Theatre UAB presents award-winning puppeteer actor Joshua Holden on March 30

Holden will work with students as they prepare for the department’s production of “Avenue Q” and will give his one-man performance, “The Joshua Show.”

joshuaAward-winning puppeteer actor Joshua Holden will work this week with students cast in the upcoming production of “Avenue Q,” then present his own puppet show March 30.

Holden is a guest artist with the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Theatre. This week he is in residence with the department teaching students cast in the production under the direction of UAB’s Head of Musical Theatre, Valerie Accetta.

Holden will present his one-man show, “The Joshua Show,” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Hailed as “The Ambassador of Joy,” Holden brings audiences a heartwarming story about friendship, confidence and the value of being true to oneself. With his sock puppet, Mr. Nicholas, Holden shows audiences how to cheer up when life gets tough and how to help make the world a better place through gestures of kindness and love. This whimsical production features multiple styles of puppetry, live music, physical comedy and tap dancing. Holden is accompanied by musician Alexander Knapp, who is also an actor, juggler, clown, mime, acrobat, singer, circus artist and performance artist. “The Joshua Show” is appropriate for ages 6 and older. General admission tickets are $12 and $15, $6 for students, and $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.

Holden will present his one-man show, “The Joshua Show,” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

Holden, based in Brooklyn, New York, was seen on the Broadway national tour of “Avenue Q,” and was the lead puppeteer in “Peter Pan 360,” the world’s first production to use brand-new 360-CGI technology from London-based ThreeSixty Entertainment. It was awarded “Best Performance” and was voted “Audience Favorite” at the Puppeteers Of America's National Festival in 2013. Holden recently received critical acclaim for playing the title role in “Me & My Girl” at Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston. He has also worked with international artist Banksy on his controversial piece “Sirens of the Lambs.” In August 2013, Holden was one of 24 puppeteers representing American puppetry at The Puppeteers of America’s National Festival with “The Joshua Show.” A Massachusetts native, Holden is an alumnus of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and has a BFA degree in acting from The Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at @ohohmygoshua.

Theatre UAB will present “Avenue Q” from April 8-12 in the Alys Stephens Center. Winner of the Tony Awards’ “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, “Avenue Q” is a hilarious, sweetly satiric coming-of-age parable performed by puppets alongside human actors. Shows are set for 7:30 p.m. April 8-11 and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12. This play contains adult language and themes and is not for young audiences. General admission tickets are $12 and $15, $6 for students, and $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.