This past November, I wrote a column about how I regretted never seeing a Stevens Dramatic Society performance until The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. After seeing Spring Awakening this past Saturday, I think I deserve to be put in the stocks and shamed for missing almost three years of artistic talent.
What impresses me the most is that even at such a small, STEM-oriented institution, a thriving dramatic community continues to flourish. As I read through the cast members’ backgrounds before the musical began, I realized I was about to watch a group of future scientists, engineers, and tech-masters come together to deliver a rendition of a story that covered a range of emotionally-charged topics, such as sexual assault, suicide, and teenage sexuality. And deliver they did. Little did I know that Abigail Hulse, one of my Chemical Biology classmates, has such a gift. Had I not made the time to see the musical, I would have only known her from my Professional Ethics in Chemical Research course. Now, I have the privilege to remember her for so much more, namely her powerful singing voice and affinity for the stage.
Spring Awakening could not have come at a better time than now. Not only has winter (finally) released its cold grip on the Northeast, but the production’s opening coincided with Mental Health Awareness Week and the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Even though the musical was based on the late 19th-century play, the pressures young adults feel continue to stand the test of time. How opportune it would have been had the tormented Moritz Stiefel (played by sophomore Derek van Rouendal) been at Stevens Institute of Technology during Mental Health Awareness Week when the Counseling and Psychological Services offered free depression screenings. His untimely suicide in Spring Awakening made me realize how fortunate I am to attend a university that does its best to ensure our mental well-being.
The cast and crew of Spring Awakening deserve recognition for many things: a striking set design, a free Saturday night rendezvous for Stevens students, and a riveting portrayal of life’s most difficult lessons. I walked out of DeBaun with Spring Awakening weighing heavily on my mind, but also with a sense of relief, knowing that drama, music, and comedy will forever have a place in our world so long as we continue to explore the human experience.
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