Spring Awakening is a sort of pop/rock musical following a group of teenagers in 1890s Germany as they struggle to cope with the physical and emotional trials of puberty. So basically, topics including wet dreams, masturbation, sex, pregnancy, suicide, physical and sexual abuse, and abortion. You know, easy stuff like that...Obviously the point here is that these aren't easy topics, not for the kids, and clearly not for the parents. And that's kind of the genius of it all. It's a show targeted at both groups simultaneously. A fun pop/rock tryst that feels naughty for the kids and provides all sorts of subject matter they can relate to, and a sort of blatant in-your-face wag of the finger to parents begging them to talk with their kids about the complexities of growing up and sexuality and anything else, really. Communication is vital to the healthy development of any child, and don't you forget it! Or else... And then we see all the bad that can happen when parents refuse to have all those important talks with their children.
It's a touring show, so if it comes to your area I would highly recommend a viewing, whether you're a parent, a teen, or neither... it's a great show. Just keep in mind, it does have mature content including some nudity and a fair bit of swearing to say nothing of the aforementioned themes. If you want a taste of the music and staging, there are plenty of videos on YouTube.
