musical at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Sicora is majoring in pre early childhood education.

In 1891 the coming-of-age German play "Spring Awakening" was so controversial that it wasn't produced until 1906. When it premiered in the United States in 1917 it was restricted to one performance.

More than 120 years later the themes remain true to playwright Frank Wedekind's original work.

The action follows a group of adolescents as they question social mores and explore the boundaries of their intellectual, sexual and spiritual identities. With strong language and sexual content, it is intended for mature audiences.

"Spring Awakening: A Rock Musical," will be presented April 19-20 at Harvey Hall Theatre. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are available at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or at the Memorial Student Center, 715-232-1431.

"It was a radical play more than a century ago, but it still resonates with contemporary audiences," said Paul Calenberg, University Theatre director.

The play was turned into a Broadway musical in 2006, winning eight Tony awards, including best musical.

Calenberg directs and choreographs an "exciting" modern adaptation but one that is "in the style of German Expressionism, which was the style of the original play in 1891," he said.

The lead roles are played by:

• Maggie Creel, as Wendla Bergman. Creel, of Oakdale, Minn., is a freshman majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management.

• Jack Lazorik, as Moritz Stiefel. Lazorik, of Shoreview, Minn., is a junior majoring in psychology.

• Kevin Roland, as Melchior. Roland, of Middleton, is a junior majoring in graphic communications management.

Other students performing are: Isaac Burk, freshman, Eau Claire; Annie Foster, freshman, Rosemount, Minn.; Elizabeth Merrill, senior, Rochester, Minn.; Kaitlyn Rabuck, sophomore, Germantown; Joseph Saucerman, freshman, Marshfield; Britta Sicora, freshman, St. Louis Park, Minn.; Caleb Sullivan, freshman, Stoughton; Brian Swiggum, freshman, Cashton; Tyler Vucinovich, sophomore, Lakeville, Minn.; and Barbara Young, freshman, Hutchinson, Minn.

The play's set and lighting are designed by Beth Janetski, an assistant professor. Deb Selvig is designing the costumes while Michaela Gifford is music director.