Interview: Director Patrick Burke Talks Puppetry in AVENUE Q

Director Patrick Burke trained atThe American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Onstage at the Group Rep: A Christmas Carol,Inspecting Carol, Sherlock's Last Case, Hotel Paradiso, Awake and Sing, Boeing Boeing, Don't Dress For Dinner, That Lovin' Feelin', A Nice Family Christmas, Lost In Yonkers, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet, and Rumors.

When did you get interested in puppets and puppetry?

When I was a pre-schooler. As an infant, then a toddler I had a history of de-hydrating. I was regularly admitted to the hospital in my hometown of Concord, New Hampshire. The pediatric ward would give each child a puppet when they were discharged from the hospital. By the age of 5, I had a collection and began requesting puppets as gifts.

My parents briefly owned and operated a diner. My mother wrote in my baby book that at the age of 3 they would put me on the counter and I would sing to customers "He's got the whole world in his hands" ! HA ! I guess I was born a ham. I acted in my first non-school play at the age of 7 at the local YMCA.

I have just always had a passion for AVENUE Q since I saw it on Broadway in August of 2003. At the Group Rep, members are encouraged to present projects which are performed in front of the company following the Monday night membership meeting. I approached fellow member Paul Cady, a wonderful pianist, and discovered that he loved the show too. Our Co-Artistic Directors and the Artistic council enjoyed the presentation and decided to put it in the 2019 season.

I have performed in many musicals myself and learned a great deal from the men and women that have directed me. For this particular show my puppeteer training was a plus. I trained with both Kevin Carlson and the late Michael Earl, both had worked extensively with the Henson Company. Kevin Carlson still puppeteers in Henson Company films. The late Michael Earl worked on Sesame Street in the 60s and 70s.

The off stage switching of the puppets was a nightmare in the rehearsal process. The actors play more than one character. Often both of their characters are on stage with a different puppeteer holding the puppet. The actor still voices the character even though they are not holding it. Sometimes I felt like I was doing a puzzle! I did build two "Kate Monsters" and two "Princetons" just to make entrances and exits a little easier.

Many late nights. Creating the puppet's face can often be frustrating. One little mistake and you have to start over. I did have a lot of help from fellow GRT members Lisa McGee Mann and Stephanie Colet. We had a great deal of fun together.

I have worked for over 20 years in motion picture film restoration.