HSU’s Theatre, Film and Dance Department presents “Avenue Q,” the triple Tony Award-winning play and coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. The production opens Friday, Oct. 20.
The hilarious musical is notable for the use of puppets, animated by unconcealed puppeteers, alongside human actors. It tells the timeless story of a bright-eyed college grad named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account, he has to move into a shabby apartment all the way out on Avenue Q.
“It is such a good time,” says Director Rae Robison, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts. “We need to laugh now. We need to laugh a lot. But this show is more than funny—it’s one of the top three Tony winning musicals of all time for its brilliant score and script and it will make you happy and humming those tunes as you leave the theatre. And where else will you see a puppet stripper on a pole and full puppet nudity?”
The show is about “figuring your way as an adult in the world,” Robison says. “It’s about finding your purpose in life. And it’s about surrounding yourself with supporting people to help you in that journey.”
With 2,534 Broadway performances, “Avenue Q” was conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty.
The production contains adult language, content, and humor and is generally for high school age and above.
Music direction is by Music Professor Elisabeth Harrington. The band features Music Department staff member John Chernoff, students Tyler Snyder and Zach Pitnick, and HSU alumni Jeremy Cotton and Liam Rand.
“Avenue Q” opens Friday, Oct. 20 and continues Oct. 21, 27, and 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre on campus. Two matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 22 and 29.
General admission is $15. Student and seniors are $10. Lot parking is free on weekends. For tickets, please call 707-826-3928 or visit the Center Arts website. For more information, call 707-826-3566.