Wedekind's "Spring Awakening" - A Miniseries

My journey adapting Frank Wedekind's play for television

[the-academic-actress]

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Creative update - see this Insta post for details. I’m also changing my Tumblr username! ☺️

[wedekinds-wendla]

From my other account!

[wedekinds-wendla]

currently reworking my miniseries into a play script/an audio drama - I'm so looking forward to eventually sharing my work with you all!! :)

[wedekinds-wendla]

In honor of spring officially beginning, here's another update: I'm adapting my miniseries into an audio drama to whet people's appetites for the stage play version! :)

[wedekinds-wendla]

Update — I’m adapting my miniseries into a stage play (much more info to come later), and I casually asked ChatGPT to give me some suggestions for staging the hayloft scene, because it’s a sensitive moment, obvs. Some of its ideas were, shall we say, interesting — see below:

4. Blocking: Position the actors in a way that emphasizes the power dynamics between them, with Melchior and Wendla at the center of the scene and other characters positioned around them to create a sense of voyeurism.

[. . .]

6. Choreography: Plan the physical interactions between characters carefully to convey the tension and desire underlying their exchanges, while also respecting the boundaries of each actor.

[. . .]

7. Audience Perspective: Consider staging the scene in such a way that the audience feels like they are witnessing something private and forbidden, heightening the emotional impact.

Voyeurism? Tension and desire? Private and forbidden? Sounds like it’s romanticizing a problematic moment, & it’s creepy, like Steven Sater’s quote “We wanted to see him make love to her.” Seriously, ChatGPT, do better! 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄😂

[wedekinds-wendla]

Made a couple of phone wallpapers featuring two of my fave lines from the revised miniseries (using my own translation) — the first quote’s from Wendla, and the second’s from Hänschen.

[wedekinds-wendla]

Just had the realization that the angsty lyrics of “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes basically sum up the mindset of all the kids in Spring Awakening. 

[wedekinds-wendla]

I especially enjoyed listening to this playlist while working on my revised scripts. Check out Campbell Fauber on Spotify (and on Insta at @playlistsbycampbellfauber - she's very music-savvy.

[wedekinds-wendla]

Script Update:

On the advice of a wise friend, I rewrote all three miniseries episodes using my own paraphrase (based on the 1917 public domain English translation and sections of the original German text which I entered into Google Translate). Just finished it, in fact. :)

[wedekinds-wendla]

Update:

I've decided to produce my Spring Awakening miniseries myself - Wedekind self-published the play in 1891, so there's definitely a precedent! :)

[the-academic-actress]

Can we talk about how disgusting and disturbing it is when you’re watching a bootleg of some production of Spring Awakening (usually this happens with one of the Broadway versions or the National Tours) and some grown man in the audience is laughing almost lecherously (it sounds like a gross chuckle) during “My Junk,” specifically during Hanschen’s self-pleasuring? I get that some people find it amusing (personally I’m not a fan), but there’s a difference between amused laughter and vulgar, leering laughter, and that crass mirth is completely uncalled for - it sounds voyeuristic and exploitative.

@kentucky-fried-thea @totallytrucked @someplayfromthepast @faeriewendla @barrel-of-screaming-aloe-vera @eathernitty @mattwife-mattnipulate-mattsplain @come-see-our-show @hanschenapologist @aprilcotx @floatin-high-and-blue @jehans-flower-pot @@blue-wind-gets-so-bare @class-of-1891 Any thoughts, friends? Feel free to leave comments - is it just me, or do others feel the same?

[the-academic-actress]

A third short film adapted from my Spring Awakening miniseries, starring my brilliant friend Merit as Mrs. Bergmann, and yours truly as Wendla.

@kentucky-fried-thea

[the-academic-actress]

It’s here: another short film I adapted from my three-episode miniseries of Wedekind’s Spring Awakening — my immensely talented friend Logan played Moritz, and I was Ilse. Enjoy!

@kentucky-fried-thea - hope you like this! :)

[wedekinds-wendla]

Friends, I need your help. Here’s a quick summary, in case you’re a newcomer to my blogs: I’ve adapted Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening (as translated by Jonathan Franzen) into a three-episode miniseries, and I plan on pitching it to production companies. In addition, I adapted and acted in three short films based on the miniseries; these films are meant to serve as tastebud teasers for what the full, finished work might look like. 

First, my friends and I made Spring Awakening - A Short Film, abridged from Act 1, Scene 3, in which Wendla (played by me), Martha, and Thea discuss their crushes.

The next film was Moritz and Ilse, an adaptation of Act 2, Scene 7, a.k.a. Moritz’s pre-suicide scene, specifically when he encounters Ilse (yours truly). 

The third short film was In Order To Have A Child, adapted from Act 2, Scene 2, wherein Mrs. Bergmann gives Wendla (again, moi) her version of the facts of life. This film and Moritz and Ilse will hopefully be available on YouTube sometime soon. 

Here’s where you come in: I’m trying to generate interest on TikTok, especially among my fellow theatre lovers, so I’d be extremely grateful if you’d please spread the word to like-minded souls, and give me a follow there, if you have an account — here’s the link for my profile:

https://www.tiktok.com/@izzy_rose_actress?_t=8ZvC7TrwGcM&_r=1

Love you, my dears!! 😘💕

[wedekinds-wendla]

My friend bought me some laundry detergent because of the scent name.

I love it!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[wedekinds-wendla]

Today (January 21st) is the feast day of St. Agnes, in the Catholic Church. She’s been one of my favorite saints ever since I was little (for those of you who don’t know, I’m Catholic), so it makes me happy.

As a Wedekind aficionado, I’d also like to mention the reference Hansy makes to her in the “Desdemonalogue”:

HANSY. [. . .] My heart is breaking — nonsense! — Even Saint Agnes died for her restraint, and she wasn’t half as naked as you!

[wedekinds-wendla]

When I found this image in my old undergrad theatre history textbook today, I shrieked with excitement - it's a set design for the vineyard scene in the original 1906 production of Spring Awakening, directed by Max Reinhardt.

I found a clearer version online, in the Max Reinhardt Archive (source).

I adore the intricate details!

[wedekinds-wendla]

Posted this today on my main Insta account (my handle is @iazar):

Had a marvelous time last night (dinner at The Beauty Shop, then dessert at my home) with some of my short film group members — pictured in the first photo, from left to right: Logan (the Moritz to my Ilse), Sean (our superb videographer), Merit (who played my mother Mrs. Bergmann), and yours truly. Loads of laughter ensued!! 🤣