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From the Artistic Director:

Welcome to Spring Awakening. A challenging, landmark musical in Broadway history, this is Ovation's second full professional production. The creators of this show asked that all actors be under 25. We have, more or less, stuck to this with ages ranging from 17-26. Our production is a testament to the incredible talent we have in Christchurch.

Spring Awakening switches between an authoritarian German boarding school society to contemporary rock songs representing the inner dialogue of the characters. The show exposes topics that some may find painful or even distasteful. We hope this is not the case with you. Theatre lets us examine our own human condition at arms length.

Presenting Spring Awakening was always going to be an artistic challenge. But, without challenge, theatre becomes stagnant. We hope this show will illicit strong visceral emotional reactions and conversations.

As we move from this, our preview year, we look forward to presenting a regular schedule of excellent professional, local productions that will enhance the artistic landscape of our city. Thank you for being such an important part of this journey.  You are, after all, why we tell these stories.

Ravil Atlas

Ovation Board

Guy Stewart

Raoul  Neave

Michael Pugh

Jennie Wright

Gavin Hurley

Ravil Atlas

Song List

ACT 1

1. Mama Who Bore Me - Wendla

2. Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise) - Wendla, Ilse, and the Girls

3. All That’s Known - Melchior

4. The Bitch Of Living - Moritz, Georg, Otto, Hanschen, Ernst, Melchior

5. My Junk - Wendla, Thea, Anna, Martha, Georg, Hanschen, Boys and Girls

6. Touch Me - Melchior, Moritz, Ernst, Otto, Georg, Boys and Girls

7. The Word Of Your Body - Wendla and Melchior

8. The Dark I Know Well - Martha and Ilse

9. The Word Of Your Body (Reprise 1) - Otto and Georg

10. And Then There Were None - Moritz and the Boys 

11. The Mirror - Blue Night - Melchior and the Boys

12. I Believe - Boys and Girls

ACT II

1. The Guilty Ones - Wendla, Melchior, Boys and Girls

2. I Don’t Do Sadness - Moritz

3. Blue Wind - Ilse

4. Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind - Moritz and Ilse

5. Left Behind - Melchior

6. Totally Fucked - Melchior, Otto, Georg, Hanschen, Boys and Girls

7. The Word Of Your Body (Reprise 2) - Hanschen and Ernst

8. Whispering - Wendla and Melchior

9. Those You’ve Known - Moritz, Wendla, Melchior

10. The Song Of Purple Summer - Ilse, Boys and Girls, Adult Men and Women

Cast

Synopsis

Act I

Wendla Bergmann, an adolescent in late-nineteenth century Germany, laments that her mother gave her “no way to handle things” and has not taught her the lessons she needs to learn (“Mama Who Bore Me”). She tells her mother that it is time she learned from where babies come, considering that she is about to be an aunt for the second time, but her mother simply tells Wendla that to conceive a child a woman must love her husband with all of her heart. The other young girls in town appear to be similarly innocent and are upset about the lack of knowledge presented to them (“Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)”).

At school, some teenage boys are studying Virgil in Latin class. When Moritz Stiefel, a very nervous and intense young man, sleepily misquotes a line, the teacher chastises him harshly. Moritz’s classmate, the rebellious and intelligent Melchior Gabor, tries to defend him, but the teacher will have none of it, and hits Melchior with a stick. Melchior reflects on the shallow narrow-mindedness of school and society and expresses his intent to change things (“All That’s Known”).

Moritz describes a dream that has been keeping him up at night, and Melchior realizes that Moritz has been having dreams of an erotic nature. To comfort the panicked Moritz, Melchior, who has learned sexual information from books, tells Moritz that all of the boys at their age get the dreams. The  boys tell about their own frustrating thoughts and desires (“The Bitch of Living”). Moritz, who is not comfortable talking about the subject with Melchior, asks Melchior to write what he knows down in an essay. The boys and girls express their desires for physical intimacy (“Touch Me”).

