The Drama Group of Germantown is holding auditions for our upcoming production of Frank Wedekind’s “Spring Awakening”. The 1891 play, which went on to inspire the hit Broadway musical, has a history of being banned and censored since its premiere due to its honest depiction of teenagers coming of age in a sexually-repressive society. Director CJ Higgins (they/he) is seeking a cast of twelve actors to explore a queer reading of the original text in order to contextualize the oppression of LGBTQIA+ youth for a modern audience.
AUDITION AND CALLBACK INFORMATION
Auditions will take place on Tuesday, June 24th from 7-10pm. Video submissions will also be accepted from now until 6/24 at 10pm.
Callbacks will take place Sunday, June 29th from 3-6pm.
Both will take place at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, 6001 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19144
For initial auditions, please prepare a 1-2 minute monologue. You may perform from the play (any translation you’d like) or from another piece from about the late 19th century-early 20th century (examples include the works of Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekhov), or anything else you think best showcases what you can bring to the language of this piece. Callbacks will involve reading sides from the play.
We are only seeking performers who are 18 years old or older. We welcome anyone of any background and identity to audition, and queer and transgender performers are particularly encouraged.
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays from 7-10pm and Sundays from 5-8pm beginning with a first read-through on Sunday, August 3rd. Thursdays from 7-10pm may be added closer to the performances depending on actor availability and rehearsal needs. There will also be tech rehearsals the week leading up to opening.
Performances will run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons from November 7-23rd, 2025.
Both rehearsals and performances will take place at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, 6001 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19144.
CONTENT NOTICE
Wedekind’s “Spring Awakening” contains
Onstage depictions of: rape of a minor, teenage suicide, suicidal ideation, physical violence, solo masturbation, group masturbation, bullying, verbal abuse of children by adults including teachers, purity culture, and religious oppression
Onstage discussions of: parental violence against a child, pregnancy, abortion, incest, sexual fantasies including of violence against women, religious beliefs including non-belief, and oppressive religion
Offstage implications of: abortion, death of a minor
Presence of: gun, switch used as a weapon
We will work with an Intimacy Director and Fight Choreographer to stage these subjects in a way that prioritizes actor safety. We will absolutely not be using full nudity in this production.
ROLES
Note: The characters of Spring Awakening are traditionally sorted into a strict gender binary. Please feel free to apply for any role you feel you could comfortably portray, as we will collaborate further in the rehearsal process on each of these characters’ relationships to their identities and how they tie into or clash with society’s views of gender.
Wendla Bergmann
A 14-year-old who is very happy to be a girl. Desperate to know more about the world, especially how babies come to exist, but is being given the wrong information. Naive but has good intuition. NOTE: this character is part of onstage depictions of rape, physical violence, and pregnancy, as well as offstage abortion and death.
Melchior Gabor
A 14-year-old who is perfectly fine with being a boy. A vocal atheist who, unlike most of his peers, has an accurate knowledge of sex. Top of his class but earns the ire of his professors. NOTE: this character is part of an onstage depiction of rape, physical violence, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide.
Moritz Stiefel
A teenager who dreams of the feminine experience. Melchior’s best friend. Confused, afraid, and anxious about sexuality and the changes that come with puberty. NOTE: this character is part of an onstage depiction of suicide by gun. We are considering transfeminine (including trans women and transfemme non-binary) actresses for this role.
Ilse
A free-spirited teenager who runs away from home to live a bohemian lifestyle. Tries to comfort Mortiz at a crucial point.
Will also play: Hungergurt, a professor at the children’s school; Dr. Prokrustes, who oversees the House of Correction
Hänschen Rilow
One of Melchior’s friends. Collects and destroys pictures of beautiful women. Seduces Ernst. NOTE: this character is part of an onstage kiss and discussion of fantasies about violence against women.
Will also play: Fliegentod, a professor at the children’s school; Ruprecht, an inmate at the House of Correction
Ernst Robel
One of Melchior’s friends. Sensitive and vulnerable. Falls in love with Hans. NOTE: this character is part of an onstage kiss.
Will also play: Zungenschlag, a professor at the children’s school who speaks with a stutter; Renter Stiefel, Moritz’s father who is deeply unsympathetic to his child
Otto
One of Melchior’s classmates. Cruel to Moritz in a way that suggests he doesn’t comprehend his friend’s struggles. Likes to place bets.
Will also play: Knüppeldick, a professor at the children’s school; Diethelm, an inmate at the House of Correction
Georg
One of Melchior’s classmates. Rude to his friends, especially Moritz, in the way that children and teens tend to be.
Will also play: Sonnenstich, a professor at the children’s school; Rheinhold, an inmate at the House of Correction
Robert
One of Melchior’s classmates. Also rude to his friends in a way that children and teens tend to be.
Will also play: Herr Gabor, Melchior’s father, a lawyer who takes a more conservative approach to parenting than his wife; Dr. Von Brausepulver, Wendla’s doctor
Thea
One of Wendla’s classmates. Supportive of friends. Does not think highly of Moritz.
Will also play: Fanny Gabor, Melchior’s mother who takes a more liberal approach to raising children than her peers, including her husband.
Martha
One of Wendla’s classmates. Would not have been born a girl if given the option not to be. Has abusive parents and confides with friends about it. Has a crush on Melchior.
Will also play: Frau Bergmann, Wendla’s mother who is afraid to tell her child the truth about how the world works and spoil her innocence; Habebald, an employee at the children’s school
The Masked Man
A mysterious being who appears to Melchior and Mortiz at crucial moments. Has embraced the beautiful chaos of nature and the freedom it brings. Androgynous, reassuring if blunt.
Will also play: Pastor Kahlbauch, who oversees a funeral
HOW TO APPLY
Please complete this Google form to be considered for an in-person audition slot, or to submit a video audition: https://forms.gle/NZZTkxk4MYtdJHjx8
