Avenue Q
Avenue Q
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Avenue Q | |
---|---|
Avenue Q logo | |
Music | Robert Lopez Jeff Marx |
Lyrics | Robert Lopez Jeff Marx |
Book | Jeff Whitty |
Productions | 2003 Off-Broadway 2003 Broadway 2005 Las Vegas 2006 West End 2007 National Tour 2007 Stockholm 2007 Israel 2009 Australasian Tour 2009 2nd National Tour 2009 Off-Broadway 2009 Rio de Janeiro 2009 São Paulo 2010 Madrid 2010 Argentina 2011 UK Tour 2011 Denmark 2011 Ljubljana 2012 Paris 2012 Netherlands 2012 UK Tour 2013 Edinburgh 2013 Hong Kong 2013 Shanghai 2013 Mexico 2013 Vancouver 2013 Denmark 2014 Chicago 2014 Poland 2014 UK Tour 2015 UK Tour 2015 Melbourne revival 2015 Australian Tour 2015 Fortaleza 2016 UK Tour 2016 Fortaleza 2017 Portugal 2018 South Africa 2018 Chicago |
Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book Tony Award for Best Original Score Theatre World Awards |
Avenue Q is an American musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore. Avenue Q is an "autobiographical and biographical" coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters lament that as children, they were assured by their parents, and by children's television programs such as PBS's Sesame Street, that they were "special" and "could do anything"; but as adults, they have discovered to their surprise and dismay that in the real world their options are limited, and they are no more "special" than anyone else.[1] The musical is notable for the use of puppets, animated by unconcealed puppeteers, alongside human actors.
Originally conceived as a television series,[1][2] the show was developed as a stage production at the 2002 National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. It opened Off-Broadway in March 2003, co-produced by The New Group and the Vineyard Theatre, and transferred to Broadway in July 2003 where it won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and spawned Las Vegas and West End productions, two national tours, and a variety of international productions.
With more than 2,500 performances, Avenue Q ranks 24th on the list of longest running shows in Broadway history.[3][4] The show ended its Broadway run on September 13, 2009, and then reopened Off-Broadway at New World Stages in October 2009.[5][6]Avenue Q celebrated its 15th Anniversary (counting both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions) in July 2018 with a concert featuring many of the original cast members at Feinstein's/54 Below.[7]
Contents
1 Background
2 Synopsis
2.1 Act I
2.2 Act II
3 Characters
3.1 Puppets
3.2 Humans
4 Casting
5 Musical numbers
5.1 Instrumentation
5.2 Other Avenue Q songs
6 Puppet developments
6.1 Rod puppets
6.2 Live-hands puppets
7 Productions
7.1 2003 Off-Broadway
7.2 2003 Broadway
7.3 2005 Las Vegas
7.4 2006 West End
7.5 2007 US and Canada tour
7.6 2009 Off-Broadway
7.7 2009 US tour
7.8 2009 Australian and New Zealand productions
7.9 2011 and 2012 UK and Ireland tours
7.10 2014–2016 UK and Hong Kong tour
7.11 2015 Melbourne Australia
7.12 2015 Sydney Australia
7.13 2016 Australian tour
7.14 2017 Portugal
7.15 2017 Germany
7.16 2018 South Africa
8 Avenue Q: School Edition
9 Avenue Q promotional events
10 Original Broadway cast recording
11 Critical reception
12 Awards and nominations
12.1 Original Broadway production
12.2 Original London production
13 References
14 External links
Background[edit]
Avenue Q's cast consists of three human characters and eleven puppet characters who interact as if human, Sesame Street-style. The puppets are animated and voiced by puppeteers who are present, unconcealed, onstage. Puppets and human characters completely ignore the puppeteers. The same puppet may be operated by different puppeteers in different scenes, and the actor voicing the puppet may not be the one animating it. To minimise distraction, the puppeteers wear plain gray clothing in contrast to the human characters' colorful costumes. One puppeteer sometimes voices two or more puppets simultaneously. Conversely, the so-called "live-hands" puppets (see Puppets) require two puppeteers — again, in full view of the audience.
