That would be torture. But they won't be doing that...they probably should instead of using professional puppets with kids.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
What a bad idea! I have to agree, what makes the show fun is the adult humor. I hope the powers that be at MTI read this thread and consider not doing this.
Wow. That sounds like a joke! I totally agree, that really does defeat the entire purpose of Avenue Q. There are a ton of excellent shows that high schools can put on. There are even slightly edgier shows that a lot of schools could still get away with. So why do they need to try this? It's a bad idea.
I could see this working, actually. It would also be neat if they replace some of the "questionable" songs with cut songs like "Tear it Up and Throw it Away" and others so that the show is not 30 minutes long.
There's no need for a petition. That's just ridiculos.
We should see the changes and everything before we decide it's horrible. Read the message from Jeff Marx I posted this morning.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
You really care enough about this to make a petition?
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
The funny thing today was comedians on the radio station I was listening too pretty much devoted an hour talking about pointless petitions (in relation to the Free Paris one). I have to say a petition to stop a school version of Avenue Q sounds just as bad as the Free Paris one.
withoutlovewithoutU--I had the opportunity to see the MTI School Edition of RENT performed last year and it was actually amazing! Not much was cut, and the general messages and themes of the play were definitely still in tact. Performed at a talented school, it could be really good!
There is only one you for all time. Fearlessly be yourself.
-Anthony Rapp-
It's just about money. They're trying to market their product. I'd be interested to see what the HS version is like. There's probably no way that we could do it at my school, but they have this amazing show that won the Tony for best musical and they're just looking to make more money on it. There's no need for everyone to get so spiritual about each exact word being what it was on Broadway. It's just a musical....fun...2 hours of entertainment.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
Hahaha exactly what I'm afraid of, excruciatingly bad performances and ill-taught puppetry. Where the hell is the puppet looking at in this video? Not the camera....
Dean: Can I tell you something?
Lorraine: That depends on what it is.
Dean: I think you're really really pretty.
Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
The lip-synching should have made the performance easier, because he would only have to worry about the puppet's movements, but he seems more concerned with his own appearance on the video. He is smiling and staring into the camera. His puppet is NOT.
Dean: Can I tell you something?
Lorraine: That depends on what it is.
Dean: I think you're really really pretty.
Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
I like the idea of them releasing the rights to a regular version. It will be interesting to see community theatres tackle it. I was in a musical revue last year and two of the performers in it gave a very enjoyable performance of "Mix Tape," complete with puppets. As long as there are able pupeteers out there, Avenue Q can be a very enjoyable show for adults to do.
As for the school edition... ick. It really depends on what's deemed appropriate and what's not. I'm sure "You Can Be As Loud the Hell You Want" will be cut as well as "The Internet is for Porn" but besides those, all of the other songs really depend on what your definition of appropriate is. I saw Avenue Q when I was in eigth grade sitting next to my dad and neither of us felt like it was extremely innapropriate. Plus, there are some good messages to teenagers, if you look behind the adult humor, especially about commitment.
Cosette: Roses are red.
Marius: Violets are blue.
Eponine: You're so in love!
Marius: And so not with you.
Of course I know he's lip-synching it, but the bad puppeteering is what I was refering to.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
No doubt a high schooler could sing or act the role, but they will suck at the puppeteering just as that one in the video did.
I have seen many good performances from the show on YouTube, but I've also seen some horrible ones.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
Maybe they'll have a special thing on MTI where you can hire the puppets like with LSOH. But the chances of students operating the puppets with success are low...
A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.
Gosh, I remember doing Grease and how our drama teacher was editing bits of the script, by changing *big tits* to *pear-shaped body*. I just hope all these schools know what Avenue Q is before they even dare consider putting it on.
Guys, the school version had verrrry little cut. The Internet is for Porn is still there, just some of it is gone. You can be as loud....is cut, andddd my girlfriend who lives in canada. Other than that, there are minor script and lyric changes. But nearly everything is there.