Wendla stumbles upon Melchior while walking through the woods. The two share a moment while sitting together in front of a tree. Each of them considers what it would be like to give in to their physical desires, but they do not do so (“The Word of Your Body”). Meanwhile, at school, Moritz is thrilled to learn that he has passed his midterm examinations, but the teacher and schoolmaster cannot pass everyone, so they decide to fail Moritz.

Martha, one of the teenage girls, accidentally admits to her friends that her father abuses her and that her mother is either oblivious or uncaring. The other girls are horrified to hear this, but Martha makes them promise not to tell anyone, lest she end up like Ilse, a friend from childhood who now wanders homeless because her parents kicked her out of the house.(“The Dark I Know Well”).

Later, Wendla finds Melchior again at his spot in the woods and tells him about Martha's abuse. Melchior is appalled to hear this, but Wendla convinces him to hit her with a switch, so that she can understand her friend’s pain. Melchior reluctantly complies but is carried away and throws her to the ground. He then runs off, disgusted with himself. Wendla finds that Melchior has left his journal on the ground. She picks it up and takes it with her.

Moritz has failed his final examination, and his father reacts with disdain. Moritz writes to Melchior’s mother, his only adult friend, for money to flee to America; she tenderly but firmly denies his request but promises to write to his parents to discourage them from being too hard on him (“And Then There Were None”).

In a stuffy hayloft, Melchior considers his own frustration at being caught between childhood and adulthood (“The Mirror-Blue Night”). Wendla finds him once again, telling him she wants to return his journal, and each  apologizes for what happened the last time they met. Before long, they begin to kiss; Wendla resists his advances at first. Although she seems uncertain about how far she wants to take their physical relationship, they begin to have sex as the lights go down. (“I Believe”).

Act II

Wendla and Melchior are finishing their moment of intimacy in the hayloft; they reflect on and discuss what has just happened (“The Guilty Ones”). Moritz, wanders the town at dusk, carrying a pistol (“Don’t Do Sadness”). He happens upon free-spirited Ilse, who has found refuge at an Artists' colony. She invites him to join her in sharing some childhood memories, and perhaps something more, but Moritz refuses (“Blue Wind”). After she has left, he calls after her, but it is too late; she is gone. Regretting his lost opportunity and believing that he has nowhere to turn, Moritz shoots himself.

At Moritz’s funeral, each of his friends drops a flower into his grave (“Left Behind”). Back at school, the schoolmaster and teacher inform Melchior that Moritz’s parents found the sex essay he had written for him. They lay the blame on Melchior for his friend’s suicide. He knows there is nothing he can do to fight them, and he is expelled (“Totally Fucked”). Elsewhere that night, Hanschen meets up with his shy and delicate classmate Ernst. Hanschen shares his pragmatic outlook on life with his classmate before seducing him. It is Ernst’s first sexual experience, and he tells Hanschen that he loves him as the two share a passionate kiss (“The Word of Your Body (Reprise)”).

Wendla has become ill, and her mother takes her to visit a doctor. He gives her some medicine and assures them both that Wendla is suffering from anemia and will be fine, but he takes Wendla’s mother aside and tells her that Wendla is pregnant. When her mother confronts her with this information, Wendla is completely shocked, not understanding how this could have happened. She realizes that her mother lied to her about how babies are made. Although she berates her mother for leaving her ignorant, her mother rejects the guilt and insists Wendla tell her who the father is. Wendla reluctantly surrenders a passionate note Melchior sent to her after they consummated their relationship. Wendla reflects somberly on her current condition and the circumstances that led her to this difficult position but ends with optimism about her future child (“Whispering”). Meanwhile, Melchior’s parents argue about their son’s fate; his mother does not believe that the essay he wrote for Moritz is sufficient reason to send him away to reform school. When Melchior’s father tells his wife about Wendla’s pregnancy, however, she agrees that they must send Melchior away, which they do without telling him that Wendla is pregnant.

