It’s not just the sex

Yes, Spring Awakening is the musical with the warning that it “contains strong sexual content, profanity, nudity.” What a shame if that’s how someone judges whether or not to see this mesmerizing show. Yes, the show does contain all of the above, but the “Awakening” in the title refers to the exhilarating, exciting, questioning and angst-ridden awakening of teens entering into adulthood. And, yes, that does include some sexual simulation. But it’s neither exploitive nor gratuitous, and is just one of the many issues teens grapple with in this timeless tale of self-discovery. Based on an 1891 play about a group of youths struggling in a repressed society, it’ll make you change your tune about “rock operas”—Duncan Sheik’s score is haunting, the choreography is hypnotic and the performances are memorable and heartbreaking.