Performing in a musical is a challenge: you have to be able to sing, act and dance鈥攐ften all at the same time. Now add to this the skill of puppeteering? That was a new challenge 91探花’s actors had taken on for the fall musical, Avenue Q: School Edition.
Students appeared on stage with their puppets, alongside human characters, in the hilarious coming-of-age story. This type of production was a first at 91探花. To help bring the puppets to life, 91探花 invited Kevin Noonschester鈥攑uppetry instructor and part of the Las Vegas company of聽Avenue Q鈥攖o instruct students in appropriate hand, head and mouth movements.
During 鈥減uppet boot camp,鈥 Kevin drilled students on the basics of bringing puppets to life鈥攎aking their characters breathe like real singers, observing the punctuations and rests; having the puppets’ eyes always facing the audience; and creating movements that appear realistic and effortless.
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