At the reform school, Melchior gets into a fight with some boys who grab a letter he has just received from Wendla and use it in a masturbation game. As one of the boys reads from the letter, Melchior finally learns about Wendla and their child, and he escapes from the institution to find her. He does not know that Wendla’s mother has already taken her to an underground practitioner to have an abortion. When Melchior reaches town, he sends a message to Wendla’s friends to have her meet him at the cemetery at midnight. There, he stumbles across Moritz’s grave, and swears to himself that he and Wendla will raise their child in a compassionate and open environment. Spotting her freshly dug grave, Melchior discovers that Wendla has died from her abortion. Overwhelmed by shock and grief, he takes out a razor with the intention of killing himself. Moritz’s and Wendla’s spirits rise from their graves to offer him their strength. They persuade him to journey on, and he resolves to live and to carry their memories with him forever (“Those You’ve Known”).

Led by Ilse, everyone assembles onstage to sing “The Song of Purple Summer” about life and hope.

Creative Team and Crew

Artistic Director -Ravil Atlas

Originally from San Francisco where he trained in acting and directing at American Conservatory Theatre, Ravil has more than 25 years of experience performing in opera, musical theatre, concert, and choral music in the US, UK, and Europe. Since arriving in Christchurch in 2009, Ravil has established a strong reputation as a stage director, conductor, and vocal expert. 

Assistant Director and Music Operations - Gavin Hurley

Gavin graduated from the University of Sheffield and was awarded the William Empson Prize for his musical direction of ‘A Chorus Line’ and ‘Cabaret'. He continued working in theatre and was awarded Best Director at the 2003 All-England Theatre Festival. Following a decorated 20-year career in education where he was nominated for the UK National Teaching Awards. he recently completed studies in Applied Psychology through the University of Auckland where areas of interest included anxiety in performers. 

Gavin currently directs The Plainsmen, the current NZBHA Men's Chorus Champions, and also oversees the day-to-day operation of Ovation as their General Manager.

Choreography - Sandy Gray

Sandy, an accomplished performer and choreographer, is deeply passionate about the arts. Her extensive stage experience includes standout roles in productions such as "A Chorus Line," "Evita," "Hercules – The Pantomime," "Peter Rabbit," "High School Musical," and "Heathers." Within The Entertainment Company, she takes on a pivotal role as a creative director and choreographer, overseeing corporate entertainment and cabaret performances with finesse. In her capacity as a freelance teacher, Sandy imparts her love for dance to budding talents at St Andrews College, specializing in Jazz instruction. Sandy's commitment to community involvement shines through her participation in the "Dancing Like The Stars" initiative, where she shares the joy of dance with students in low decile schools. Her unwavering dedication to the arts and her nurturing role within the Christchurch community are truly commendable. She expresses her excitement about her involvement in the production of Spring Awakening and extends heartfelt thanks to the creative team and the exceptionally talented cast, who have been a joy to collaborate with.

