Spring Awakening Character Breakdown
Below are the character breakdowns for the Spring Awakening characters.
NOTE: Due to the mature content in this show, you must be 16 years or older at the time of the audition to be considered.
YOUNG ADULTS
A) GIRLS
Wendla Bergman (Pop Soprano) Age: 18+ A sweet, but naive young girl who is trapped in her family’s unwillingness to teach her about the adult world, but with every passing day, she grows bolder and more curious about the her body. Both vulnerable and a willing participant in her evolution.
Ilse Neumann (Pop Soprano/Belter) 18+ Beautiful and mature looking. A misguided young girl who runs away from an abusive home to live in an artists’ colony. Kind and resilient while also broken and stuck in a cycle of abuse. There is a strong emotional connection between Ilse and Moritz; perhaps in another life they could have been happy together.
Martha Bessell (Alto/Belter) Age: 16+ One of Wendla’s friends who is abused by her father, and she keeps the worst of the abuse to herself. She has a crush on Moritz, and is chastised by the other girls for it. Best friend of Anna and protective of her.
Anna (Mezzo-Soprano) 16+ A kind school girl and Martha’s best friend. She is more aware of injustice than the other girls and recognizes that what happens to Wendla is wrong. Has a secret crush on Martha.
Thea (Alto) 16+ A confrontational school girl and Wendla’s best friend. Outwardly believes the adults but secretly questions the blind faith demanded of her. Does not want to rock the boat. Mistrusts Hanschen.
Ensemble Girls (Various Voice Parts) 16+ There are 6 ensemble girls.
B) BOYS
Melchior Gabor (Bari-Tenor) 18+ A headstrong, smart and charismatic schoolboy. He knows much more than the others because of what he reads in books and is able to see the corruption in society. His radical points of view about most things are correct but misunderstood. He falls in love with Wendla.
Moritz Stiefel (Tenor) 16+ Melchior’s intense and nervous best friend. He has an overwhelming confusion relating to sexual feelings, which seems comedic at first, but quickly develops into a serious issue for him. The system has failed him. Highly sensitive and aware of his inability to fit into the system. Feels like a failure. One of the childhood four: Wendla, Melchior, Moritz and Ilse.
Hänschen Rilow (Tenor) 16+ A cunning and attractive schoolboy, who manipulates the other students, especially Ernst, whom he seduces. Like Melchior, he also appears to be very intelligent, but uses his knowledge in favor of the system.
Ernst Röbel (Bari-Tenor) 16+ A sweet and naive classmate. He is Hänschen’s love interest.
Georg Zirschnitz (Tenor) 16+ A hormonal schoolboy who lusts after his older, busty piano teacher.
Otto Lämmermeier (Bari-Tenor) 16+ Another schoolboy who has a disturbing dream about his mother.
Ensemble Boys (Various Voice Parts) 16+ There are 6 ensemble boys
THE ADULTS
NOTE: Each adult plays multiple roles.
Woman 1 (Mezzo-Soprano) 40+
Frau Bergman: Wendla’s mother
Fräulein Knuppeldick: an associate of Headmaster Knochenbruch Frau Bessell: Martha’s mother
Woman 2 (Mezzo-Soprano) 40+
Fräulein Grossebüstenhalter: Georg’s piano teacher
Fanny Gabor: Melchior’s mother
Man 1 (Bari-Tenor) 40+
Herr Sonnenstich: a schoolteacher
Herr Stiefel: Moritz’s father
Schmidt: the abortionist
Herr Neumann: Ilse’s Father
Man 2 (Bari-Tenor) 40+
Headmaster Knochenbruch: the boys’ school headmaster