ROCHELLE — The recent VCCT production of “Avenue Q” was a hit in more ways than one.
Attendance was very good for the show plus a local food agency received a significant donation.
The Kitchen Table was presented with $1,457 that audience members donated during the eight performances.
“One scene in the play deals with money, or the lack of it,” Amy Frank, president of VCCT explained. “He starts by asking for money to afford something to eat and, as the scene evolves, he and the other characters realize the importance of helping others.”
Passing the hat has always been part of this scene of Ave Q, even on Broadway. Cast members of Avenue Q, and their puppets, went into the audience with hats during the song.

“The assistant director, Terry Camplain, shared with the cast that many families use the Kitchen Table’s services and suggested we donate whatever money we collect to them. Due to the nature of the scene when the money was collected, it seemed like a natural fit,” Frank added.
The Kitchen Table is a donate-what-you-can type of community kitchen. Located on IL Route 38 west of Rochelle, the center provides dinner on Tuesday and Thursday nights to anyone who is hungry. Patrons can pay what they can afford for their meal. If they can’t afford to pay anything, that is fine too.
Frank said theater-goers were told where the money was going each performance night.
“The patrons of VCCT’s production donated, on average, $180 every night,” Frank said.
Kitchen Table founder and director Carolyn Brown and a guest were invited to the last performance and got a chance to meet the actors and puppets backstage before the show.
At the end of the show, Camplain presented the money to Brown.
Frank quoted one of the lines from Money: “When you give to a worthy cause, you’ll feel as jolly as Santa Clause. When you help others, you can’t help helping yourself.”
Theater goers helped themselves quite a bit during “Avenue Q.”