Production Stage Manager - Zia Veer

Sound - Flo Herzog

Lighting - Luke Wyn-Harris

Head of Props - Chloë Ellis

Media - Holly Payne and Elijah Moore

Costumes - Vicki Morris-Williamson

Hair - Rachael Mountstevens

Assistant Stage Manager and Props - Charis Naylor

Assistant Stage Manager and Program - Belinda Cullen-Reid

Photography - Richard Townsend and Peter Moore

Meet the Cast

Sophie Harris

Wendla Bergmann

Sophie completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts with specialisation in Musical Theatre from NASDA in 2022. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and found her appreciation for singing during her study. From the age of 13, her love of theatre was fed at the Malthouse with Canterbury Children’s theatre and the encouragement of her Cashmere High School drama teacher, Shaun Edwards-Brown. Most recently she was seen in the Showbiz Christchurch production of That Bloody Woman (2023). Although this is her first performance with Ovation Musical Theatre, Sophie is not new to the company; she was Assistant Director and Choreographer for their debut production, Into The Woods (2023). Sophie’s show credits include; Sandy Dumbrowski in Grease (NASDA 2022), Linda in Wedding Singer (NASDA 2021), Showbiz Christchurch - We Will Rock You (2019), Wicked (2018), Canterbury Children’s Theatre -Aladdin, Snow White, The Amazing Race, Chicken Divas, Sleeping Beauty, Blackbeard, Once Upon A Happy Ending (2015-2022). Her film credits include Becky in Dark City: The Cleaner (2023), and Eve in Though I Walk (2021).

Eli Davis

Melchior Gabor

Ngāti Awa Eli is a graduate from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music Theatre). His most recent theatre credits include Ovation Musical Theatre's production of ‘Into The Woods’ (2023), Canterbury Musical Theatre Charitable Trust's production of ‘Breaking Plates’ (2023) NASDA’s 3rd Year Production of ‘Grease’ (2022), Semicolon Productions production of ‘Glory Days’ (2022), NASDA's 2nd Year Production of "The Wedding Singer" (2021), The JK Performing Arts production of “Elf the Musical” (2020). Eli is super excited to go back to playing a part celebrating his younger years as Melchior Gabor, but laments his lack of facial hair.

Will Lynch

Moritz Stiefel

Will is a local Christchurch performer who's been performing and singing since 2015, and has experience singing with Showbiz Christchurch, the CSO and Atlas Voices. His main passion is barbershop music, where he has been part of national award-winning quartets and choruses, as well as qualifying to compete internationally with his quartet, Promenade.

Rhiannon Mason

Martha

With over a decade of vocal training under her belt, Rhiannon has been a passionate performer for many years and is thrilled to be making her professional debut with Ovation Musical Theatre. Performing highlights include Celisse/Gilmer in Godspell (Riccarton Players), Sybil Vane in The Picture of Dorian Gray (DramaSoc), and Niki Harris in Curtains (MUSOC). Rhiannon has been involved in choral singing from a young age, taking on both choral performance and direction whilst completing several Trinity College classical voice examinations. She is currently training in multiple forms of dance including tap and jazz (Studio 42), and pole (Altitude Pole & Fitness). Rhiannon is thankful to have started working with Catherine Hay, her vocal coach, during this rehearsal process. Rhiannon is in her penultimate year of a Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology (Hons) with the University of Canterbury and hopes to one day work in the medical sector and private practice specializing in voice pathology and performance voice.

Kimberley Fenton

Ilse Neumann

Taranaki born and raised, Kimberley Fenton has spent her life in music and theatre. Her passion for the dramatic arts began to flourish at the age of 12, when she began her studies in acting and improvisation with Warren Bates at Stage Centre New Plymouth, where she remained a devoted student for 8 years. Her career to date has taken her across the country and garnered an eclectic resume as a classically trained soprano (Otago University, MAINZ Auckland; Bachelor of Musical Arts), swing and jazz singer, and now as lead vocalist of Christchurch alternative rock band, daytrip. Highlights of her career have included Cosette (Les Miserables), Francine (Murder! at the Hotel Le Bon), Isabella (The Last Martini), Grace (Annie), touring the North Island with Words with the Birds close harmony trio, and the release of her second EP with daytrip in 2023.

Sarah McCaffery

Ilse Neumann

Sarah's recent productions include ‘Heathers’, ‘Footloose’, ‘High School Musical’ and ‘Spamalot’. She was a part of Te Tau Hou 2022 with the Ngā Toi O Te Rangi Maori cultural group as a circus performer. Alongside her theatre performances, Sarah is a talented saxophonist performing in the Christchurch Youth Jazz Orchestra and Garden City Big Band. As a young actress, Sarah is excited about the growing theatre community and can't wait to see what it has to offer.

