Lucy T. Slut & Puppeteer Tell All at Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theater

The popular, funny and slightly edgy musical, Avenue Q continues to run in the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theater through November 16, 2013? By now most people know the play is a coming of age story told by puppets eerily reminiscent of Sesame Street. But these puppets live a few metaphorical blocks away on Avenue Q. Unlike a puppet show in which the human puppeteers are not part of the action, in Avenue Q, the audience gets the equivalent of a two-for-the-price-of-one experience as both the puppet and the puppeteer are part of the cast.

Given this fluidity and synergetic relationship, it seemed appropriate to speak with puppet Lucy T. Slut and Lucy's human actor, Madison Mooney about their insights on this production. "Lucy T. Slut has a very unique name that suits her career as a performer and cabaret singer," says Madison Mooney. "She's ballsy and takes what she wants and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. She likes attention and dresses for it. Her motivation going through life is looking out for number one while having as much fun as possible!

"You'd be surprised how much you can convey with a puppet, little head tilts or slight body turns can really create a range of emotion. And the puppeteers themselves are reacting in character as well so the audience is getting twice as much drama as they ordinarily would.

"Our director Andrew Vonderschmitt is basically a giant puppet himself, which made directing this show very easy for him," says Mooney. "His directing to us was two-fold: we would receive notes/suggestions about things our puppet should be doing/feeling during a scene and notes for the puppeteer to help assist with making the puppet a full figured character."

According to Lucy T. Slut, it's been a great experience working with Mooney, Vonderschmitt and the rest of the cast. "Everyone in this neighborhood seems to get along, I've got my eye on the new guy Princeton, but I think this little orange furball is also interested," said Slut.

"There's this other guy on Avenue Q that keeps talking about a girlfriend in Canada but he seems to stare a little too lovingly at his male roommate, I think someone is hiding in the closet!! And one of my biggest fans lives on Avenue Q! His names Trekkie and he is quite the super fan of me! A little creepy but I can't help but love my fans, said Slut with a provocative shake of her shoulders.

Slut doesn't spend much time thinking about the future. "I don't make plans; the good stuff always comes to me. I'll keep performing, maybe go back to touring. The leg of my last tour through Celebration, FL was a lot of fun! We'll see what the future brings, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll look good."

On Friday, October 25 a post-show Talk Back will be done in collaboration with The Center with a reception prior. Call The Playhouse or visit the website (lbplayhouse.org) for tickets.

Cast:

Princeton: Andrew Manzani
Kate Monster: Angela Griswold
Nicky: Dennis Dyck
Rod: Matt DeNoto
Trekkie Monster: Brian Bozanich
Lucy: Madison Mooney
Male Bad Idea Bear: Rick Reischman
Female Bad Idea Bear: Nicky Finn
Mrs. Thistletwat: Kellee Elizabeth Cullingham
Brian: Nicholas Woodall
Christmas Eve: Sawami Shinohara
Gary Coleman: Kieara Williams
Assistant Puppeteer: Caryn Aasness

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

Pay what you can Thursday October 17 - community can see this production for whatever they can afford
Two for One Preview Friday October 18 - Tickets are $12.00
Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on October 19 - Tickets are $27.00

Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.

To request an interview with the director, cast members or reserve your media tickets to this performance, please send an email to: pr@lbplayhouse.org.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is openWednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.

For more information or to purchase tickets visitwww.lbplayhouse.org or call 562-494-1014.

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