'Spring Awakening' reveals naivete of youth

Musical featuring provocative teen themes returns to Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Charismatic but inexperienced, curious about the secrets of her body and haunted by dreams of a woman’s legs, the daring teens of the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” returned to the stage at Yonkang Hall of Doosan Art Center in central Seoul.

The musical is based on a late-19th-century play of the same title, created in the United States in 2006 and premiered here in 2009.

However, the dynamic, daring heartbeat of teenagers speaks the same language in Korea with alternative indie rock music.

Kim Min-jung, the local director of the show, said “Spring Awakening” can change by the different textures of the actors and the new actors have brought freshness to this year’s production. There are no top stars, but young, aspiring actors breathe fresh air into the second production in Korea.

Yoon Hyun-min, who plays the role of a model student-turned-rebel Melchior, was a baseball player with the Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears. He fell in love with the stage after watching the musical “Finding Mr. Destiny” and quit sports to start acting.

Melchior is the heartthrob who looks charismatic and smart among his friends but most of his knowledge comes from books. Yoon is not an established actor, but he portrays the subtle emotion of a handsome boy, hovering between what he learned from books and what he actually feels for his childhood friend Wendla.

Song Sang-eun makes her debut on the local theater scene playing Wendla, the curious girl who falls for Melchior. The big-eyed girl is the daughter of veteran actor Song Young-chang, who is also on the cast and dares to expose her breast in front of the audience and even her father.

However, her naive, pure first love precedes mild nudity. When she sings “Whispering,” her sweet voice soothes Mechior, their parents and herself with a glimpse of optimism about her future.

Jung Dong-hwa plays Moritz, an insecure friend of Melchior who is obsessed by obscene dreams. Jung has plenty of theater experience compared to his fellow actors, having appeared as Link Larkin in “Hairspray” and the younger brother of homegrown hit “Brothers Were Brave.” He maintains the balance of the show with rich and lively expressions.

'Spring Awakening' reveals naivete of youth @ HanCinema :: The ...

From left, actors Jung Dong-hwa, Yoon Hyeon-min and Song Sang-eun in a scene of the musical "Spring Awakening" / Courtesy of Musical Heaven

Musical featuring provocative teen themes returns to Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Charismatic but inexperienced, curious about the secrets of her body and haunted by dreams of a woman's legs, the daring teens of the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakening" returned to the stage at Yonkang Hall of Doosan Art Center in central Seoul.

The musical is based on a late-19th-century play of the same title, created in the United States in 2006 and premiered here in 2009.

However, the dynamic, daring heartbeat of teenagers speaks the same language in Korea with alternative indie rock music.

Kim Min-jung, the local director of the show, said "Spring Awakening" can change by the different textures of the actors and the new actors have brought freshness to this year's production. There are no top stars, but young, aspiring actors breathe fresh air into the second production in Korea.

Yoon Hyeon-min , who plays the role of a model student-turned-rebel Melchior, was a baseball player with the Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears. He fell in love with the stage after watching the musical " Finding Mr. Destiny " and quit sports to start acting.

Melchior is the heartthrob who looks charismatic and smart among his friends but most of his knowledge comes from books. Yoon is not an established actor, but he portrays the subtle emotion of a handsome boy, hovering between what he learned from books and what he actually feels for his childhood friend Wendla.

Song Sang-eun makes her debut on the local theater scene playing Wendla, the curious girl who falls for Melchior. The big-eyed girl is the daughter of veteran actor Song Young-chang, who is also on the cast and dares to expose her breast in front of the audience and even her father.

However, her naive, pure first love precedes mild nudity. When she sings "Whispering", her sweet voice soothes Mechior, their parents and herself with a glimpse of optimism about her future.

Jung Dong-hwa plays Moritz, an insecure friend of Melchior who is obsessed by obscene dreams. Jung has plenty of theater experience compared to his fellow actors, having appeared as Link Larkin in "Hairspray" and the younger brother of homegrown hit "Brothers Were Brave". He maintains the balance of the show with rich and lively expressions.

I favorited a video Spring Awakening - I Believe

I favorited a video I believe- Spring Awakening

I wish I had an ipod chord for my speakerss. I'd be blasting spring awakening alllll day tomorrow. Guess I'm making a CD :)

I liked a video Mama Who Bore Me from Spring Awakening ( by Zana Ohe )

I was at that tonight with a spring awakening in the flesh book hoping to see anyone from the cast... What are the odds!

Spring Awakening

THE STORY: First performed under heavy censorship in Germany in 1906, Frank Wedekind's play closed after one night in New York in 1917 amid public outrage and ...

Spring awakening, a full length play

For this edition the translator, Edward Bond, has written a note on the play and a factual introduction to Wedekind's life and work.

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening is an extraordinary new rock musical with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Duncan Sheik.

Spring's awakening, tragedy of childhood

-- "Spring's Awakening" challenged too many taboos to be performable when first written.

The awakening of spring, a tragedy of childhood

BOOKS BY FRANK WEDEKIND Published by NICHOLAS L. BROWN THE AWAKENING OF SPRING A Tragedy of Childhood Net. tl.25. By mail. SI. 3 5 SUCH IS LIFE. ...