Sophie Landis

Thea

Sophie grew up in Southern California, and at the age of three she learnt dance at Carlsbad Dance Center where she danced for seven years. She then began singing and acting in San Diego, and trained for commercial acting at the Young Actors Space in Los Angeles. When in the USA, Sophie had been involved in many productions, including The Lion King Jr as Young Nala, The Wizard of Oz as Glinda (Encinitas Country Day School), A Christmas Carol, Cinderella Jr, and Shrek: The Musical (Star Repertory Theatre).. Since moving to New Zealand her credits include: Fredrika in A Little Night Music (Enchanting Productions), Alice in Alice in Wonderland (Burnside High School), and most recently, Heather Chandler in Heathers: The Musical (Luminaires). For the past couple of years, she has been training with Greenstone Academy and JK Performing Arts in Christchurch. Sophie has most recently studied at Open Jar Institute, a weeklong Broadway musical theatre intensive in New York City.

Alyssa Parkinson

Anna

Alyssa is an Invercargill born performer, now based in Christchurch, studying a Bachelors Degree of Musical Theatre at NASDA. Her previous works include, “Fame” (ensemble), “All Shook Up” (Lorraine), “Alice In Wonderland” (Alice), “Breaking Plates The Musical” (Agapi), “Honk! Jr Schools Tour” (Cat), “Into The Woods” (Snow White/Female Swing/Cover) and most recently “Me and My Girl” (ensemble). Alyssa is thrilled to be part of the “Spring Awakening” cast. She looks forward to shedding light to the very real issues detailed in the story and hopes audience members feel seen or inspired to spread awareness.

Richard Townsend

Georg Zirschnitz

Ricky is a versatile freelance artist, thriving in the realms of theatre, film, and music. Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from the University of Canterbury, Ricky’s passion for the stage is exemplified by his inclusion in the Court Youth Theatre Company. Memorable roles include Steven City in Langi & City (Little Andromeda), Prince Florizel in The Winter’s Tale (Top Dog Theatre), Dr. Lanyon in Jekyll & Hyde, and Cunobeline in Boudica (Court Youth Theatre Company). His most recent role was John Ballance in That Bloody Woman (Showbiz Christchurch). Ricky has written and directed award winning and nominated short films featured at international festivals including the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, the Miami Int’l Science Fiction Film Festival, and the Sydney Indie Film Festival. Currently, he is in post-production for his indie sci-fi feature The Bostrom Scenario, set to make its mark in the 2024 festival circuit.

Ben Johnson

Hanschen Rilow

Ben is a graduate of Otago University (Bachelor of Performing Arts) Currently based in Dunedin, Ben is thrilled to be returning home to Christchurch for his first show with Ovation Musical Theatre. Being a part of this show, singing this score, and exploring this material has been a once in a lifetime experience. He is incredibly thankful to tick off another bucket-list show. Ben’s other musical theatre credits include: NOW. HERE. THIS. (Arcade Theatre co.), Chicago (Taieri Musical Society) Wicked, Les Misérables, Jersey Boys, and Legally Blonde (Musical Theatre Dunedin). Most recently, Ben was the musical director for Frozen Jr (Taieri Musical Society). Next year he is looking forward to teaming up with his partner, Max, to put on StarKid’s Firebringer in March of 2024 as part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival (Musical Theatre Dunedin). During the day Ben is a proud singing teacher at The Voice Lab NZ in Dunedin. He really enjoys working with clients of all ages to help foster their love of singing and acting.

