All production photos by Simon Wheeler.
Embedded Files
Design completed for Ithaca College's 2026 production of Spring Awakening in Ithaca, NY.
DESIGN TEAM
DESIGN TEAM
Director: Gavin Mayer
Music Director: Amanda Morton
Choreographer: Aimee Rials
Stage Manager: Sadie Mickelson
Asst. Director: Emma Jansch, Colby Murphy
Asst. Choreographer: Taz Foreman
Scenic Designer: Sophie Diehl
Lighting Designer: Sara Gosses
Sound Designer: Theo Roe
Costume Designer: Finley Maras-Ronan
Asst. Lighting Designer: Hannah Rooks, Leander Weiss
ABOUT THE SHOW
ABOUT THE SHOW
This production of Spring Awakening was conceptually placed in 1990's rural Texas rather than the original setting of 1890's Germany. Similarly to when the original play was adapted into a musical, we wanted to convey that the issues that the show tackles (religion and shame, improper sex education, suicide, academic pressure, queerness) are all still extremely prevalent today. Transposing the setting helped us to connect with the audience on a deeper level and to make a statement about the current political state of Texas.
The ensemeble rocks out during Bitch of Living. Ensemble member Wyatt McDaniel is featured while Ernst (Jason Soranno) catches some air.
MY PROCESS
MY PROCESS
This show started with conversations about music. The music director, choreographer, and I collaborated on a playlist that would be a guide to how we wanted the show to sound. We wanted to emulate the sound of the emerging 1990's Austin alt rock scene (see: Sincola, Big Boys, Blue October) and explore how that sound would permeate out into the more rural surrounding areas. For select songs, we wanted to emulate the chart-topping country songs of the time (see: Faith Hill, LeeAnn Rimes). These conversations really helped me to shape the overall sound of the show and informed the creation of my sound cues.
DESIGN GOALS
DESIGN GOALS
Support the music having the energy and tonality of 90’s alt rock and country.
Use ambience to subtly place the audience in Texas rather than in Germany.
Emotional response board
DATA
DATA
SELECTED CUES
SELECTED CUES
*Headphones recommended
The ensemble (Joey Gallegos and others) carry in a casket.
370v2a Thunder.wavThunder: Rather than having a gunshot sound effect, which I felt would be jarring and too literal for the moment in the show (no spoilers), I used a loud thunder clap which rolled into rain for the following funeral scene.
Melchior (Noah Schuster) and Wendla (Emily Marx) talk in the back of his truck.
320v1 Country Ambience D.wavCountry Ambience: The sound of the Texas countryside just after sunset. Cicadas, crickets, grass, etc.
The boys (Kaden Hawkins, Noah Schuster, and others) sit in class.
030v1 School Bell.wavSchool Bell: Used early in the show to help establish the change in our production's setting.
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