The show draws inspiration from and imitates the format of children's educational television shows Sesame Street and The Muppets. Marx interned at the program early in his career, and all four of the original cast's principal puppeteers—John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jennifer Barnhart and Rick Lyon—were Sesame Street performers (D'Abruzzo returned to Sesame Street after leaving Avenue Q[8]). Three of the puppet characters are direct recognizable parodies of Sesame Street puppets: Roommates Rod and Nicky are a riff on Bert and Ernie, while Trekkie Monster bears the distinctive voice and disposition of Cookie Monster, though not his obsession with baked goods. (The production officially disclaims any connection with either Sesame Workshop or The Jim Henson Company.)[9]
All of the characters (puppet and human) are young adults who face real-world adult problems with uncertainty of how they will solve these dilemmas, as opposed to the simplistic problems and invariably happy resolutions faced by characters on children's television programming. Much of the show's ironic humor emerge from its contrasts with Sesame Street, such as illustrating the differences between innocent childhood and the difficult adulthood. The storyline presupposes the existence of "monsters" and talking animals, and human actors sing, dance and interact with puppets, both human and non-human, as if they were sentient beings, in a light-hearted, quasi-fantasy environment. (No attempt is made to explain why seven of the human characters are played by puppets while the other three are played by actual humans.) However, the show includes a considerable amount of profanity in the dialogue as well as including intercourse with puppets. In addition, the show addresses adult themes that are inappropriate for younger children, such as racism, pornography, and schadenfreude.
The show also employs a real-life celebrity as a fictional character within the story. Gary Coleman, the juvenile actor who played Arnold Jackson in the 1980s American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and later sued his parents and business advisers for stealing his earnings during that time period,[10] is portrayed (by a woman in most productions) as an adult, who happens to be the building superintendent in the run-down Avenue Q neighborhood to earn as much money as possible to keep on living.
Marx and Lopez said that they originally intended to offer the Gary Coleman role to Coleman himself, and he expressed interest in accepting it, but did not show up for a meeting scheduled to discuss it.[1] Coleman later threatened repeatedly to sue Avenue Q producers for their depiction of him, but ultimately did not.[11]
When Coleman died on May 28, 2010, casts of both the Off-Broadway production in New York City and the second national tour in Dallas dedicated that evening's performances to his memory.[12][13] The Coleman character remains in the show with modified dialogue.[14]
Synopsis[edit]
The show is set on a fictional street in an "outer-outer borough" of New York City.
Act I[edit]
Princeton, a recent college graduate, is anxious to discover his purpose in life; but first, he must find an apartment and a job, with no work experience and an English degree ("What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?"). Beginning his search on Avenue A, he finally finds an affordable apartment on Avenue Q. His new neighbors are Kate Monster, a kindergarten assistant teacher; Rod, an anal-retentive Republican banker; Nicky, Rod's slacker roommate (a parody of Ernie from Sesame Street.[15] who is green and has messy dark brown hair, an orange nose and wears a brown jacket that says "New York"); Brian, an aspiring comedian recently laid off from his day job; Christmas Eve, Brian's Japanese fiancée and a therapist with no clients; Trekkie Monster, a surly recluse who surfs the Internet all day in search of porn; and Gary Coleman, the building superintendent. Debates ensue over whose life sucks the most ("It Sucks to Be Me"), though they do conclude that Coleman's life sucks the most.
Nicky, who is straight, suspects that Rod is gay, and assures Rod it is okay with him if he is; but Rod insists he is not ("If You Were Gay"). Princeton finds a lucky penny and longs to discover his purpose in life ("Purpose"). Kate dreams of starting a "Monstersori" school for young "people of fur". Princeton innocently asks Kate if she and Trekkie are related, since they are both monsters, but Kate angrily pronounces his assumption racist. Princeton, taken aback, counters that Kate's Monstersori School would discriminate against non-monsters. They and the neighbors agree that racism is an adult reality ("Everyone's a Little Bit Racist").
Princeton receives money from his parents and the Bad Idea Bears, two charming troublemakers, convince him to spend it on beer. Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Thistletwat assigns Kate to teach the next morning's kindergarten class, her first solo teaching opportunity. She decides that her lesson will be about the Internet and all its educational attributes, but Trekkie Monster and the neighbors explain another reality of adulthood: Lots of adults—even "normal people"—use it to find pornography ("The Internet is for Porn").
Princeton gives Kate a mixtape. His song selections are puzzling, making her wonder what message he is trying to send, but eventually, she decides that he must like her ("Mixtape"). Sure enough, he invites her on a date to the Around the Clock Café. Brian, the café's MC, does his raunchy stand-up act ("I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today"). He then introduces Lucy the Slut, a skanky chanteuse who wows the guys, especially Princeton, with a seductive cabaret number ("Special"). The Bad Idea Bears suggest that Kate and Princeton order some "harmless" Long Island Iced Teas, and once Kate is totally inebriated, Princeton takes her home to bed.