Elijah Moore

Ernst Röbel

It’s Elijah’s privilege to portray the role of “Ernst” with Ovation Musical Theatre’s production of “Spring Awakening.” Elijah is a new performer to Christchurch, and this is his first musical in the area. Elijah is a first year student at the National Academy Of Singing And Dramatic Arts, where he is studying Bachelor Of Music Theatre. Elijah has spent the last 8 years in Hawkes Bay, and been in multiple musical productions. Some of his favourites include Oliver, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde, and The Wedding Singer. He has also recently worked with Petrina Chisholm, accompanying Shobiz Christchurch’s Choir “Showstoppers” and has also accompanied High School Choirs and various musicals. Elijah is excited to be cast in this production as it raises awareness to the dark themes of the story. “We can all take something away from this show be that a theme or a lesson” he says. Elijah is an ambitious young person and plans to broaden his experience and knowledge overseas after he graduates NASDA. He is excited for the future. He deems himself very lucky to tell this story with an amazing cast and he hopes you’ll love the show!

Scott Christie

Otto Lämmermeier

Scott is a Christchurch based performer. Originally from Dunedin, they moved to Christchurch in 2019 to study Musical Theatre at NASDA. During their time at NASDA they portrayed Thomas in The Book of Everything, Leaf in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and George in The Drowsy Chaperone. Since graduating in 2021, they have performed with such companies as Enchanting Productions, Kirwee Players and New Zealand Opera, as well as numerous variety performances. Earlier this year, Scott performed in A Fat Girl’s Cry by Celia Macdonald, as well as playing the role of Stavros in the world premiere of Breaking Plates-The Musical. Most recently they played The Wolf and The Steward in Ovation Musical Theatre’s inaugural production of Into the Woods. They are excited to be back to play the roles of Otto and Ulbrecht in a show they have always dreamed of being in, Spring Awakening.

John Bayne

Adult Men

John recently expanded his skillset as a creative artist. He served as a tour manager for New Zealand Opera's Opera in Schools project, entertaining over 10,000 children across the country. John also made his assistant directing debut with Luminaires' successful production of 'Heathers: The Musical'. He has toured with the internationally acclaimed Pop-up Globe throughout Australasia as an actor, swing and vocal coach. He was also a member of the Blind Cupid Shakespeare Company. John has taught at the prestigious Greenstone Academy and is a teaching artist at The Court Theatre. Additionally, John offers private vocal coaching to key-note speakers and other professionals who rely on their voices. Driven by a desire to push boundaries and explore new possibilities, John aspires to create groundbreaking and innovative performance art experiences. He aims to embrace diverse media and genres in his work.

Petrina Chisholm

Adult Women

Making her debut for Ovation Musical Theatre is seasoned professional Petrina Chisholm. With an impressive list of credits to her name, including ‘Sandy’ in Grease, ‘Donna’ in Mamma Mia, ‘Ellen’ in Miss Saigon and ‘Mrs Johnstone’ in Blood Brothers Petrina has recently returned to Christchurch after a decade teaching and performing in Tauranga. Petrina will be remembered for her time at The Court Theatre in the early 2000’s where she gave standout performances in shows such as Gloomy Sunday and Milo’s Wake. A founding member of epic 90s tribute show Girl Power Show NZ, Petrina is delighted to be back on stage in Ōtautahi Christchurch for this season of Spring Awakening playing the role of an Adult Woman.

Willow Gee

Ensemble

Willow has been involved in music throughout Christchurch since 2019. She has been in numerous choirs including Girls' Choir Otautahi where she was a student conductor, and is a member of the Harmony Waitaha youth chorus, Quantum Acoustics, Pan Pacific Open Chorus and Barbershop Harmony New Zealand Silver medallist 2023. She is excited to make her musical theatre debut in Spring Awakening.

Daniel Brown

Ensemble

Daniel has been performing in musical theatre productions throughout Christchurch since 2015. Highlights include ensemble roles in Grease, Hair, Rent, Spring Awakening, and J.D. in Heathers (MUSOC), Jesus in Godspell (Riccarton Players). Most recently, he originated the role of Ali in Breaking Plates for Canterbury Musical Theatre Charitable Trust.

National helplines

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).

Healthline – 0800 611 116

Thanks

Special thanks to

Technical Event Solutions

The Piano Centre

Paparoa Street School