American
Rose Theatre releases "IT GETS BETTER" video in
conjunction with added performance for charity.
San
Diego California - October
16, 2011
American Rose
Theatre, an award winning educational theater company, has added
a special performance to their fall production of SPRING
AWAKENING to
benefit two teen focused non-profit organizations: The Trevor
Project and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy. The added performance takes place on
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 7:00pm at
the Lyceum Space Theatre.
Tickets for
the November
2nd performance
are $20 for all seats and $10 of each ticket sold will be split
between the two non-profit organizations.
The added
performance has been in the planning stages since early
September, and in conjunction with the announcement of the
charity performance, ART has released a video produced by Ira
Bauer-Spector called It
Gets Better, in support of The Trevor Project's "It
Gets Better" campaign.
RELEVANCE: 1891 to
2011 -- Spring
Awakening is
a show that deals with feeling alone in a changing world. The
struggles the teens feel in Spring
Awakening are
very similar to those felt by the kids who need The
Trevor Project. In preparing to direct
the show, Bauer-Spector found that "what is so rewarding
about working on this piece is how incredibly relevant it still
is to teens today. Don't let the fact that it is set in Germany in
1891 fool you: Spring
Awakening deals
with issues that are both universal and timeless."
Because the cast and creative team of Spring Awakening were
dealing with topics like bullying, teen suicide, teen pregnancy,
and more, the production team wanted to find organizations that
help teens dealing with those same issues today
The video was
filmed and edited by Ira Bauer-Spector over the period of 3
rehearsals, and includes cast and crew members from the
production. Making
the video was emotional, and made the issues they are dealing
with in the show more relevant. It is surprising how many
people of all backgrounds and life experiences have experienced
bullying and isolation. As one adult actor said "I've
been bullied almost all my life." Getting the word
out that it DOES get better is timely and necessary. Bauer-Spector
says "If it helps just one teen realize that life gets
better, it has served its purpose."
It
Gets Better videos
have been filmed by everyone from President Barack Obama, Daniel
Radcliffe, corporations. A group of Broadway stars
recorded a song for IGB. These videos have had a positive
impact Response to ART's IGB video released on
October 13th has
been positive and heartfelt.
American
Rose Theatre, an
award-winning, San
Diego based
non-profit educational theater company, announced their fall
production in September: Spring
Awakening, a
new musical from the Tony and Grammy award-winning pair, Duncan
Sheik and Steven Sater, with 11 performances October
28 - November 6, 2011 at
The Lyceum Space in Horton
Plaza, downtown San Diego. Ticket prices range from $15
to $30. Ticket information at americanrosetheatre.com/tickets.htm or
call the Lyceum Box Office at 619-544-1000.
The
It Gets Better video is available on youtube and facebook.
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ABOUT
THE TWO NON-PROFITS CHOSEN TO BENEFIT FROM ART'S ADDED PERFORMANCE
THE
TREVOR PROJECT
(http://www.thetrevorproject.org)
is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention
and suicide prevention services to LGBT and question youth. The
National Campaign (thenationalcampaign.org)
to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy seeks
to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families
and, in particular, to help ensure that children are born into
stable, two-parent families who are committed to and ready for the
demanding task of raising the next generation.
THE
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN AND UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
Seeks
to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and the
nation by preventing unplanned and teen pregnancy.
ABOUT
AMERICAN ROSE THEATRE'S SPRING AWAKENING
The
show is directed and choreographed by Ira Bauer-Spector, with
musical direction by Patrick Marion. Bauer-Spector is the only
graduate of the San
Diego State University MFA
program to receive a graduate degree with a special emphasis on
directing. Both
are experienced in working with performers of all ages and
experience levels.
Ira
Bauer-Spector returns to ART after directing "13" last
summer. He most recently directed Zanna
Don't for
San Diego Junior Theater's Advanced Theatre Camp. He
previously directed Zanna,
Don't for its
San Diego premier in 2008, as well as Seussical for
ACT San Diego, Moscow for
Diversionary Theatre, Into
the Woods at
SDSU. Bauer-Spector was also Intern Director for the
premiere of The
First Wives Club at
the Old Globe. A bonus for the cast and the audiences is
that Bauer-Spector will be joining his cast on stage for Spring
Awakening, stepping into the Adult Male roles for the high school
cast.
