JB
Jessica Becker
  • Musical Theatre
  • Class of 2014
  • Carolina Beach, NC

Jesica Becker of Wilmington, NC To Perform as Ilse in William Peace Theatre’s Production of Spring Awakening

2014 Feb 11

William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, has announced that William Peace Theatre will open its spring 2014 semester with the Tony Award-wining rock musical production, Spring Awakening, made possible through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. The musical, which is based on the controversial German play Spring Awakening (1891) by Frank Wedekind, features music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater. Set in late-19th century Germany, the musical tells the story of teenagers discovering the inner and outer tumult of sexuality. The performance will run from Thursday, February 13 through Saturday, February 22 at Leggett Theatre in the Main building. The production will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night with a special matinee performance on February 22 at 2:00 p.m.

Jessica Becker, a Wilmington, NC native and a class of 2014 B.F.A Musical Theatre student, will be playing “Ilse” in Spring Awakening. Jessica has performed in nine productions during her college career; a few of her favorites include Cabaret, Circle, Mirror Transformation, Into The Woods and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

William Peace Theatre’s performance of Spring Awakening is directed by Jason Dula, M.S. Ed., Interim Co-Director and Professor of Musical Theatre. “I am really excited to get to do Spring Awakening with this group of students,” Dula said. “They are pouring their hearts and souls into this piece and it has been such an amazing journey to take with them. I am so proud to see how far they have come, as not only artists but also as people. I hope that audiences will leave the theatre not only moved, but also enlightened. This show does not advocate the behavior or choices of these characters, but shows the consequences of teens trying to deal with issues without proper communication with parents and adults. This show is different than anything we have ever done here at WPU, and I am glad I could be a part of this beautiful show with this amazing group of kids.”

Ticket costs for the general public will be $5-$18. Tickets for shows can be purchased online at http://www.peace.edu/event/219-william-peace-theatre-spring-awakening.

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About William Peace University:

William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women’s college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor’s students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women's institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and began admitting male students to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, please visit http://www.peace.edu.