Spring Awakening, Genesis Of

Franklin Wedekind (1864 –1918) was a German playwright. His work, which often criticizes bourgeois attitudes (particularly towards sex), is considered to anticipate expressionism and was influential in the development of epic theatre. Before 2006, Wedekind was best known for the "Lulu" cycle, a two-play series --Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, 1895) and Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box, 1904) -- centered on a young dancer/adventuress of mysterious origin. In 2006, a much lesser-known early play attained new prominence when it was adapted into a successful Broadway musical, Spring Awakening. The original Broadway production won eight Tony Awards, including Tonys for Best Musical, Direction, Book, Score and Featured Actor. The production also garnered four Drama Desk Awards, while its original cast album received a Grammy Award. In addition, the show was revived in 2015 on Broadway and garnered three Tony Award nominations, among other honors.