News & Media

April 11, 2025

AUDITIONS

Spring Awakening
Books and Lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik

6:00-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23 OR Friday April 25
Kerr Theatre (GCPA 1015)

SIGN UP HERE

ALL MAJORS WELCOME! NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

The audition will consist of a 25-minute slot to include:

• Learning and demonstrating movement in the style of Spring Awakening in a small group

• Singing a solo selection in the style of Spring Awakening 

TO PREPARE:

Movement

• Wear safe, comfortable, flexible, closed-toed shoes
• Wear clothing that allows maximum range of motion
• Stretch beforehand

Music

• Bring sheet music for 16 bars of a song in the style of Spring Awakening* (piano and voice)

• OR Bring recorded accompaniment for 16 bars of a song in the style of Spring Awakening* (blue-tooth speaker available)

• OR Plan to sing roughly 30 seconds of a song in the style of Spring Awakening* without accompaniment

*Please do NOT bring music directly from Spring Awakening

*The original Broadway cast recording for Spring Awakening is available on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube

PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR APPOINTED AUDITION TIME

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Callbacks will be held Tuesday, May 6 and will consist of readings and music selections from Spring Awakening. Materials will be provided in advance.

Rehearsals will begin Saturday, August 16. We will rehearse 5-6 days a week until technical rehearsals. All students will need to be present for all technical and dress rehearsals from Friday, September 29 through Wednesday, October 1 as well as all performances October 2-5. Performances will be in the evenings October 2-4 and in the afternoon October 5.

Spring Awakening will offer a number of off-stage opportunities Students interested in the roles of Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Dramaturg, Dance Captain, Intimacy Captain, Fight Captain, Lighting Assistant, Sound Assistant, Wardrobe Assistant, Props Designer, Running Crew, and Publicity Crew should complete the interest form located here. 

Spring Awakening requires some performers to engage in stage violence and stage intimacy. We will observe industry standards by engaging a Fight Director and an professional Intimacy Director. All instances of violence and intimacy will be carefully choreographed for the safety and comfort of all involved. You will have an opportunity at the audition to indicate your level of comfort with stage violence and intimacy. Please see a breakdown of characters with vocal ranges below. For more detailed intimacy and violence requirements, visit here.

Questions? Contact Prof. Sloan at dennissloan@depauw.edu or Prof. Smith at osmith@depauw.edu

ROLES AVAILABLE

Wendla
Innocent. With every passing day, she grows more curious about the world around her and her changing body. Both vulnerable and a willing participant in her evolution. Explores her newly-found sexuality with Melchior.
Gender: female      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: E3 – E5
*Requires intimacy and violence

Melchior
A smart, headstrong boy who refuses to bow down to society's rules. An atheist and radical student. Struggles with his intense feelings for Wendla and his awakening sexual urges.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: G2 – B4
*Requires intimacy and violence

Martha
A schoolgirl who faces constant physical abuse from her father. She harbors a secret crush towards Moritz.
Gender: female      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: E3 – E5

Moritz
Melchior's best friend, a troubled student. He desperately tries to please his father, but always seems to disappoint him. His haunting sexual dreams and academic failures eventually drive him to suicidal thoughts.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: C3 – A4
*Requires violence

Thea
Wendla's best friend. A schoolgirl who tries to stay innocent and pure.
Gender: female      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: E3 – E5

Hanschen
A rather narcissistic schoolmate of Melchior's. He is comfortable with his own sexuality and uses his looks and intelligence to captivate Ernst. Optional Doubling as RUPERT.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: Ab2 – D5
*Requires intimacy and violence

Anna
A German schoolgirl and Martha's best friend. Optimistic and a bit naive, she has a difficult time understanding Martha's trials.
Gender: female      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: E3 – C5

Ernst
A schoolmate of Melchior's. Naive and easily manipulated, which allows him to fall in love with Hanschen. Optional Doubling as REINHOLD.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: Ab2 – A5
*Requires intimacy and violence

Ilse
Martha's sister, who was also abused and has run away from home to live in an artists' colony. She reaches out to her old friend Moritz in the last moments of his life.
Gender: female      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: E3 – E5

Georg
A clumsy schoolmate of Melchoir's. He is overcome with his feelings for his piano teacher. Optional Doubling as DIETER.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: Ab2 – D5
*Requires intimacy and violence

Otto
A classmate of Melchior's. He struggles with feelings he considers inappropriate. Optional Doubling as ULBRECHT.
Gender: male      Age: 15 to 20      Vocal range: Ab2 – D5
*Requires violence

Adult Woman
Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: FRAU BERGMAN, Wendla's mother; FRAULEIN KNUPPELDICK; FRAULEIN GROSSEBUSTENHALTER; FRAU GABOR, Melchior's mother; and FRAU BESSELL, Martha's mother.
Gender: female      Age: 40 to 50      Vocal range: D3 – A4
*Requires intimacy and violence

Adult Man
Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: HERR SONNENSTITCH, the boys' teacher; HEADMASTER KNOCHENBRUCH; HERR NEUMANN, Ilse's father; HERR RILOW, Hanschen's father; HERR STEIFEL, Moritz's father; FATHER KAULBACH; DOCTOR VON BRAUSEPULVER; HERR GABOR, Melchior's father; and SCHMIDT.
Gender: male      Age: 40 to 50     Vocal range: D3 – F4
*Requires intimacy and violence

*For more detailed intimacy and violence requirements, visit here.