Don’t let the name “Spring Awakening” fool you, for this coming-of-age musical being performed at Bucks received a daring R-rating on its tickets and posters.

According to www.mtishows.com, which stands for Music Theatre International, the play takes place in 1891 Germany. It tells the story of a group of young teenagers exploring their sexuality, in a society that shelters them from doing so.

The play is written by Steven Sater and music by rock star, Duncan Sheik. With this dynamic duo, the musical managed to gain 8 Tony awards, including Best Musical.

Maia Van Valkenburgh, 19, Doylestown, who is also a communications major, actually decided to pick this play as the one to be used for the spring semester.

Van Valkenburgh felt, “…this play is revolutionary in nature, it breaks boundaries and opens the conversation about sex, domestic abuse, suicide, and all the dark topics.”

Within choosing the play, it was obvious she wanted to be in “Spring Awakening” but that is not the only reason. Van Valkenburgh directed a play of her own last semester, as well. The energy in the theater draws her back into staying in the drama club, which is her true passion.

Van Valkenburgh was honored with scoring the lead in “Spring Awakening”, with her role of Wendla. Wendla appears to be a young, naïve, teenage girl who knows very little about sex or the outside world.

Wendla is very sheltered by her parents, and is innocent. Though this play she grows and starts to learn some of the harsh realities of the outside world.

This is Van Valkenburgh’s first lead in a play. She acted a bit in high school but mainly got background roles. But as she become more confident in herself, she put her best foot forward and ended up get the lead part, and feels very blessed for the opportunity.

Jazmine Paches, 19, Warminister, who is a music major, also has a steady role within the play, as well. Her role is Martha. Martha is one of Wendla’s friends and there is more to her character that meets the eye.

Martha, is afraid of bad things happening to her. She is mysterious because she has a dark past that has to do with abuse. She helps Wendla learn about the world and that it is not always kind.

Within this she is a good support for Wendla because she takes her out of her usual comfort zone. Paches describes Martha as, “The fear within us all”.

Paches feels extremely passionate about the play because she feels the preforming is fantastic and since she missed the fall semester play, she wanted to get back in the swing of things.

She thinks that even though this is a musical, it is different. She claims, “Musicals sometimes tend to be over dramatic, but this musical is not. It is emotional and very free-spirited.”

Paches also insists that, “It gets you in the right mood you want to be in at the right time, it takes you to another place.”

Sarena Harmon, 19, Levittown, majoring in Film and Cinema plays the third of Wendla’s friends named Anna. Anna represents the group’s conscious, easily able to decipher right from wrong which acts as guidance for the other two, Wendla and Martha.

Harmon adds her own opinion to the coming-of-age play, “It is raunchier than anything I have seen before. It takes chances and tests boundaries.”

Within this play Harmon feels she has grown closer with the cast as they fill in the big shoes of this Tony-award winning musical.

And lastly we have the show’s director, Stephanie Lafferty, 19, Warminster, and is a music major.

Lafferty was initially shocked by the play and its content but was very excited to make her debut as a director for the play.

Van Valkenburgh decided to take a break from directing and Lafferty spontaneously took a chance and decided to direct “Spring Awakening”

Lafferty is slowing gaining the ropes and figuring out what it means to be a director. She says, “It can be stressful at times but it is extremely fun.”

She finds it extremely fascinating to have a vison in her head of what the play will be like and move it in that direction.

Since the cast and crew are all very close, she finds it more comfortable that her first directing gig is among friends.

“Spring Awakening”, the R-rated musical, will be appearing May 12, 13, and 14. Doors open at 6:30p and the show starts at 7p.

Tickets are sold at the door and at bucks.edu/tickets. It is $10 for students and $12 for general admission.