While many students at Emory have been cramming in the library for midterms while juiced up on coffee, some of our fellow classmates have been gearing up for AdHoc’s production of Spring Awakening, running this weekend and next in the Burlington Road Building. Catch up with the director of the musical, sophomore Sophie Bell from Tennessee, and hear about why Spring Awakening will be a hit!
Her Campus Emory (HCE): How long have you been involved in theater?
Sophie Bell (SB): I’ve been in theatre since my first church play at age 4 (I was the angel, and delivered the best “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” you had ever seen.) Since then, I’ve done just about everything from acting to costumes to stage-managing.
HCE: What’s the background of Spring Awakening?
SB: Spring Awakening is a musical based off of the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind. It premiered on Broadway in 2006 to rave reviews and subsequently earned 8 Tonys and a Grammy. The show focuses on the lives of a group of teenagers living in an oppressive, totalitarian society.
HCE: What inspired you to direct this musical?
SB: From the first time I heard the soundtrack, I was in love. The honest lyrics and catchy beats had me hooked from the start. Spring Awakening addresses very modern issues like depression, suicide, abuse, and sexual discovery, all while giving a message of hope and perseverance. I think it’s a message this generation needs to hear.
HCE: What made you join AdHoc?
SB: I came to know AdHoc during last year’s production of Hair. I stuck around because I met some the best people in the world.
HCE: What are three things people should look forward to when they attend Spring Awakening?
SB: One: Characters you’ll fall in love with. Two: A soundtrack you’ll be singing for days. Three: A hell of a show.
Make sure you check out AdHoc’s production of Spring Awakening at the Burlington Road Building November 7-10th at 7:30 pm!