In 2018, I was asked to direct Avenue Q at the Conejo Players for the following year’s season. This show was the first in a reboot of a small-scale CAT (Conejo Artist Theatre) program, and, along with Quang Bui as the principal puppet designer, we embarked on this crazy, artistic journey. 

Over the course of a year, we built 11 separate characters, including live hand, hand rod and cardboard box puppets, with more than 25 different iterations, all operated by a cast of eight. 

With only two weeks in the theater before tech week, standing up the set and designing the lights and sound were a big challenge. The cast and crew pitched in to build, paint and hang, all while learning lines, blocking and changes. 

The result was a hilarious, and heartwarming show. I have great pride for this project and all the people who helped bring it to life.

— Jeremy