CMT Mainstage Presents Tony Award-Winning Musical AVENUE Q

CMT Mainstage, featuring local performers ages 14-20, presents the 2004 Tony Triple Crown (Best Score, Best Book, Best Musical) laugh-out-loud musical, Avenue Q, May 11-20.

The story: Bright-eyed college grad, Princeton, arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account. All he can afford is a shabby apartment in the "outer-outer boroughs." Still, the neighbors seem nice: girl-next-door Kate, Rod the Republican, internet entrepreneur Trekkie, Gary Coleman the superintendent and the other denizens of Avenue Q. They struggle-hilariously-to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life. Assured for years by parents and children's television programs that they "could do anything," to their surprise and dismay Princeton and his friends discover that their real-world options are much more limited.

A coming-of-age parable, Avenue Q recognizes and sharply satirizes the issues and anxieties of young adulthood through puppets, of course, animated by unconcealed actors. Ironic humor, biting sarcasm and clever lyrics will resonate with anyone who's ever tried to find an apartment, land a job, get a date-or just grow up. The show has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, and is based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon. This production is the School Edition of Avenue Q, adapted by the authors to maintain the dramatic intention and integrity of the piece, while editing it to make it more appropriate for high school audiences and performers. It is directed by Kevin Noonchester, a veteran Avenue Q director,

For tickets and more information, http://www.cmtsj.org/avenue-q.

About Artistic Director Kevin Hauge

In his 22nd season as Artistic Director at CMT San Jose, Kevin has led the nation's premier theater company for youth in taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions includes incorporating modern techniques and technology, culminating in recognition of artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts for ten consecutive years. Recently, Kevin was honored by Silicon Valley Creates receiving their 2016 Legacy Laureate Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and Community Impact. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, he's been the guest speaker at the International Association of Theater Educators Conference in Washington D.C., and the Education and Technology conference in New York City. Kevin has collaborated on productions in a variety of venues all over the world. He's staged ice shows, magic shows, musical revues, industrial shows, corporate parties, television specials and book musicals for a variety of companies, including Tropworld (Atlantic City), Harrah's (Reno), Six Flags Parks (nationwide), and Royal Viking Cruise Lines (worldwide). Some of the unique productions Kevin has worked on include You're in the Movies (MGM Grand) in Las Vegas, World of Wonders (Everland) in Seoul, South Korea, and a special Easter Celebration (The White House) in Washington D.C. Kevin has appeared several times as a guest artist with the San Jose Symphony, and has served on the Exhibits Committee at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

About CMT

The 2017-2018 Season marks the 50th year for Children's Musical Theater San Jose, the nation's largest musical theater and training program for youth of its kind. CMT San Jose strives to foster a lifelong love of the theater in their participants, their audiences, and the community.

Take a look. Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT San Jose) is world-class theater featuring local talented youth. It is a nationally acclaimed theater company honored 11 times by the NEA and the oldest operating performing arts organization in San Jose, with over 50,000 young people participating in CMT programs since 1968. Last year, CMT cast over 1200 performers and performed for 40,000 audience members, including 8,000 young people at Student Matinees. Now in its 50th season, CMT remains committed to train and educate today's youth through musical theater, to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals, and to inspire them to become exemplary artists, patrons and citizens of tomorrow. Inclusiveness and quality are the two touchstones of CMT's vision. CMT is dedicated to providing the highest possible caliber of musical and theatrical training to children from ages 4 to 20, spanning all abilities and stands behind its promise never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations.

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