A couple of months ago we ran two puppetry performance workshops in Toowoomba for local actors to learn some puppetry skills in preparation to audition for Shoebox Theatre Company’s production of Broadway puppet musical Avenue Q. This workshop made the local newspapers and Channel Seven News!
Having trained a few casts of Avenue Q over the years we were delighted to teach some new people the skills required to bring this wonderful production to life with good puppetry.
Now that the auditions are over, the show has been cast and all the puppets have been built (by Scott Richards at Maxx Puppets) and assigned to the cast members, we are running a revision puppetry workshop for them. We will run through all the basics like lip sync, eye focus, walking and arm movements, and then we’ll analyse specific scenes from the show and help with any specific puppetry queries they might have.
I love Avenue Q. I first saw the show when an Australian and New Zealand touring production came to QPAC in 2010. I’ve seen the off-Broadway production in New York City twice (the second time we were lucky enough to be taken on a backstage tour to meet all the puppets and have a look at the sets up close).
In 2012 I auditioned for a role in the Brisbane Arts Theatre production of Avenue Q, and ended up being cast as co-puppeteer for Trekkie Monster and Nicky, as well as being the puppetry trainer for the whole cast. My official title was ‘puppetry consultant’.
In 2014 I was asked to train a new Avenue Q cast at Brisbane Arts Theatre. New director, new cast, new production team.
In 2017 I trained the Sunnybank Theatre Group production of Avenue Q.
Now in 2018, this is Toowoomba’s first local production of Avenue Q with performances to take place in February of 2019.
Elissa and I look forward to attending the show at USQ Arts Worx during the season, happening 7-16 February 2019.
– Brett.
