By Jamal Burton
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Program will present the Tony award-winning musical Avenue Q in April.
Directed by Chris Fritzges, performances are set for April 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center and will include puppeteer Rick Lyon.
“When we were reading shows for the musical performance, I was immediately taken with the prospect of directing Avenue Q,” said Fritzges, associate professor of theatre. “It is an educational element that would allow us to explore puppetry.”
Avenue Q is a traditional two-act musical inspired by the PBS series Sesame Street.
“It puts an adult spin on it by satirizing the promises of childhood and the realities of adulthood,” according to www.avenueq.com.
Avenue Q opened on Broadway in 2003 and won Tony awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book in 2004.
Lyon visited UCA as artist-in-residence earlier in March to work with students on using the puppets he designed for the original Broadway production.
“Puppetry is an important niche area with the theatre world that seems to be gaining momentum, especially with the success of Avenue Q,” Lyon told students during his residency.
The production is recommended for mature audiences only.
“We expect large audiences for these shows due to its popularity, but even though there are puppets, the show has adult themes and language and is not appropriate for children,” Fritzges said.
Tickets are $10 for the general public. The UCA community may receive two free tickets with current I.D. Reservations may be made by calling 501-450-3265 or by visiting UCA Ticket Central in the Reynolds Performance Hall box office. More information is available online at www.uca.edu/theatre or by contacting Melissa Pearson, UCA Theatre Business Manager, at mkordsmeier@uca.edu or 501-450-5092.
The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Music, and Film, Theatre and Creative Writing, as well as the School of Communication. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call 501-450-3293.
