The 2007 hit musical Spring Awakening has claimed January 18th, 2009 as its closing date. The show has acquired 8 Tony’s during its 3 year run on Broadway, and is one of the best musicals on stage today.
The original Spring Awakening, written by Frank Wedekind in 1891 was considered to be terribly controversial. Set in Germany in the late nineteenth century, the story revolves around teenagers as they discover sexuality and all that it entails. Rape, abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation are some of the many important issues Spring Awakening covers.
The music, written by the amazing Duncan Sheik, brings this story to life through rock-n-roll. The tunes are catchy, the story is both hilarious and moving, and the 18th is going to creep up on you quickly so hurry up and get a ticket.
The experimental pop band Xiu Xiu, which is pronounced shoe-shoe, will be playing tonight, Wednesday the 19th, at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. They released their sixth album this year titled, Women As Lovers. Singer songwriter Jamie Stewart formed the band in 2000 and took the name from the Chinese film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, which translates into “heaven bath”. This 1998 film, about a 15 year old girl who learns about life and love through a corrupted government where she is forced to submit her body for the sexual pleasure of officials, is not far swaying from the issues Stewart sings through his lyrics. Poetry of suicide, war, love, lovelessness, and aids are woven into sounds of ambient noise and modern classical instrumentation. In regards to their pop influence Jamie Stewart says, “all the songs are about sadness and trying to dance it away.”
