The Department of Theatre & Dance Department will present the indie rock musical “Spring Awakening” April 23-26 and April 30 through May 3 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

“Spring Awakening,” based on the play by Frank Wedekind, features a score by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater.

It won six Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards, and catapulted the careers of stars Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff.

Like the original play, the musical, set in Germany at the end of the 19th century, offers dramatic criticisms of the bourgeoisie's warped sense of morals and values, the authoritarian school system and lack of sexual education. After Wedekind completed the play in 1891 and published it, it was immediately rejected by censors and blacklisted. No one dared to produce it until 1906, when Max Reinhart agreed to direct the first production.

The UB production is directed by Nathan R. Matthews, director of music theatre and theatre performance. Choreography is by Jon Lehrer, founder and artistic director of LehrerDance, adjunct instructor in the Department of Theatre & Dance, and a UB dance alumnus.

Tickets for “Spring Awakening” are $20 for general admission and $10 for students from any school and seniors, and may be purchased at the CFA box office and at tickets.com.