Spring Awakening

It's an oddity of Broadway, everybody seems to think that Rent glorifies AIDS, and yet, when Spring Awakening came around, nobody seemed to get that it was glorifying ignorance. That's the entire reason why I hated the book, and 50% of the reason why I loved Lonesome No More's non-corny, holds-no-punches, non-musical version. The other 50% could belong to the fact that I personally cannot say any ill words towards this production. LNM (in what could be construed as an ironic title for a company doing a play about horniness)is full of fantastic actors that hit every note. But I'd like to talk about the director, Dana Murphy, for a quick second. Murphy's vision of neglect and foolishness hits home in the current era of "Do It Yoursel... full review

This is a story of lost innocence. The story revolves around a young girl effortlessly played by Jennifer Allcott who is both innocent and without troubles. Her friends too are girlish and giggly. The boys however, are brooding over their need to succeed, to excel in school and most importantly with their sexual feelings which bears a suffering guilt. The male protagonist, Melchior, played passionately by Patrick Riley,one of two directors, has figured out not only what these sexual feelings are all about but what should be done about it. Finally in an act of innocence gone astray the two leads meet by chance and turn a playful childish moment into sexual breakthough - played half off-stage this hurls these two young souls toward their... full review

I had the pleasure of attending a preview performance of Spring Awakening at the Hollywood Fringe Theater in LA this past week. A play about the inner and outer turbulences of young men’s sexuality and of an ingénue whirled into adulthood. The script was sharp and the dialogue heavy. But it paid off. The actors were well-cast, and the actors' portrayals, particularly that of Jennifer Allcott engaged my emotions and held my attention all the way through. The cast really understood and drew the key scenes to a fine emotional climax truly showcasing this local group of talented actors; evidence of good directing. The intimate seating and stage gave me the feeling that I was more a part of the cast rather than a member of the audience. The us... full review

This was a fantastic production. Each actor brought their own light to the stage. Each design choice, while initially sketchy, turned out to be quite exciting. The ending is a little odd, and has an "artsy" feel that the rest didn't really possess. Overall a great show and one of the most intriguing and thought provoking shows at the Fringe.... full review

SPRING AWAKENING is a very timely piece to produce as the US is caught up in a growing wave of neo-conservatism. Brimming with themes just as relevant in today's repressed society as it was in 1906 Germany, I can see why it was considered scandalous. Lonesome No More does an outstanding job in bringing this piece to life with a vibrant, youthful energy and passion. Daring and edgy, the cast takes you on a ride as you witness the painful loss of innocence, made all the more tragic because of the older generation's fear and shame of their own human nature. Don't miss this show.... full review

This was a refreshing, troubling,sweet, sad and poignant production that was executed with beautiful flourish by all the artists involved. The play could have easily been heavy-handed in its message. But the cast expressed the very human pull between "supposed to/want to" onto the stage and into our collective experience with such grace and precision, it was awesome to behold. Kudos especially to Jennifer Allcott for her embodiment of innocence and confused curiosity...she was a shining star. The whole cast was brilliant, and I intend to go again and bring my family and friends.... full review

Have you ever seen a production where the positive energy and passion of the cast made it impossible not to enjoy their performance? Lonesome No More’s production of Spring Awakening has energy and passion in spades. Spring Awakening is a coming of age story featuring the tragic results of negligent parenting during puberty. This tragedy is surprisingly funny under the skilled direction of Dana Murphy and Patrick Riley. I’m not sure which director was responsible for the bulk of the staging for this production, but whoever first decided to use every inch of that space should be commended. It was brilliant. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the many young and promising actors who give powerful and honest performances throughout. I ... full review

Tony Frankel, theatre critic for Stage and Cinema here. About thirty minutes into Spring Awakening, it seemed a possibility that this would be THE show to talk about at the Fringe. Directors Dana Murphy and Patrick Riley used every inch of The Complex Hollywood’s Ruby Theatre, including the aisles and backstage; the staging simply blazed with imagination and wonder. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the theatre as we watched the troubled teens of Frank Wedekind's 1906 play deal with their burgeoning sexuality in a repressed society. Patrick Riley and Jennifer Allcott lead an enthusiastic, unbridled and passionate cast. It seemed like a fascinating idea to have the actors who portrayed the adults wear masks, signifying the profou... full review