Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
15 years after the smash, Tony-winning Broadway run of “Spring Awakening,” the original cast and creative team reunite for a spectacular, one-night only reunion concert to benefit The Actors Fund. Chronicling their whirlwind journey back to the stage, the film follows the players as they reconnect and rediscover the beauty and timelessness of the hit musical, sharing the show’s underdog origins, its path to Tony glory, the universal themes of teenage repression and angst, and the unconventional love story of breakout stars Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.
HBO Documentary Films releases “Spring Awakening: Those We’ve Known” on May 3rd, and if you are a fan of the musical, interested in the dynamics of Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele’s relationship on stage and off or interested in what it takes to make a successful modern day musical based off of challenging and thought provoking source material (molestation, abortion, suicide, sex, 19th century Germany!) this movie is for you!
My history with the show
I first saw Spring Awakening in 2006 after it had opened on Broadway and before the Tony Awards. Although the documentary points out that the show was struggling at that point in its run, those of us in the know knew something special was playing at the Eugene O’Neil theatre. I managed to get tickets on stage, in the affordable bleacher fan seats set up on each side of the stage. Little did I know that right next to me was one of the actors who was planted there to bring the audience into the show in the most exciting way when she jumped up and started singing on her chair right before my eyes. It took everything I had not to sing along.
A year or so later, my agent landed me an audition for the Broadway show. No knowing who I would audition for, they had me sing my own song and read for both Melchior and Moritz. The audition was a dream come true. My execution, not so much.
Lea and jonathan
I particularly loved the bits where Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele get incredibly candid about their relationship, how Lea was in love with Jonathan, how Jonathan came out to her (and everyone) after the show closed and how, after a very emotional declaration of his importance to her, decided that they would be each other’s support and champions forever.
Much has been made out of a snippet where Michele says she showed Groff her vagina, and yeah…it’s a perfect little soundbite to write about in order to grab eyes, but in the context of their entire journey, it’s not only hilarious but also sweet. And with all that also came the stress/challenges of having to act sex on stage in the most exposed way I have ever seen on stage followed by a very heart-wrenching beating scene that eventually took its toll on the actors, Michele in particular. The documentary reminds us that despite this cast’s talents they were so very young at the time.
Those you’ve known
Watching the musical numbers that were composed by Duncan Shiek and written by Steven Sater (who also wrote the book) in the past through archival footage and in the present with clips from the one night concert is such a fantastic parallel, particularly as Sater and director Michael Mayer discuss the tribulations and struggles getting this production off the ground.
I had no idea how close the show came to never happening, and the documentary reminds us that you only need one person (one powerful person) to believe in something to make it happen!
Song of purple summer
One of my favorite moments in the film comes near the end, as the remarkable Lauren Pritchard (who was actually responsible for the Actors Fund concert happening) begins to sing “The Song of Purple Summer” one of many incredible songs in this show. Everyone goes around saying what they think a Purple Summer might be, something I certainly wondered listening to the soundtrack all these years. The answer does come from Sater, and it is exactly as metaphoric and beautiful as one might imagine from the person who originated this brilliant show.
Watch Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known on HBO!