AVENUE Q Brings the Laughs To The Hilberry

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a program within the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, is excited to launch the 2018-2019 season with the three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Avenue Q," an uproarious adult parody of children's puppet shows like "Sesame Street", "The Muppets", and "Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood". Created by by duo Robert Lopez ("Book of Mormon", "Frozen", "Coco") and Jeff Marx, "Avenue Q" has been shocking and delighting audiences since its premier in 2003. This modern classic won three Tony Awards, including the "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.

The show follows Princeton, a recent college graduate, who is finally heading out to start life on his own. He starts his search on Avenue A, but with no work experience and a bachelor's degree in English, he doesn't find anything that fits his meager means... that is until he finds his way to Avenue Q, the absolute last resort for affordable housing in New York City. There he meets a motley band of neighbors, some human, some puppets, who are also down on their luck. Once settled into his new neighborhood, Princeton encounters plenty of bumps in the road on his journey to adulthood and finding his purpose. However, what Princeton does find is a circle of friends who are all on that elusive journey through adulthood with him.

Director Michael J Barnes is excited for audiences to see more out of Avenue Q than just pure entertainment. While the puppets are brash and shockingly naughty at times, the fact that they are puppets allows for the show to take on themes that would be otherwise not addressed on stage. "In a nutshell, because it is easier for audiences to distance themselves from the offensive points the puppets raise. Prior to this past century, puppets were far more grown-up, they were not relegated to children. They were used to tell stories that were really too taboo for humans." Barnes is skillfully exploring this border, and looks forward to audiences not only enjoying the show, but getting more out of it than meets the eye.

"Avenue Q" is a hilarious adults-only spoof on children's television, with a charming and relatable coming of age story at its core. It is not appropriate for children, but the charmingly naughty puppets are sure to amuse and offend grown-ups. Tickets are available for purchase online by visiting theatreanddanceatwayne.com, by calling the Theatre and Dance at Wayne Box Office at (313) 577-2972, or by visiting the box office at 4743 Cass Avenue at the corner of Hancock Street. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets purchased online will include a $2.00 per ticket convenience fee.

About the Wayne State University
Wayne State University is one of the nation's preeminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://research.wayne.edu/