Original Kids Theatre's Alumni Show Will Be AVENUE Q, Beg. Tonight

From tonight, June 20 to June 29, past members of the Original Kids Theatre Company will reunite to present Avenue Q. This stunning musical-comedy utilizes live actors along with an ensemble of hand puppets that eerily resemble those of a beloved children's show.

Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart, a laugh-out-loud musical that's been described as Sesame Street meets South Park! Recent college grad named Princeton moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

On the heels of their successful OKTC Alumni production last year, Spring Awakening, winner of the Beat DISH Award for Best Musical, Avenue Q presents a heart-warming comedy with the additional challenges of puppetry. The cast has learnt all the right tricks with lifesize replicas of the puppets used on Broadway!

"The show is a hysterical parody of Sesame Street," comments Artistic Director Andrew Tribe, "It asks what happens to a generation, educated in front of the television, now thrown into the real world after college. With a new life in the big city, no one is there to teach you how to manage a chequing account or find health insurance. Through life-lessons and educational songs, the play advocates tolerance, acceptance, the building of community and while life has its inevitable ups and downs -- everything is temporary."

Avenue Q features a book by Jeff Whitty, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. The OKTC alumni features direction by Andrew Tribe, musical direction by Andrew Rethazi, puppetography by Ceris Thomas and stage management by Toni Rubini.

The ensemble, comprised entirely of former Original Kids, features Sarah Ashby, Becky Blake, Nate Crocker, Rebecca Hall, Cassandra Hodgins, Phil Johnston, Christine McKeon, Andrea Meister, Matthew Roberts, Joshua Van Belois, Andrew Varkaris.

The production runs tonight, June 20-23, June 26-29 at 8pm (with a post-show talkback on June 26), a special late night show on June 28 and a 2pm matinee on June 29. The show runs at the Spriet Family Theatre, second level of the Covent Garden Market, 130 King Street, London, Ontario.

Tickets and show schedule are available online by going to the Original Kids website www.oktc.ca, visiting our Box Office at the Spriet Family Theatre, Covent Garden Market or by calling 519-679-8989. Be sure to 'like' us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AvenueQOKTC. Limited tickets at the door, based on availability.

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