The cast of K and E Theater Group’s latest production, “Spring Awakening” during a rehearsal.
Photo credit: K and E Theater Group, Ken Comia.
NORTHAMPTON — K and E Theater Group is once again inviting audiences to their newest run of shows, kicking off their fifth season of programming with the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening.”
The show will run from March 28-30, and April 3-5 at the Northampton Center for the Arts. The groundbreaking production exploring the exhilaration of heartbreak and rebellion of youth in a way as relevant today as it was when it first premiered on Broadway in 2006 will lead K and E’s latest season titled, “Color and Light.” The group is planning its fall production of this new season to be “Sunday in the Park with George,” set for October.
Based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind, “Spring Awakening” features a score by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater.
The musical follows a group of teenagers in late 19th-century Germany as they navigate the challenges of coming of age in a rigid, repressive society.
With its grouping storytelling and high-energy rock music, the show remains a moving and thought provoking theatrical experience, something K and E Theater Group co-founder and Vice President Ken Comia said the group always strives to offer the local theater community.
“We are thrilled to bring ‘Spring Awakening’ to life with an incredibly talented cast and creative team,” said Comia. “This show is raw, emotional, and deeply resonant, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience its power in an intimate and immersive setting.”
“Spring Awakening” contains mentions of abortion, verbal and sexual abuse, adult language, as well as depictions of suicide, partial nudity and sexual content. This production is not recommended for audience members under the age of 13.
K and E Theater Group’s production of “Spring Awakening” features Shealyn Berube as Thea, Michael DeVito as Melchior, Nikki Gorts as Adult Women, Kaihla A. Laurent as Martha, Kerrie Maguire as Ilse, Nicco Palazzi as Georg, Emma Rucci as Anna, Andre Ruiz as Ernst, Carina Savoie as Wendla, Tiernan Michale Shea as Hanschen, David Wallace as Adult Men, Chris Webber as Moritz, and Dante Woods as Otto.
Eddie Zitka serves as director and choreographer. The band is led by musical director Devi Badea.
Performances begin on Friday, March 28, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 29, at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 30, at 4 p.m.; Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 5, at, 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $27 and are available at KETG.org.
“Our thought process was exploring artistry, self-expression and looking at the human experience through this emotionally compelling storytelling for both of the shows,” Comia explained about the group’s new season. “When we selected Spring Awakening to kick off the season, we knew that would be a complement [to our fall show]. Spring Awakening is very youthful. I think it brings a raw youthful energy, and the score is just wonderful.”
Comia said the story’s ability to tackle the struggles of self-discovery and societal expectations, especially dynamics between youth and adults has always stuck with him and K and E President and co-founder Eddie Zitka since they first saw it over 15 years ago.
“It’s one of those things where we always had it on a list of shows to do but I think the timing seems right and I think we definitely have the talent to put this show together,” Comia added.
K and E Theater Group is a nonprofit organization formed in 2017 to promote performance arts, encourage growth of the arts and local artists and to entertain the local community through thought-provoking theater.
Comia said now in its fifth season, he feels the group has done a good job accomplishing their goal of offering worthwhile material and productions for the community and artists involved in the shows.
“It is a testament to the shows that we’ve been presenting over the years. Our goal is pretty simple: to bring bold, thought provoking and artist-driven theater to the region. And I think just seeing what we’ve been able to produce and the growth of our audience and people who want to work with us, I think it’s a telling thing that makes us secure in the fact that we’re supposed to be here and people are continuing enjoying our product. People want to laugh and cry and think deeply about the different types of stories we’re trying to tell and how they may resonate in the real world.”
For tickets and more information on the upcoming run of Spring Awakening, visit KETG.org.
