By Sonoma Brawley – Contributor

From March 14-17, the Bishop’s University musical theatre concentration put on a production of Spring Awakening at Centennial Theatre that blew audiences away. With a live band and a wealth of student talent, Spring Awakening was described as “an outstanding production” and “the greatest show ever at Bishop’s University”. The production closed last week with roaring applause and many standing ovations.

One audience member enjoying the show was Kate Vandermeulen. “I was so lucky to be able to see the Friday night performance of Spring Awakening, and was completely blown away,” said Vandermeulen. She praised the concept, the set and the actors’ brilliant performances. “The sensitive subject matter was handled beautifully, and even the darkest moments had a subtle touch of light to them. Whether you were an avid consumer of the arts or a first-time audience member, Spring Awakening had something for everyone.” 

Directed by Art Babayants, Spring Awakening was a story about young teenagers exploring the tumultuous path of adolescence. Book and lyrics were by Steven Sater and the music by Duncan Sheik. The production is based on a play by Frank Wedekind. The show dealt with heavy topics that the creatives handled with grace. Spring Awakening was designed to highlight the importance of transparency, communication and accessible education. It demonstrated the necessity of building safe spaces between students and the adults that they depend upon.

As noted by Emmett Tinning, a second-year music student and lead performer in Spring Awakening, “Being a part of Spring Awakening was an incredible experiential learning opportunity that delivered lessons in embedding hope and empathy into theatre.”

The musical theatre concentration is embarking on its third year. Bishop’s hosts the only English-language musical theatre program in Quebec. The concentration strives to offer unparalleled training and produces a different show every year. Previous productions from the musical theatre concentration include Godspell and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Drama and musical theatre student Shannon Gaskarth reflected on how “it’s

incredible to be in a program this unique, and be able to get credits for performing. We all work hard throughout the school year to practice our craft, and it’s so special to have opportunities like this embedded into our education. Performing on Centennial Stage is something I will cherish.”

This production ran as two three-credit musical theatre classes throughout the winter semester. The musical theatre concentration is designed for inclusion, so students from every department are welcome to audition for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of performing in a musical.