Marin Summer Theater Presents Spring Awakening
27 Kensington Rd
San Anselmo CA
94960 See map
Novato, Calif. – June 25, 2012. Marin Summer Theater (MST) opens its most ambitious season yet with the award winning musical Spring Awakening on July 5, 6, 7, & 8 at The Playhouse in San Anselmo with stage direction by Patrick Nims, musical direction by Broadway composer and lyricist, Drew Gasparini and choreography by Valerie Oga.
Spring Awakening is a rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play, Spring Awakening celebrates the journey from youth to adulthood. Spring Awakening won 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2007 and was hailed as the "Best Musical of the Year" by the New York Times and many others.
Joining MST for his first season and playing Melchior, the leading man in Spring Awakening, is Curtis Thomas. Thomas, who was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana studied with Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA program at Dominican University for two years and is now headed to Boston Conservatory.
Thomas, who grew up in a musical household, started dancing at age 6 and got his formal start in music by learning how to play the piano when he was 11 years old. “I wasn't a big fan of practicing as much as I should have, but with some help from my mom, I stuck through it and still continue to play now, I began singing in my high school's concert choir and was hooked from day one. The music education I received has been I influential in my artistic training, especially in musicals where words, movement, and song are weaved together to create a final product that has the ability to blow people away."
A hurricane Katrina survivor, Thomas found a way to channel his art and fuel his passion for performing in the midst of death and destruction. “In the reality of seeing my home underwater, it was important for me to remember there is still a chance for rebirth and renewal. I work hard to make New Orleans proud; to show people are coming back strong, filled with hope, strength, and a whole lot of love. I am excited and honored to be a part of Marin Summer Theater working with other individuals who share my passion for performing. I fell in love with Spring Awakening from the time I saw it, and it is a privilege to perform such a powerful, pertinent work."
Thomas says “Melchior is a headstrong tenacious teenager who challenges everything he is taught. After seeing Wendla, a childhood friend, an old relationship begins to develop in a new way and she pushes him in ways he never thought possible."
Parents be advised - Spring Awakening contains adult situations and language. It is not recommended for children. “Spring Awakening is about young people dealing with grown-up issues,” said Patrick Nims, MST’s Artistic Director. “Teens in transition from youth to adulthood face pressures that are the same today as they were in 1891. This show speaks with the voice of youth about love, frustration and the challenges that they face as they awake from childhood and grow into sexually mature adults.”
After Spring Awakening, MST will present the delightfully romantic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest on July 12, 13, 15, 15 on the campus of San Marin High School in Novato and the family friendly and popular favorite Legally Blonde, The Musical on July 26, 27, 28, 29, also at San Marin High School. Tickets and details for all performances are available at www.MarinSummerTheater.org.
MST is a non-profit theater company composed of student actors, singers, dancers, musicians, directors, designers, technicians, and crew. 2012 will be MST’s fourth season.
For more information visit marinsummertheater.org
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Ciel Niesen-Love June 15, 2013 at 07:41 pm
I, for one, am glad they're finally doing this. I have watched for years as Marin has ignored the…Read More population growth that has affected us all. Not wanting to put in a commuter train, until the traffic lining the freeway is backed up into another county in the morning, is just one example of this. Then we have the fact that most of the children that my husband and I went to school with in Terra Linda have had to move to other counties because we can't find affordable housing in this one. To top it all off, it seems that the ones who have blocked us from making the smaller additions throughout the county have been people directly involved in the real estate industry, or just local home owners so worried about the value of their homes going down, that they fail to see the larger picture. So here we are, about to make a stride in alleviating the problem, and instead of rallying to make our communities better, we're trying to make it more difficult for the people who live and grew up here to still remain close to their families, not to mention the disabled adults and large elderly population in this county that are in need of this, as well. Some of the teacher's who work in this district have to commute in that traffic every morning, because they can't afford to live in this county, either. It's a sad commentary on where our priorities are when we can't support each other as a community.
John Parulis June 17, 2013 at 11:44 am
Ciel......we're talking big box freeway developments that will add tremendous traffic, schooling and…Read More tax burdens to our community. Your ideas about population growth in Marin are off.
Ciel Niesen-Love June 17, 2013 at 02:49 pm
I know the population in Marin is 1% per year, but why do you think that is? People are living…Read More longer and our children are the healthiest in the country. I'll tell you why. It's because the children grow up and move out of the county, because it's not affordable. Here is an example of my latest thoughts on the matter: As the member of a Native American tribe, I have to say that I really resent being told where I should be able to live by an immigrant such as Richard Hall. I believe that roots are important and even if the growth rate has been 1%, it's only because most of the people who have grown up here can not afford to live here and move away. The elderly who make up a large percent of the population here are living longer due to medical advances and who do you suppose will take care of them? People such as myself and for not nearly enough money to live here. So what do you propose? You think that I should move to the East Bay or the North Bay and commute? Well, due to the lack of transportation support, that sound so lovely, let me tell you. Also, the children in Marin are the healthiest in the country according to a recent article I've read. Lower children death rates and such, so who is supposed to teach them and provide care for them and for not enough money to live here? Well, many teachers and care providers that I know that have to commute or live multiple roommates. You have successfully produced a community that only grows 1% per year. Congratulations. Through your grassroots efforts of blocking housing and transportation for years and claiming they don't live up to your standards, meanwhile not providing any pushes for what you might actually feel is smarter you have shut out your county's own children and hard working patriots. So, we can work for minimum wage taking care of your elderly, your children, your precious houses and cars, but God forbid, our children go to school with yours, or that you might actually have to bump into us at the supermarket and say "hi". This is the attitude which had prevailed here and I and many other people I talk to in my neighborhood and that I've grown up with are sick of it. Also, I'd like to point out that we all work hard, and the opportunity to work has been at the help of all of the people in our communities who have helped rear us. Teachers, nurses, doctors, firemen, policeman, babysitters, and many more. Just because some jobs like teaching or care giving don't provide with as much money, doesn't make them less important. In fact, my grandma used to tell me it "God's work". It takes a village to raise your children and it took a village to raise you all.