Patrick
Marion has worked throughout San Diego, including Lamb's Players,
Cygnet, North
Coast Repertory
Theatre and J*Company He is an associate artist for Lamb's Players
Theatre, and a staff member of San Diego Junior Theatre, where he
has worked on Into
The Woods, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Richard Scarry's Busytown, andDear
Edwina.
He is wrapping up a 2 month run of Little
Shop of Horrors at
Cygnet Theatre, where he served as a musician, and recently
stepped in as Music Director to finish out the extended run.
Spring
Awakening is
double cast and features
a high school age cast and a college age cast of 33, comprised of
experienced actors, with professional credits, and experienced
young artists. The cast is led by 2 award-winning talents in
the lead role of Melchior - college Junior, Kevin Koppman-Gue
heads the older cast and 15 year-old Ian Brininstool heads the
high school cast, and starring Dylan Hoffinger, Shaun Tuazon,
Trevor Sanderson, Kyrsten Hafso, Nadia Guevera, Elizabeth Morse,
Kelly Prendergast, Hanz Enyeart, Jamie Channell, Krysti Litt,
Julia Vanderwiel and John Whitley
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ABOUT
THE SHOW:
Winner
of 8 TONY Awards, including BEST MUSICAL, SPRING
AWAKENING celebrates the
unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power,
poignancy, and passion that is unforgettable. Adapted from Frank
Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tears, and
exhilaration of the teen years, and how
they make their way through the thrilling, complicated, confusing
and mysterious time of their sexual awakening. It
has been hailed as the "Best Musical of the Year" by the
New York Times, New York Post, Star Ledger, Journal News, New
York Observer,
and USA Today.
Director
Ira Bauer-Spector has wanted to direct this show since seeing it
on Broadway. "The original play, The
Awakening of Spring by Frank Wedekind, had a sub-title: 'A
Children's Tragedy.' This
story is a tragedy, but the musical adaptation provides for so
many moments of inspiration and hope. Add the incredible rock
score to the beautiful poetry of the script and the passionate
performances of 35 of the most talented young artists in the city
of San Diego, and you have an incredible theater experience."
Bauer-Spector
also shares "What is so rewarding about working on this piece
is how incredibly relevant it still is to teens today. Don't let
the fact that it is set in Germany in 1891 fool you: Spring
Awakening deals
with issues that are both universal and timeless."
The
ART team does not take the mature issues of the show lightly.
They are bringing in a family therapist to talk to the cast about
the topical issues of teen sex, suicide and peer pressure. ART
also plans to offer a talk-back with the audience following at
least one performance. The reality is that young people in the
cast, or those seeing the show may know someone dealing with any
one of these issues. The story shows the tragedy of hiding things.
No one in the story is protected by ignorance. Confronting
the issues and providing a proper forum for discussion may help
someone coping with any of these issues.
ART
will be the second theater company in San Diego to present Spring
Awakening, and one goal was to present the show with teen actors
who are the same age as the characters. The other was to
ensure the audience could relate to and understand the characters
and events. One of the tricks in staging the show is that
the cast will be among the audience throughout. The message
is that this story is set in 1891, but the events could just as
easily happen in 2011.
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TICKETS,
SHOW DATES & TIMES:
GENERAL
INFORMATION: Tickets
for Spring
Awakening are
$30 for Producer Level, $25 for Premier, $20 for Standard, with
$15 & $20 for students, seniors and active military and their
families. ALL Tickets for the November
2nd performance
only are $20 each. Group discounts are available. Tickets
are available by visiting the online box office at www.americanrosetheatre.com or
contact the Lyceum box office at 619-544-1000.
Due
to strong language and mature themes, this show is not recommended
for children under 13.
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FRIDAY
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October
28
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White
Cast
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SATURDAY
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October
29
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White
Cast
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Red
Cast
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SUNDAY
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October
30
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White
Cast
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Red
Cast
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WEDNESDAY
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November
2
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Red
Cast *
Special performance for charity
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THURSDAY
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November
3
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White
Cast
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FRIDAY
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November
4
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Red
Cast
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SATURDAY
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November
5
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Red
Cast
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White
Cast
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SUNDAY
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November
6
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Red
Cast
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IMPORTANT
LINKS RELATED TO THIS PRESS RELEASE
American
Rose Theatre on Facebook:
The
Trevor Project and It
Gets Better
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