Award-winning Director Carl Jordan has brilliantly directly Avenue Q, which
recently opened at Novato Theater Company. This outrageous romp features
both puppets and human actors and is known for its high energy naughty fun.
Most of the characters in the show are puppets operated by actors on stage.
Both the human characters and puppet characters sing. This musical is set in
several tenements on a street in New York City.
Avenue Q is an American musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and
Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff
Whitty. Avenue Q is a coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the
issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters
lament that, as children, they were assured by their parents and children’s
television programs, such as Sesame Street that they were “special” and
“could do anything,” but as adults, they have discovered to their surprise
and dismay that in the real world their options are limited, and they are no
more “special” than anyone else.
Avenue Q opened on Broadway in July 2003 where it won three Tony Awards,
including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book and rated 23rd on the list
of longest-running shows in Broadway history.
Director Carl Jordan has put together a wonderful cast and crew for Avenue
Q: Robert Nelson from Leading Ladies is fabulous as Princeton, and Melissa
Claire fields the show as Lucy. Dell Parker exhibits fine energy as Gary
Coleman. Set designer Michael Walraven has created a colorful inner city
with impressive lighting by Frank Sarubbi. Special credit goes to Mary
Nagler who has done magical work with the creation of the puppets. Musical
Director Monica Norcia keeps the Avenue Q band moving at a brisk pace.
Avenue Q is a real treat for all of us – and judging by the warm welcome of
the house – will have a successful run.
Avenue Q will run from October 10 to November 9, 2014, at the Novato Theater
Playhouse, 5420 Nave Drive, Suite C, in Novato.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2
p.m. For tickets, go online to www.novatotheatercompany.org or call 415
883-4498.
Coming up next at NTC will be “Inspecting Carol” by Daniel Sullivan, from
November 29 through December 20, 2014.
