Raue Center’s in-house professional theatre company, WSRep, presents Avenue Q, Sept 13-Oct 20. Filled with gut-busting adult humor and a delightfully catchy score, this unique show addresses adult issues while spoofing the memory of educational television shows like “Sesame Street” and “The Electric Company.” 18+ for adult content. Learn more about our talented cast members and their puppet alter egos!
Q&A with “Avenue Q” cast member Isabella Andrews
•What drew you to the role of Kate Monster, and how do you connect with her character?
I was drawn to Kate Monster because she reminds me a lot of myself. I relate to her challenges with finding her purpose and wanting to make her dreams a reality. I’ve always admired her level-headed attitude and commitment to what she believes in.
• How do you balance Kate’s sweet nature with her moments of frustration and doubt?
I always try to put as much of myself into my characters as possible. Kate has many moments throughout the show of frustration, often following moments of happiness. As a puppeteer, I try to make very clear differences in how she looks at other puppets onstage depending on her mood. A simple head tilt can sometimes make all the difference.
•Kate dreams of opening a school for monsters—how do you portray her passion and determination on stage?
The good thing about this show is that it has a very well-written script. Everything Kate says is infused with the passion and drive she carries with her every day. She’s a modern woman who knows what she wants and is able to properly communicate her emotions, whatever they may be. As an actor, I always think of what I want in each scene and make it my goal to achieve that goal by the end of the scene, and if I don’t, make it the goal for the next scene.
•What challenges do you face in bringing Kate’s romantic storyline with Princeton to life?
Kate’s challenges with Princeton mirror many problems that modern couples face: fear of commitment, wanting different things from life, and miscommunication. I’ve certainly experienced that in my life. It’s hard sometimes to see Princeton’s point of view because of my personal views, especially when he starts a relationship with Lucy. But taking a step back and remembering what Christmas Eve says about learning as we go is a very helpful lesson for anyone.
•How do you make Kate Monster’s experiences resonate with modern (human) audiences?
As a woman, especially in this day and age, it can feel very exhausting fighting for a dream you have to come to fruition. I think it’s important to make her story resonate by not playing her as the happy-go-lucky girl-next-door type. She deals with plenty of challenges and doesn’t always deal with them in the right way. I think audiences will be able to strongly relate to her struggles with perseverance and finding a romantic companion because we as humans struggle with that too. But when she gets what she wants, they will celebrate right along with her.
Tickets at rauecenter.org. Learn more at https://www.rauecenter.org/avenue-q/
