Tony “Triple Crown” winner Avenue Q plays Oak Bay’s Canadian College of Performing Arts June 1 through 11 courtesy of a CCPA alumni company. Director RJ Peters says that not only is this a big success for the alumni company, which is composed entirely of graduates, but will be the first time the musical is performed on Vancouver Island.
“This is our first booked musical,” he said. “We’re trying to target a slightly different crowd than the CCPA might usually intrigue.”
Avenue Q is Sesame Street for adults. The musical stars “bright-eyed graduate” Princeton as he arrives to the big city to start his life. There he meets friends Kate, Lucy, Gary Coleman, Rod the Republication, Trekkie the pervert, among others, where the characters seek jobs, dates and their purpose in life.
“We dive into all adult issues, just with puppets and old graphics on the projector,” Peters said.
He encourages parents to use discretion when bringing children under 13 to the show, as there will be puppet nudity and the show will cover adult subjects. There will also be a bar at the venue.
The alumni company is especially enthusiastic as past graduates come back to share the experience of the first alumni musical and offer their performance, management and choreographic expertise. Graduate Ryan Reid, who has worked on the production of the drama War Horse in Berlin and is in the process of starting his own company, will lend his hand in the show and as puppet director.
“Please come on out to see the show. It’s a really funny musical with a lot of heart,” Peters said.
Avenue Q runs June 1 to June 11 at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, 1701 Elgin Road. More information and tickets are available online at www.ccpacanada.com or 250-595-9970.