Well Broadway’s new musical and eight-time Tony-Award winning show has come to the OC, playing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, with musical score by playwright Steven Sater and singer/songwriter, Duncan Sheik.

“Come with an open mind.” That’s what Sarah Hunt, the cast member I interviewed, told me. I consider myself pretty open-minded–I read up on the musical, I knew of the sex, the masturbation, and all the other taboos that were to come. So when I went to see the musical opening night I wasn’t shocked nor was I surprised by what was to come–yet it still moved me. Days after I was thinking about what exactly all happened on that stage, what the songs were really about, what I was supposed to walk away from it with. Basically I was feeling all the confusion, the mixed emotions the teenagers in Spring Awakening felt.

Feelings what every generation of teenagers feel–from 1891 when the play was originally written, to the 2009 production I saw, and before and after all of this, teenagers have and will still feel all this angst. You can call it cliche, you can call it timeless, but whatever you call it, it’s going to be there. It’s part of growing up. And the actors capture it exquisitely. It helps that most of the cast are teenagers themselves, or just recently coming out of those teenage years, giving them an understanding, yet also still that innocence–they themselves are at that awkward stage between naivete and experience. When they sing Duncan Sheik’s score, they sing it with all their heart and soul–you feel it down in your bones.

And although the songs are rock, and catchy enough you’ll hum some of them days later (for me it’s been The Bitch of Living–although I might be biased since the phrase “looks so nasty in those khakis” just was a real selling point for me), there is still a shadow of sadness accompanying every song. Which is fitting, because I feel more then being open to sexuality, one should be prepared for a dark musical–this isn’t Mary Poppins or Music Man–this is reality, sometimes worst case scenario, so don’t expect Spring Awakening to show the world through rose-colored glasses. The weight of it all didn’t hit me until it was all over. It’s a different from many musicals in the sense that it makes you think–most have you check your brain at the door, which isn’t a bad thing, sometimes it’s nice to just sit and watch fluff, but let it be known this isn’t that–this is a night where you’re going to look back at your own teenage years, whether that was yesterday or 40 years ago, whether it be fond remembrance or relief that they’re over with.

It’s been recommended for parents to go with their teenagers, and that can be a great idea, but be ready to talk after. If those years are far behind you, this will be a reminder of that youth and that you need to be prepared and prepare your teenager of what’s to come, but if you just came out of those years or maybe are smack in the middle of them, this will have a haunting effect, a warning if you will, that yes, enjoy the times, enjoy your innocence (and loss thereof) but with every decision, there’s consequences.

For me what remains the most shocking part is that fact that this musical is based on a 1891 play written by Frank Wedekind–and most of the the taboo topics were all there in the original. It was banned in Germany when it first was produced, not being performed until 1906. Why hadn’t I heard of this play sooner and why isn’t it in my bookshelf?

Whether you’ll enjoy it really depends on you–but if you’re open to a night of great rock songs that also have a deeper message, want an honest portrayal of teenage sex (you know, that everyone is thinking about it, and it happens, but it’s not like the movies) and are prepared to mull things over afterward, then you’ll appreciate Spring Awakening. Warning: The Duncan Sheik song, Barely Breathing will not be heard…whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is also up to you.

As we all know–and are excited about–Spring Awakening, Broadway’s hit musical has made it’s way to Orange County! One of the cast members, Sarah Hunt, has taken time to tell us about herself, the play, and to always keep an open mind.

Liesl Prentice: So first off, tell me a little about yourself, and your background with theatre.

Sarah Hunt: Well I was cast out of high school for Spring Awakening, so I was 17, and have been doing this for 1.5 years. I went to LaSalle High School in Oregon, graduated in ‘08 and after graduation left directly for NYC for rehearsal.

LP: Had you always known you wanted to be involved with theatre or performance?

SH: My sister, Nicole, who’s three years older and I would sing together at family and community events, we were called Sibling Rivalries, dorky I know. We had wanted to get into country music, but I knew my sister’s heart wasn’t in it, but for me, I knew I wanted a job that somehow involved performing.

LP: What was your first theatre performance?

SH: My first show was in 7th grade, in the musical Music Man. It was also my first kiss, which was awkward since I’m 5′10…and he was about 5′. But after that and all through high school I knew I wanted to be involved in theater. But I didn’t know how one went about that, how you got an agent, or anything like that. Then early on in my senior year, one of my high school teachers showed me the information about auditioning for Spring Awakening, and I said “are you crazy?” I didn’t know much about the musical and wasn’t going to go. Then two days before the audition I realized I was an idiot if I didn’t go, so that night I had a voice lesson so my teacher helped me put together something for the audition. I didn’t want to tell my mom about it, because I’m superstitious about those things, so I told her to write me a doctor’s note and I skipped school. But I was a straight A student and my mom knew it wasn’t like me to miss class so wanted to know what was up, that she knew I was lying. I told her I was auditioning for a part, but that’s all I was going to say, but I’d tell her afterward.  Then I went, made it through the first round of auditions, and eventually got the part.

LP: Which character are you, and what’s her story:

SH: My character is Martha. She isn’t the happiest character, she suffers from issues at home, and is abused by her father, and we find out in her song that she is molested by him. Some say Spring Awakening is taboo, but I just like to see it as honest. There is masturbation, sex and awesome rock music. It makes society look in a mirror and if you like what you see, then great, if not, then change it.

LP: What’s it been like touring?

SH: I’m having the time of my life. I told myself before I went that this will be an experience if nothing else, and you take what you can. It’s interesting to see how the audience reacts to the play. It’s not Mary Poppins, so they come in expecting one thing and then to see their response after they’ve seen it. Some, it’s not for them, others have come up and told us “thank you for telling my story.” Even if people don’t like it, it gets them thinking and talking.

LP: What is your favorite part about the play?

SH: One is the song, “My Junk”, a sweet song about who you love. The other is “Totally Fucked” which is so true–you have that moment when you’ve talked yourself into a corner and realize you’re fucked, and seeing it, we can all laugh about it. Moments like that make me  think it’s fantastic to have this job, that I’m so fortunate that I’m being paid to do this on stage. I get to sing about people who make me angry and I love it.

LP: Do you think the public here, in Orange County, is going to like it and/or well respond well to it?

SH: I hope so. When we were in LA we had a fabulous crowd and even in Sacramento where we were told it’s more conservative we got a positive response, so hopefully they’ll respond the same. Who doesn’t like rock music and angry teenagers? It’s a new twist on the musical, it’s a rock concert with a plot.

LP: Can you relate to the story?

SH: Absolutely, if I can’t personally relate to a story I have a friend or family who can relate; there’s nothing on stage that doesn’t really happen in life. I had a friends who got pregnant in high school and had to deal with it, and you know people who have bad family life and teachers who have their favorites and that cause stress for kids and kids struggle in school in finding themselves and it’s an awkward time. The fact that everyone on the stage is a teenager or just out of their teenage years makes it easy for them to relate to the awkwardness and the new ideas. Wendla [the female lead] asks what sex is, what these feelings are, and often you can’t go to your parents to guide you through this time and/or they aren’t there.

LP: Any advice for people seeing it for the first time?

SH: Come with an open mind, and be ready to be entertained. It’s funny, honest, a lot of rock, just a good night of theatre.

LP: Anything else you’d like to add?

SH: What’s interesting is that it’s based on a 1891 play that was banned in Germany, and it’s neat to see this dated show have the characters sing rock music  and to break scene to talk about what just happened, to say, “look at what’s going on.” It’s just a totally different take on the modern musical.