People, puppets and purpose enter stage left during the Hudson Valley Teen Summer Theatre’s production of Avenue Q, The School Edition.
Show director Stacie Moye has been working the teen theater troupe at Clarkstown High School South in West Nyack most of the summer. The play takes on the post-teen years, with funny, razor wit upbeat songs about trying to find a place in life. The lead role of Princeton will feature Suffern High School junior Craig Long, son of Suffern Police Department detective and Ramapo Central School Board president Craig Long.
Other Ramapo Central students involved in the production include SHS Sloatsburgers Julie Goetz and Dunahay Pereyra. Former Suffern theater stand-out David Stedge will play Nikky while SHS’ Katie Sadoff will play sax and clarinet in the pit orchestra, along with sophomore Brooke Greenstein.
Suffern High School band teacher Doug Feig serves as the production’s musical director, his first year with Hudson Valley Theatre.
Avenue Q is set to premiere Friday, August. 9, at 8 p.m. at Clarkstown High School South, where the play will run Saturday evening, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for Adults, $12 for students and $10 for senior citizens.
The basic Avenue Q story tells the tale of Princeton, a recent college graduate who moves to the hinterlands of inner NYC, landing along Avenue Q, which is populated by fellow down and outers who rely on pluck and wits and plain luck while they try to follow their dreams.
The show is full of songs and many of the characters perform via puppet alter-egos that speak the inner truth. There’s a love story, a coming-of-age story and a if-you-can-make-it-here story all wrapped up nicely in fun musical numbers.
The production team consists of vocal coach Victoria Jessie, assistant director Mel Neils, lighting designer Laura Panno, sound engineer Edward Johnson, and “puppet master” Bonny Halfond. Jak Prince has produced an outstanding set for the production that has the make and feel of life amid the brownstones of NYC.
