Photos by Doug Catiller.

Written by Zack Johnston

One of Broadway’s grittiest and most celebrated musicals comes to Orange County in a carefully crafted, talent-driven production, limited only by its scale. The Tony-winning juggernaut Spring Awakening finds a home in Anaheim’s official resident theater company, Chance Theatre, with a formidable cast performing Duncan Sheik’s unforgettable score.

Story:

This coming-of-age tale, set in late 19th-century Germany, tells the story of a group of adolescents navigating their ever-changing relationships against the backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving society. It’s about the dangers of hypocrisy in a complex world that punishes nonconformity. The heavier tones aside, the musical is an energetic masterpiece filled with a sense of youthful rebellion and playful social satire.

Rather than be limited by the dated setting. Spring Awakening has commonly been a show where fidelity to the time period is cast aside. The music and lyrics strike right at the heart of modern teen spirit. And Chance Theater’s production, directed by Jocelyn A. Brown, finds its footing by focusing on that special quality.

Spring Awakening is one of those shows where the music is almost a character in its own right. Chance’s production takes this to heart, with many of the actors doubling as musicians. The band remains fully visible, allowing the music to shine through as it was meant to.

Acting:

James Michael McHale (Adult Man) delivers one of the night’s dual performances. Seamlessly transitioning between portraying multiple distinct characters and playing the bass guitar. Isabella Kaplan (Ilse) and Emma Magbanua (Martha) also make up the show’s orchestra while simultaneously playing in standout featured roles, with Magbanua on both the bass and flute.

Robyn Manion’s music direction creates this harmony between the songs and the performers, and it’s evident with the entire cast.

Corydon Melgoza (Melchior) and Kayley Stallings (Wendla) have some of the show’s best vocal performances. Their voices are pure music when they sing together in “The Word of Your Body,” and individually, they both completely shine throughout the show. Melgoza brings a quiet strength to Melchior and is perfectly suited for the role with a unique sense of courageous charm.

Stallings delivers a satisfying blend of Wendla’s naivete and her strong sense of will. She sheds layers to her character with every scene, and is simply stunning in songs like “Whispering.”

Choreography/Set/Lighting:

The larger ensemble numbers also stand out for their remarkable harmonies and showstopping choreography by Mo Goodfellow. Whether it’s a moment of dramatic tension or racy comedy, each performer comes with a fully present character adding their own unique fold to the story. As they weave in and off stage, we get to see these characters develop under the looming pressures of their young adulthood.

Bradley Kaye’s intimate scenic design is deceptively limiting at first glance, but the use of space proves otherwise. Tight corners and harsh intersecting lines create an intriguing backdrop when combined with Jacqueline Malenke’s lighting design. Heavy and direct washes of light reflect off the dull grayness and allows the space to transform scene by scene.

Review

8.8 Overall

0 Users (0 votes)

Story8.9

Acting9.1

Set & Design8.7

Costumes8.4

Entertainment8.8

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Great Show! OCR Recommended! July 11, 2025  —  August 10, 2025