Take a Stroll Down to Avenue Q at PACA
Hit musical deals with real life lessons the way only puppets can
BEGINNING THURSDAY, NOV. 14
Gen X and younger have historically learned a lot from puppets. Counting, reading, and sharing have been pretty standard fare for puppet-based shows targeting a young audience for decades. But what if similar puppets could teach more adult lessons once a generation of children moves into adulthood? That's the primary theme of Avenue Q, a parody of those children's shows that so many of us remember so fondly, packaged for grown-ups. The show, written by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (composer Book of Mormon, Frozen, Coco), was a Broadway hit for over six years, winning multiple Tony Awards, before closing in 2009. Now, you can see a local rendition right here in Erie, at PACA, playing for seven shows this month.
Co-collaborators KC McCloskey and B.J. Waide, with cast and crew, have been pitching in on so many different things, in so many different ways, that as of press time they aren't sure exactly how the contributions will be playbilled. Per McCloskey, "B.J. Waide stepped up to direct, and through that it's become a true collaborative process, with the cast helping out with all the pieces, with directing, vocals, costumes, puppets, etc. We haven't, as a group, quite figured out how to bill the production because of that." McCloskey adds, "I think it's just important to highlight coming together and the collaborative process. They've all been so awesome and pitched in and I can't express my gratitude enough. They all deserve so much credit." B.J. Waide agrees, "It is 100 percent a collab and doing that makes the work more personal for the entire cast. Having your thoughts and ideas actually heard and utilized is an entirely different animal."
Working with puppets presents additional and unique challenges. "I've never worked with puppets before," says Waide. "I keep telling everyone that the puppet is the character and they are one unit," she says. McCloskey adds, "We have a blend of people who've worked with puppets and people who haven't. It's been a fun challenge for everyone learning how they work and how to best present themselves and their puppets."
When asked to describe this show, McCloskey explained, "It highlights the struggle of trying to find your place in the world, navigating relationships, friendships, financial struggles, racism, and the importance of being able to live in the present and be true to yourself. It's funny, touching, and raunchy." Waide adds, "When people come to see this amazing show I want them to understand that even though it touches on real topics, it is 'PC' fun that ribs everyone. No class or culture is harmed in the making of the show."
Note from the cast and crew: this is an adult production with adult content, language, and situations
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 14 through 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m. // 1505 State St., 2nd Fl. // $20 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com
