Spring Awakening

Reimagining the 2006 hit for 2023, the Watering Hole Collective invited audiences to dive into the deeper messages of sexual awakening, youthful rebellion, and self-discovery present in this beautiful piece. Our outreach goals for this production were to leave our audience with more information and resources about the difficult issues in the play, specifically those involving sex education and teen mental health.

Our talkbacks featured experts from Healthy Futures of Texas, Grant Halliburton Foundation, and other mental health professionals who guided meaningful conversations.

This production’s ticket sales benefited Healthy Futures of Texas, The Grant Halliburton Foundation, and Dallas Hope Charities.

  • photography by Mark Quach and Mac Welch

The show’s impact

Thanks to the help of our generous donors, our first production was a resounding success. We raised over $70,000 and 70% of that went directly into the hands of the artists we hired.

We also proudly raised awareness and funds for our non profit collaborators. The talkbacks were well attended and full of meaningful conversations. Every night we were moved by the audience participants’ willingness to be open, personal, and discuss the difficult issues of the play.

"I felt lucky to be in the room, I felt like the mission of the show more fully aligned with why I want to perform and create, more than most productions."

— Cast Member

"I didn't realize I didn't teach my children everything they needed to know about sex."

— Audience Member

Enjoy the Spring Awakening Sizzle Reel.

Cast and crew

  • Co-Directors: CLAIRE LYON & MAC WELCH

    Music and Vocal Direction: OLIVIA DE GUZMAN

    Movement Direction: EMILY BERNET

    Lighting Design: RYAN BURKLE

    Sound Design: CLAUDIA JENKINS MARTINEZ

    Costume Design: D'MARIEL JONES

    Construction Coordinator: TRAVIS WALTERS

    Costume Assistant: MORGAN EDEN

    Intimacy Direction: BRADLEY ATUBA

    Assistant Director: CAS KAMPFSCHULTE

  • Executive Producer: LAURA SALVIE

    Stage Manager: JENNY DANG

    Assistant Stage Manager: JUDE BARAMORE

  • Wendla Bergmann: EMMA COLWELL

    Ilse Neumann: EMMA DE LA PAZ

    Martha Bessell: BRIANNA WOODS

    Anna: DEIRDRE WOLF

    Thea: KENNEDY EAGLETON

    Marianna: ELLA SCHRACK-MCPHEE

    Adult Female: SARAH COMLEY CALDWELL

    Melchior Gabor: EDWARD MICHAEL ESCAMILLA

    Moritz Stiefel: ESTEBAN VILCHEZ

    Ernst Robel: DOMINIC PECIKONIS

    Hanschen Rilow: MATTY RAFANELLI

    Georg Zirschnitz: MAX ROSE

    Otto Lammermeier: JONAH TAYLOR

    Adult Male: JEFF BURLESON

  • Conductor: OLIVIA DE GUZMAN

    Keyboard: CODY DRY

    Guitar/Bass: JESSE RAMIREZ

    Percussion: MICHAEL PTACIN