Natick Locals Gabi Samels and Thales Karatsolis in Walnut Hill’s "Spring Awakening"

Natick, MA – Gabi Samels and Thales Karatsolis, both of Natick, will take the stage as part of the ensemble of Walnut Hill School for the Arts’ spring production of Spring Awakening the Musical. Samels will play the role of naïve and sheltered schoolgirl Anna, who along with the other teens in the show attempts to break free of oppression and explore the mature realities of the world. Karatsolis will play several of the adult male characters in the production. 

Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaptation of German playwright Frank Wedekind’s 19th century expressionist play of the same name. Set to music by Duncan Sheik, the show explores the trials, tribulations, and exhilarations of the teenage years. The original Broadway production won eight Tony Awards, as well as four Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy (for the cast album). 

Samels, a senior at Walnut Hill, was most recently seen on the Walnut Hill stage in the leading role of Lenny in Crimes of the Heart. She has also been in a number of other Walnut Hill productions including How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (featured ensemble); Sorry, Wrong Number (Operator); A New Brain (featured ensemble); Anything Goes (featured ensemble), and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (various roles). In addition to performing, Samels has been taken voice and dance lessons for the past five years, and has taught singing and drama at the YMCA’s Camp Frank A. Day. She works at Walnut Hill’s Fitness Center and is Co-Head of the Walnut Hill Admission Guides organization. 

Karatsolis is currently a junior theater major at Walnut Hill and has previously received arts training at Long Lake Camp for the Arts. He performed the role of Chrysale in Walnut Hill’s winter production of Molière’s The Learned Ladies and has also performed in Annie Jr. (Daddy Warbucks) and Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik) in Doha, Qatar before coming to Natick.

To purchase tickets for Spring Awakening running May 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8:00pm and May 11, 17, and 18 at 2:00pm at the Keiter Center for the Performing Arts, please visit: http://ticketstage.com/walnuthill. 

Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an international leader in the education of young artists. The school combines renowned training in five core disciplines - creative writing, dance, music, theater, and visual art - with an innovative and rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Learn more at walnuthillarts.org.