Interview: Anita Welch of AVENUE Q

Avenue Q is headed to Omaha for a One Night Only engagement on March 16. BroadwayWorld columnist Analisa Swerczek had the opportunity to sit and chat with the very talented Anita Welch, the touring production's Gary Coleman.

 

First of all, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do an interview with Broadway World.

 

When did you know that you wanted to be a performer?

I started taking voice lessons when I was six years old because my mother made me  do it, and I wanted to be an opera singer. I think what happened is I watched Annie the movie a lot, and when my mom took me to see it on tour I remember singing along because I didn’t know you weren’t allowed to do that. Ever since then I’ve wanted to perform and do theatre. Thanks Annie!

 

What steps did you get you where you are today? Did you take any classes or special training?

Oh yeah, and I still train. I have a voice teacher in New York City who, when I’m not in the show, I go see twice a week - especially for my type of voice and style. I do a lot of belting, and it’s very important to have a healthy belt. I mean, I want to sing as long as I can. So yeah, I still train a lot.

 

Are you from a big city?

No, no. I’m from Fresno, California, where we have raisins. Very exciting.

 

So tell me a little about traveling to New York City to audition for Avenue Q.

Well New York is my new home base and I’ve been living there for a few years now. Avenue Q was having auditions during the summer, and the rest of the cast had been together for a little over a year. Last year, the tour had a male Gary in the show, which is how it’s done in London as well, but they decided to go back to having a female do the role. I was on my way to audition for something else and I saw a line of black girls and I thought, “I should be auditioning for whatever that is.” I walked into the audition, signed up, and sang 16 bars. The audition process was totally great. I had a pretty nice, smooth experience. I had two callbacks and then I got it.

 

Is there a noticeable different b/t the NYC production of Avenue Q and the tour?

The set, for the most part, looks the same, as well as our choreography. We have the same creative team, so the same thought went into this production. So we’re really lucky that the show is pretty much the same.

 

Avenue Q has been called the hilarious, “Rated R Sesame Street” by numerous people. Do you think that’s an accurate description for this show?

I think so. It’s a children’s TV show for adults. It’s hilarious.

 

Do you think that the mature content affects the shows turnout? Or is it pretty common to see families at the show?

Well, sometimes if someone didn’t read the part about mature content, you see little shadows leaving around the time we start singing “The Internet is for Porn.”  But for the most part, audiences have been really open and accepting.

 

Avenue Q is full of puppets, as well as “real people.” Is it difficult to relate to the puppets used in the show? Or can you interact with the person behind the puppet?

Honestly, it’s not. It’s not difficult at all. The first week of rehearsals I had trouble because I wanted to talk to my acting partner. I wanted to look at them. I think that’s a problem that every human character has when they first get to the show. You have to be reminded to look at the puppet. That’s who you are dealing with. That is your scene partner. But the puppets start to feel like real people to you after a while.

 

What do you think is it about Avenue Q that keeps drawing the audiences in? The story? Characters? Songs?

Avenue Q is written so well. It’s clean and wonderful in that there is nothing there that does not move the story forward. You find yourself laughing one minute, and then feeling all emotional over Kate and her situation the next minute. You actually come to care about these puppets. The thing is, you don’t even realize when it happens – when you start to care about these puppets. The story is great. The music is awesome. It all just makes it so easy to have fun.

 

Is there a message to be found in Avenue Q?

Oh definitely! I think my favorite message about Avenue Q is about acceptance - accepting your situation and know it’s not going to be that way forever and that it is ok. There’s the idea of accepting other people and their differences and accepting that not everyone is like you. You can get through life’s disappointments; you just have to keep moving.

 

Any advice for aspiring performers who hope to one day be doing what you are doing today?

Don’t ever look at somebody and say, “I can’t be like that person.” Fine. Be like you. Find your type, who you are, and own it. And just work hard. Audition, audition, audition, and don’t give up. I think it can happen. Hey, it happened to me, and I’m excited about it.

 

Anything else for the readers?

I say to the readers, don’t bring your children. Come on out and have a good time. You’ll find yourself falling in love with these characters.