Actors’ Congratulates Addison Reid Coe on His Role in “West Side Story”

Addison Reid Coe with Maggie Nye in “Spring Awakening,” Dec. 2012. Photo Credit: Moments in Life Photography.

Actors’ patrons will remember Addison Reid Coe from last year’s production of Spring Awakening. Addison will be playing Tony in the upcoming national tour of West Side Story.

For more information, check out this article on mlive.com by John Liberty:

KALAMAZOO, MI — If anyone is waiting to buy tickets to see the revival of“West Side Story” come through Miller Auditorium, you may want to act soon.

One of the show’s stars,Addison Reid Coe, is a native of Rochester and a graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids. During a phone interview with Coe from his home in New York City, the 25-year-old actor said his mom bought around 80 tickets to both shows on Nov 13-14.

Coe, who also has performed with the Grand Rapids Actors Theatre, Calvin College Theater Company and the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, among others, said she purchased enough tickets for friends, family and “everyone in between.” The Kalamazoo performance will be the only one in Michigan for the tour. Coe, who will play Tony, said he’ll be “energized in a different way” for the West Michigan performances. (…)

Read the complete article and get information on the performance in Kalamazoo on www.mlive.com.

Actors’ presents the provocative musical “Spring Awakening”

On The Town Magazine published an article about Spring Awakenings.  Here’s an excerpt:

Actors’ presents the provocative musical “Spring Awakening”

By Katerie Prior | On-the-Town

More than friends: Addison Reid Coe as Melchior and Maggie Nye as Wendla. Photo Credit: Joanne N. Bailey-Boorsma

“You’re at one of the best times of your life.” It’s a statement that adults often say to teens unwittingly. At any age over thirty, you’re bound to look back at your teenage years and remember feeling young and carefree, all while forgetting the bewilderment and sometimes anguish the move from childhood to adulthood sometimes caused. This is the theme of Spring Awakening, a musical performing this month at Actors’ Theatre.

The play centers on Moritz and Melchior, two teens dealing with school, struggling with their parents’ expectations, and experiencing their own physical yearnings for the opposite sex for the first time. After Melchior has a fateful night with his crush, a naïve girl named Wendla, and Moritz fails his final exam, the friends make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

Originally written in 1890, Spring Awakening criticized what playwright Frank Wedekind saw as an overly conservative streak in nineteenth century German culture. Since then, this provocative play has been produced multiple times, with productions often being banned or closed early due to outcry over the content.

All of that changed in 2006 when singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik and lyricist Steven Sater adapted the work as an off-Broadway musical. It was a runaway hit, and that same year Spring Awakening moved to Broadway where it was lauded by critics and earned numerous awards.

(…)

Check out the rest of the article, here on www.mlive.com. Spring Awakening runs through December 17th. Go to www.atgr.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

“Spring Awakening” in The Collegiate

Check out this article in GRCC’s The Collegiate about Spring Awakening:

Actors’ Theatre presents ‘Spring Awakening’ at Spectrum Theater
By Matthew Waldrep
A&E Editor

Actors’ Theatre of Grand Rapids is presenting the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” at Spectrum Theater.

Set in Germany during the late 19th century, “Spring Awakening” tells the tale of several teenagers exploring their misunderstood sexual desires amidst the challenges of transitioning into adulthood.  As an adaptation of the 1891 play of the same name by playwright Frank Wedekind, playwright Steven Sater and Composer Duncan Sheik create a postmodern retelling of the controversial play.  The title itself alludes to the angst-ridden teens’ ‘awakening’ and discovering their sexual nature.

For starters, this show is by no means your traditional Rodgers and Hammerstein-esc song and dance production.  Directed by the award winning founder of Actors’ Theatre, Fred Sebulske, the songs of “Spring Awakening” carry inescapable rock and roll energy.  The anthematic cry of sexual frustration, “The Bitch of Living,” performed by the entire cast, begs for head-bob from the audience, if not a head-bang.  The alt-rock score for a story about late 19th century students in Germany sets quite the juxtaposition while also feeling strangely relevant.  You soon forget that it’s wrong for the period and realize that it’s right for the themes.

(…)

Check out the rest of the article on The Collegiate.

To get more information on show times and tickets for Spring Awakening, go to www.atgr.org

Only Two More Weekends to see Spring Awakening: The Musical

Photo credit: Moments in Life Photography

With rave reviews and many audience members coming back for a 2nd (and even 3rd!) look at Spring Awakening, seats for the remaining two weekends are selling fast!

Though it’s a busy time of year for many, audiences – young and old – are making time to attend this “must-see” production.  Here’s what a few who’ve already seen the show have had to say:

“this was a great performance and I tell everyone I know they need to go and see it!!!”
–via Facebook

“Great show! Again amazed at the talent we have in this town!”
-via Facebook

I’m speechless…..no I’m not! What a great show, amazing cast, direction, choreography. Grand Rapids – Go See This Show!
-via Facebook

This week we are offering a mid-week special on remaining seats for the next two Thursday performances.  Use coupon code “HOTSTUFF” (no quotes) online when you purchase your seats and receive 25% off seats for the remaining Thursday night performances – a savings of over $6 per ticket on center orchestra seats! Don’t delay as this offer expires at 5PM on December 8th…

Photo Credit: Moments in Life Photography

Here’s what last week’s Grand Rapids Press had to say about the production:

“‘Spring Awakening,’ which opened Thursday at Actors’ Theatre, is as hot and seductive as the hormone-happy passions it depicts.”
– The Grand Rapids Press

The Spectrum Theater box office is open Monday through Friday from 1PM to 5PM and through 8PM on nights of performance.  The theater and box office are located at 160 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids.  All performances begin at 8PM.  If tickets for a performance remain, student RUSH seating is available for $10 beginning 45 minutes prior to curtain. A valid student ID (or proof of age if under 18) is required.

To purchase tickets for remaining performances through the box office call (616) 234-3946 today!  Tickets may also be purchased online at www.atgr.org.

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Actors’ Theatre is committed to providing West Michigan with the best in entertaining, innovative, challenging, and thought-provoking theatre.

We believe in the inclusion of all.

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Interview with Cast of “Spring Awakening”

Last week Shelly Irwin of WGVU interviewed members of the cast of Spring Awakening.  There is still time to catch the interview if you missed it:

Click here to listen to the interview.

Don’t forget – this production runs 2 more weekends!  Dec. 8 – 10 and Dec. 15 -17.  All shows are at 8 PM.  To learn more about Spring Awakenings, or to purchase tickets, go to www.atgr.org