Gender, identity, adulthood in Silent House’s Spring Awakening

Coblentz has starred in or directed Waco Civic Theater and Silent House productions such as “Silent Sky,” “Ordinary Days” and “Betrayal” since arriving in Waco two years ago. She said the cherry on top of Silent House’s directorial effort came from the company’s acting and production talent.

“These are the most talented people in Waco. They amaze me every day,” she said.

The 2006 Tony Award-winning musical by composer Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater updates German playwright Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play about students coming of age in a tightly controlled school environment and society with catchy rock music.

Coblentz connected deeply with her music and lyrics following the death of a best friend and finds that it still retains its emotional power.

The musical focuses on three characters and their personal struggles with gender, identity and adulthood. Melchior (Collin Selman) is a bright post-pubescent student, irritated by authoritarian teachers. Classmate Moritz (Nick Marquez) struggles with erotic dreams and parental expectations. Wendla (Elaine Sury) finds her mother and other adults less than helpful as she tries to learn about sex.

The three, along with their classmates and friends, discover that the struggle with sex, love and meaning takes them into dark territories of teenage pregnancy, physical abuse, incest and suicide – Silent House therefore gives its production a rating equivalent to R – before arriving at a consciousness of their adulthood.

There are lessons for adults in the story as well, Coblentz noted, with many of them seeing the consequences of not listening to their children or being honest with them.

The director worked with her 20 actors to unify the different individual stories. “We make sure we’re all telling the same story,” she said. Lauren Weber, who directed the music for a 2017 production of “Spring Awakening” at the Waco Civic Theater, served as intimacy coordinator for the cast, given the sexual themes and content of the musical.

The cast will sing with recorded accompaniment, with Melissa Lohr serving as musical director. Melanie Lambert-Wheat created the choreography, which Coblentz said makes the small stage at McLennan Community College’s Music and Theater Arts building seem larger than it is.

“Everyone is at the top of their game,” the director said.

“Spring Awakening” opens its six-performance run on Wednesday.