The Broadway musical for adults

Avenue Q, the Broadway musical for adults, starts June 20, and we’ve got the scoop on the kinds of puppets being used in the show (since puppets make up half of Avenue Q!)

The Avenue Q puppets are built by original cast member Rick Lyon, and his company, Lyon Puppets, continues to build and maintain the puppets used in all North American productions. The puppets cost up to USD $10,000 each, and require up to 120 hours of hand fabrication per character.

Three distinct kinds of puppets are used in the show:
1. Single-rod puppets consist of a head and a torso with two arms, one movable for gestures and one decorative. The puppeteer controls the puppet’s head and mouth with his or her dominant hand, and holds a rod in the other hand that is attached to the puppet’s movable arm. The characters of Princeton, Kate Monster, and Newcomer are examples of single-rod puppets.

Kate Monster

2. Double-rod puppets are identical to single-rod puppets, but both arms are movable, each controlled by a separate rod. The dominant hand controls the head and the mouth, and the two rods are held in the other hand. The characters of Rod, Lucy, and the Bad Idea Bears are examples of double-rod puppets.

Rod

3. Live-hands puppets require two puppeteers, each of whom contributes one hand and  arm dressed with a long sleeve and glove matching the puppet’s costume, which become the arms and hands of the puppet. The speaking puppeteer controls the puppet’s left hand and head/mouth, while the second, silent operator controls the right hand. The characters of Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Mrs. Thistlewat, and Ricky are examples of live-hands puppets.

Nicky

Avenue Q is less than 6 weeks away, so buy your tickets by calling the box office at 604.687.1644 or booking at artsclub.com!