Photo Flash: First Look at Theatre UAB's SPRING AWAKENING

Musical theater students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are exploring a story of teenagers discovering the inner and outer tumults of sexuality in the controversial Tony Award-winning play "Spring Awakening." Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Theatre UAB, the performance company of the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Theatre, presents "Spring Awakening" from April 13-17. The production includes music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater and is directed by Head of Musical Theatre Valerie Accetta, MFA, with musical direction by Carolyn Violi.

This play is intended for mature audiences only. Tickets are $12 and $15, student tickets are $6, and UAB employee and senior citizen tickets are $10. Call 205-934-3236 or visit the department online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.

The musical "Spring Awakening," with music by Sheik and book and lyrics by Sater, was first presented on Broadway in 2006, Accetta says.

The cast features Seth Burgess of Birmingham as Melchior; Mark A. Nelson of Fort Payne as Moritz; Russell Alexander of Selma as Hanschen; Ben Lundy of Fairhope as Ernst;

Royzell Walker of Cincinnati, Ohio, as Georg; Brian Wittenberg of Johns Creek, Georgia, as Otto; Joey Parker of Kansas City, Missouri, as Male Swing; Madelyn Burrell of Birmingham as Wendla; Alicia Batterson of Columbus, Ohio, as Ilse; Eboni Booker of Toney as Martha; Meredith Morse of Westerville, Ohio, as Thea; Nicole Slaski of Hartland, Wisconsin, as Anna; Addie Counts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as Female Swing; Debbie Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Adult Female; and Professor of Theatre and Performance Dennis McLernon in all adult male roles.

The crew is stage manager Jessica Mathews of Hoover, and assistant stage managers are Irina Seale of Greenville and Rachel Walsh of Johns Creek, Georgia. UAB Costume Shop manager Sharon Morgan is designing the costumes for "Spring Awakening" as part of her University of Alabama MFA thesis project.

Photo Credit: Zachary Carpenter