What would make Spring Awakening survive?

Hey I am new to the board.

I saw Spring Awakening 1st night of previews and loved it. Since then I have been doing a lot of reading on this message board and any articles I can find about the show. And everything I read seems to say that people either love it, mixed feelings, or hate it. I have friends who saw the show off-broadway and swore that when it hit Broadway it was going to blow up and be a Huge hit. But after seeing low numbers and not all amazing reviews, I am having my doubts. So I was wondering what people feel that the biggest fault is with the show, and what exactly would make it better? Some people think the nudity and mastubation scene is just too much. If they were cut it would it change the older generations views? Because these things can destroy a persons whole show experience if they are really offended by it. Do they need a stronger cast? I would really hate to see this show go under. I really think with some good tighting up and some fixing everyone could see how amazing the show really is. So what would make it survive.....and be a hit?

Anyone else think this person is attached to the production? Not trying to be cynical but your post is very extensive and specific.

Word of mouth, similar to the way (and pardon the comparison) WICKED became such a hit. The reviews were mixed, but word of mouth made it what it is today. Not to mention that SPRING AWAKENING is actually *good* whereas WICKED's reviews were pretty accurate. The cast is stellar. Let it open first, and we'll take it from there. Removing objectionable content defeats the purpose of the show to begin with. The masturbation and sex scenes were in the original play. In order to create new forms of musical theater, we need to create trends instead of conforming to current ones. Leave the show be. The numbers are currently low because the reviews have not come out yet.

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Updated On: 11/28/06 at 06:18 PM

I saw it last night, and I really enjoyed it-- but I think there is a generation gap that can't really be helped. I'm a college freshman and my entire theatre class went together. We were some of the youngest people there, aside from a few of the kids onstage, and looking around, you could see a lot of people feeling lost. We responded to a lot of things that all of the older people in the audience did not, because it really is a show for teenagers and very young adults. Or at least I felt that way. Maybe some adults would say otherwise. So, if a great word of mouth could help it overcome its limited appeal... maybe it would survive? I was disappointed to see the theatre so empty.

If they got rid of the hand mikes then I think it would have a good chance of surviving. I loved the show but it drove me insane when they used hand helds!

I think it needs some good reviews and such.

It seems like it could be a cult show like RENT given some time.

It happened to Avenue Q -- it wasn't that full during previews, but then reviews came in and changed everything.

I have really strong hopes for this show.

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I love this show so much. I think it's so fresh. I do think there is no need to expose Lea's breast or Jonathan's behind. It doesn't add anything to the scene or show. People know what they are doing. I also think they don't have to reopen the 2nd act with them having sex. It could open with them laying there and beginning "Guilty Ones". The masterbation scene is another thing. Maybe the chair could be turned around? Just some suggestions that a few of my friends and I think would improve the show from a young 20's stand point. I hope this show does well. It deserves a life because it's the most original thing to come to Broadway in a long time.

RENT and HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (on its own scale) managed to become hits with edgy material. They also managed to get a new generation into theatres and challenged the notion of the theatre as a temple for old folks. SPRING AWAKENING needs to do the same thing--if anything, it probably needs to be more edgy and challenging, not less. That way, even if it flops on Broadway, regional theatres round the country will want to do it and keep it alive.

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^hahahaha

I want to see Broadway.com send that 10 year old to review Spring Awakening

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Caroline-Q-or-TBoo- You mean Clark the 6 year old who can't talk?

The scene has a boy in a nightgown with his hand underneath doing what you will. You do not see anything. Some kids may not understand what he's doing actually... It is very funny but, does seem to make some people uncomfortable.