A show that won Tony Awards for best musical, best book of a musical and best original score for its original Broadway production is coming to the Southland.
The Beverly Theatre Guild opens its 54th season with “Avenue Q” through Oct. 29 at Morgan Park Academy’s Baer Theater in Chicago. The musical, which includes puppets, features book by Jeff Whitty, and music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx.
“I was up for the challenge,” said Theophilus Jamal about being approached by the Beverly Theatre Guild to direct “Avenue Q.”
“I’m more of a TV and film person. I work behind the scenes. I actually work as a video producer for DePaul University. Despite that, they advised me to work with the board of directors to pitch my version of ‘Avenue Q.’
“I was so enthusiastic about the play and told them that my version of the play would be transcribed to Chicago and that I would definitely work with the actors to do something unique. With ‘Avenue Q’ having been around for as long as it has been, the danger is to do what everybody else is doing.”
“Avenue Q” may be reminiscent of “Sesame Street,” the children’s TV program featuring humans and puppets interacting with one another, but the musical is rated R due to mature themes and language.
The Beverly Theatre Guild production, which utilizes a video screen in the middle of the set to make commentary on what is happening, focuses on a college graduate named Princeton.
“He’s 22 years old. He’s out in the world trying to figure out what his purpose in life is. His first goal is to try to find an apartment,” said Jamal, of Chicago Ridge.
“He goes down the entire alphabet looking for a place that he can afford. He winds up on Avenue Q and meets the denizens of the neighborhood and makes friends.”
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The show’s crew includes music director Terri Lenz, of Chicago’s Beverly community; choreographer Frankie Mulhall, of Oak Lawn; assistant music director Sharon Mason, of Chicago; and producers Glenn Hering, of Beverly, and Katie Regalado, of Blue Island.
The cast includes Blue Island, Chicago, Frankfort, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills and Wilmington residents.
“From the get-go, the word got out that someone that hasn’t directed musical theater before but has directed in a different sense for film and TV was brought on to do this play,” said Jamal, who also is director of photography on “The Pretender,” an independent film directed by Kristine Kruse.
Jamal added that he is grateful for the opportunity to do something different creatively.
“Ultimately they let me into their world and are very supportive of me. I really couldn’t be any happier. They’re just really talented and just very good people,” he said.
“When you’re with as talented a group of people as this group is, you remind yourself what makes it worthwhile in the end. I’m very confident that we’re going to put together a really good show.”
Billed as Chicago’s longest-running community theater, the Beverly Theatre Guild continues its season at Baer Theater with “Superior Donuts” Feb. 16-18 and “Cabaret” April 27-May 6. Season subscriptions are $57.
Beverly Theatre Guild memberships are available to anyone who volunteers to help with a show and/or buys a season ticket and cost $25 for individuals, $45 for families or $20 for ages 62 and older or ages younger than 18.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
‘Avenue Q’
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 27-28; 2 p.m. Oct. 29
Where: Morgan Park Academy’s Baer Theater, 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago
Tickets: $23
Information: 773-284-8497; www.beverlytheatreguild.org