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Miami’s newest theater company, Miami Theatre Works, enters its second season with a performance of the brilliantly hilarious Tony Award-winning musical comedy Avenue Q, July 21-24, at the new Westchester Cultural Arts Center in Tropical Park.
“As a semi-professional troupe in Miami, we are thrilled and honored to be able to bring this outstanding show to our local audiences,” said Michael Stoddard, co-creator and executive director of Miami Theatre Works. “The appeal of Avenue Q rests in its ability to touch on several hot-button issues from a hilarious, R-rated Sesame Street perspective.”
Avenue Q is a musical comedy featuring puppets and human actors with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and book by Jeff Whitty. Winner of the 2004 Tony Awards “Triple Crown” – Best Musical, Book, and Score – the show has been praised for its approach to themes of racism, homosexuality, internet pornography, and life’s complexities.
Billed as a show that’s “part flesh, part felt and packed with heart,” Avenue Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a bright-eyed college grad named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a tiny bank account, he must move into a shabby apartment all the way out on Avenue Q where he and friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
There, he meets Kate (the girl/monster next door), Lucy (the slut), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet entrepreneur), superintendent Gary Coleman (yes, that Gary Coleman), and other new friends.
“As a community theater company, we are incredibly excited that we get to produce Avenue Q, because like few other theatrical productions, this show presents amazing challenges for the actors. Most of the cast performs multiple roles, some with wildly different vocal characterizations, all while their hands are manipulating real emotion into puppets,” Stoddard added.
About Miami Theatre Works
In 2021, Stoddard joined forces with longtime Miami business owners and arts patrons Bob and Juli Reynolds to create a cutting-edge summer theatrical production company for their beloved South Florida and its many talented theater professionals.
“Launching a new theatrical production company during a pandemic was a crazy idea but the audience reaction at one sold-out show after another combined with the joy it brought our cast and crew made it clear that we were on to something special,” Reynolds said.
Stoddard, who is also currently theater director at Palmer Trinity, entered the South Florida scene five years ago after having created and managed Milwaukee Theatre Works for 16 years to incredible acclaim. Today, working with Reynolds, the two are introducing that similarly successful formula for the Miami arts scene.
According to Stoddard, “We are extraordinarily honored to bring such an iconic show like Avenue Q to South Florida and to be able to do so in a brand new, state of the art theater is very exciting. We are grateful to Miami-Dade County and the wonderful team from Roxy Theatre Group for everyone’s love and support.”
Miami-Dade County’s newest theater venue, The Westchester Cultural Arts Center is an innovative cultural arts facility conveniently located at the entrance of Tropical Park, at 7930 SW 40th St. (Bird Road). Seating is limited so pre-order your tickets today.
This show is not recommended for children due to adult language/content.
Ticket information
Performances of Avenue Q take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday (July 21 22, and 23) at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday, July 24, at 4 p.m. General admission tickets are available for $25 each online at https://wcac.booktix.com/view/2/d102b9d2203123be/.
Also visit www.miamitheatreworks.com or call 786-505-7903 to purchase tickets. For Group Sales, contact WTW via email at miamitheatreworks@gmail.com.
