A CHAT WITH MASTER OF PUPPETS
HOW TO GET TO O.C.’S AVENUE Q
-D Theatricals production presents the Southern California region- al premiere of Avenue Q. It is the tale of a recent college grad who moves into a shabby New York apartment looking for his purpose in life. Just remember though, this isn’t the family-friendly Muppet
version— this show is for mature audiences. These neighbors include the guy upstairs who watches internet porn all day, the girl our lead character has got a crush on… and what ‘hood would be complete without the might-be-gay next-door neighbor? Welcome to Avenue Q! Christian Anderson, the director of puppetry, brings top-notch talent
and experience to the role. Before becoming the “master of puppets” for this production, he played Nicky/Trekkie in Avenue Q, Mark in Rent and originated the role of Dick in High Fidelity—all Broadway productions. Recently he’s been spotted in national tours as Roger in Rent and Jerry in The Full Monty.
So how did you get your start in musical theatre? Both my parents were into musical theatre. My dad, Frank Anderson, is an
actor/singer doing experimental shows way off-Broadway in New York. My parents met working on a show. So they continued to work on shows together, they had some kids along away. I grew-up going to rehearsals and listening to the soundtracks of shows like Godspell and Pippen. So it was very natural to go into theatre. How did you make the switch over from actor/singer to puppeteer? Well, first I have always been a huge fan of the Muppets, I am a fan of the craft
and I’ve always eaten it up. After touring with The Full Monty, I kept in touch with the directors and producers who did Avenue Q. After auditioning they sent me to puppet camp. My mentor was Peter Linz who puppeteered the role of Walter in the latest Muppet Movie. He worked on Avenue Q and on Sesame Street. So Avenue Q deals with some taboo subjects and has partial puppet nudity? Yes, the puppets say the things we only say in our minds and don’t say out
loud. It’s outrageous for a puppet to talk about masturbation like Trekkie does or racism. While it can be kind of shocking, you can find the humor in it and you accept a discussion about it from them. I saw a production of the show down in San Diego. I was impressed with how quickly you forget about the puppeteers and believe in the puppets. It is magical; the puppeteer has to keep a neutral face and wears black so
that the focus stays on the puppet. It is very easy to get lost in it. The show has great heart and dirty jokes—it’s creative and wonderful. Do you have a favorite character or song from this show? I love Nicky and the song “I wish I could go back to college.” I
didn’t go to college, but if I had, I think I would feel the same way. Who are some of your muses, inspirations? Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Paul Williams [wrote
the famed Muppet song “Rainbow Con- nection”] and I love actor/filmmaker/ musician Gary Oldman.
22 RAGE monthly | JULY 2012
CHRISTIAN ANDERSON
What’s next for you? I am working on a script for a YouTube format film. Content on the web. My
friend Sung Kang from The Fast and the Furious movies started an online You- Tube network called YOMYOMF. We knew each other back when we were both working at a restaurant. We reconnected at puppet school and I mentioned that I’d love to do a theatrical puppet piece. He said why not do it for YOMYOMF? So I have been writing a show and the songs for a piece starring a puppet named Cecil. It will be a web series and I am modeling it after Pixar films. I hope the songs and everything will be kid appropriate, but have humor for adults. 3-D Theatricals is a young company, one of the newest theatres on the O.C. scene. How have their shows been received so far? They are doing a really great job. I saw their last production, A Chorus Line and
I was truly impressed by the actors, the sets and the costuming. Avenue Q it is the first regional production of the show in Southern California and we have the real original puppets, no knock-offs. They put together an incredible cast. Let me put it this way, if you like musicals, you will love this show. If you don’t like musicals, you will still love this show.
Avenue Q runs Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 29 at the historic Plummer Auditorium. And then August 3 through August 5 at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. For tickets and more information call 714.589.2770 or go to
3dtshows.com.
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