The University of Utah’s Department of Theatre just opened Avenue Q at the Babcock Theatre. It’s a bawdy musical that features puppets dealing with decidedly adult themes like sex, racism and being broke. Last month, master puppeteer and actor Jennifer Barnhart came to Utah to train the actors. Barnhart was an original cast member of the Broadway run of Avenue Q.

We partnered with Vita Brevis Films and Skylar Nielsen to make this short film with Jennifer Barnhart about what it means to bring an inanimate object to life.

The University of Utah’s Department of Theatre is staging Avenue Q at the Babcock Theatre through November 24, 2013. For tickets and information, click here or call 801-581-7100

Photography and Editing by Vita Brevis Films
Produced by VideoWest
Bad Idea Bear designed by Brenda Van der Wiel for the University of Utah
Table-top Rod Puppet built by Karen Bruce, based on a design by Eric Bass
Scarf Marionette built by Jennifer Barnhart, based on a design by Albrecht Roser
Music by Explosions in the Sky, “Human Qualities”