Avenue Q is one of those shows I’ve always been intrigued by but never got the chance to see it. I honestly knew it for the fact it beat Wicked at the Tonys winning Best Musical, Book, and Score. Of course, I also knew it is a raunchy musical with puppets and you don’t see those every day. This last Saturday I got the chance to see Avenue Q at The Sanctuary Theatre Company in Salt Lake and it was a fantastic experience!

Sanctuary Theatre is a very small black box style theatre that focuses on diverse and blind casting boasting ‘talent above looks.’ Some of the Avenue Q cast had more experience with puppetry than others with the most seasoned pro being Tobias Flenderson who performed puppet Rod. Emma Thomas was also great as Kate Monster who has my favorite song of the show “It’s a Fine Fine Line”

I recommend if you go and see Avenue Q that you arrive early. The way the seating is arranged you will want to be as close up as possible to have the best experience and there also isn’t a ton of parking at the theatre. A few of the songs were probably funnier in 2004 when the musical was written (Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty) but feel more awkward than funny today particularly “If You Were Gay” and “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” but I still enjoyed them. The cast for the most part is energetic and great with the puppets so it all works.

The way they did the Christmas Eve character wasn’t my favorite but McKenna Jensen is a lot of fun as Gary Coleman (although less funny since he’s passed away in 2010.) This show is obviously for adults only but it does give a fair amount of sweetness along with the shocking content! Director Connie Beaty stages everything so you become invested in both the puppeteer and the puppet which is not an easy task to achieve!

I definitely recommend checking out Avenue Q at The Sanctuary Theatre Company, which plays until the 27th (it’s a small theatre so its selling out.) It’s funny and unique and would be a great show to go to with friends and have a rousing discussion with after the show. You can purchase tickets here.