Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Arts & Extras: 'Avenue Q' rolls into Roanoke
Courtesy of "Avenue Q"
Arts & Extras column
Mike Allen, arts columnist
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When it comes to controversial puppets, Roanoke is on a roll.
First came ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his gamut of politically incorrect dummies.
And now, there's "Avenue Q," the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash that presents a decidedly adult spin on "Sesame Street," complete with what press materials call "full puppet nudity."
The musical follows the fortunes of a puppet named Princeton, a college graduate who moves to New York City with big ambitions and no money. As with "Sesame Street," some of his neighbors are human, some are puppets and some are monsters -- including Kate Monster, the kindergarten teaching assistant who becomes Princeton's love interest.
In "Avenue Q," the puppeteers are visible on stage, but only the puppets themselves interact directly with the human cast members. Though performed as a slapstick comedy, the production tackles many modern anxieties, and songs from the show such as "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" have gone viral on YouTube.
"Avenue Q" debuted on Broadway in 2003 and the next year took home Tony Awards for best musical, best book and best score. It closed on Broadway in September. The original cast included veteran puppeteers from "Sesame Street," though the musical's producers took great pains to clarify that it has no connection whatsoever to the venerable children's program.
"Avenue Q" promoters recommend it for adults and mature teenagers, ages 13 and up.
-- Mike Allen
What: "Avenue Q" When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday Where: Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre Tickets: $29.50-$52 Info: 853-5483; roanokeciviccenter.com
Note: The Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre will hold a "Broadway Buffet" at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets $30 (not included in price of admission).