Kate and Princeton have enthusiastic, high-decibel sex. Gary fields angry calls from other tenants but refuses to intercede ("You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want When You're Makin' Love"). Meanwhile, Rod hears Nicky say, "I love you, Rod," in his sleep, and is jubilant—but eventually realises it was he who was dreaming. Kate and Princeton profess their mutual love, and Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny ("Fantasies Come True").
The next morning, a hung-over Kate oversleeps and misses her teaching assignment. Mrs. Thistletwat berates her, and Kate angrily quits her job before she can be fired. Christmas Eve decides unilaterally that it is time she and Brian were married. At the wedding, Nicky blurts out his suspicion that Rod is gay. Rod, furious, insists he has a girlfriend named Alberta in Vancouver ("My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada") and tells Nicky he is no longer welcome in their apartment.
When Kate catches Christmas Eve's wedding bouquet, Princeton panics, confesses a fear of commitment, and asks Kate if they can just be friends. Kate retorts that she already has plenty of friends, and breaks off their relationship ("There's a Fine, Fine Line").
Act II[edit]
A despondent Princeton has been holed up in his apartment after breaking up with Kate but is coaxed out by the neighbors ("There is Life Outside Your Apartment"). Lucy is looking for a place to crash and seduces the rebounding Princeton. Kate is angry, but Christmas Eve explains that she would not be angry if she were not in love with him ("The More You Ruv Someone"). Kate writes a note to Princeton suggesting that they rendezvous at the Empire State Building and leaves it with Lucy who promptly destroys it. A homeless Nicky laments his fate to Gary who confesses that he is deriving pleasure from Nicky's misfortune ("Schadenfreude").
On the Empire State Building's viewing platform, Kate, thinking that Princeton has stood her up, throws his lucky penny away. A hundred stories below, Lucy, walking by on Fifth Avenue, is knocked unconscious by the penny. Kate and Princeton unsuccessfully try to work out their problems over Lucy's comatose body. Rod is too proud to accept Nicky's repeated apologies, despite clearly missing him, and tearfully consults Christmas Eve. Princeton, Kate, and Nicky dream of returning to happier times ("I Wish I Could Go Back to College").
Princeton gives a still-homeless panhandling Nicky a quarter, and marvels at how fantastic he feels. Since thinking only about himself has gotten him nowhere, he decides to raise money to build Kate's Monstersori School. He solicits everyone, even breaking the fourth wall to shake down the audience, but results are disappointing ("The Money Song"). Then Trekkie Monster, recalling his own traumatic school experiences, donates ten million dollars—and explains to the astonished cast, "In volatile market, only stable investment is porn!" ("School for Monsters/The Money Song (Reprise)").
Kate joyfully opens her new school. Brian lands a consulting job, and Christmas Eve finally has a paying client (Rod), so the newlyweds move to a better neighborhood. Rod finally comes out, to no one's particular surprise, and takes Nicky back in. Nicky finds Rod a boyfriend—Ricky, a muscle-bound hunk who otherwise looks and sounds exactly like Nicky. The Bad Idea Bears discover Scientology. Lucy, recovered from her head injury, becomes a born-again Christian and takes a vow of chastity. Kate and Princeton agree to give their relationship another go ("There's a Fine, Fine Line (Reprise)").
A new college graduate inquires about the vacancy in the building, ("What Do You Do with a B.A. in English (Reprise)") and Princeton has an epiphany: maybe his purpose is to put everything he learned into a Broadway musical. Everybody, especially the new guy, immediately ridicules him. The cast reminds Princeton that, in the real world, many people never find their purpose, but life goes on, and everything—both good and bad—is "only for now." ("For Now").
Characters[edit]
Note: These descriptions come from the Characters section in the script.
Puppets[edit]
Princeton: "A fresh-faced kid just out of college."
Kate Monster: "A kindergarten teaching assistant, a bit older than Princeton."
Nicky: "A bit of a slacker, who lives with Rod."
Rod: "A Republican investment banker with a secret."
Trekkie Monster: "A reclusive creature obsessed with the Internet."
Lucy: "A vixen-ish vamp with a dangerous edge."
The Bad Idea Bears: "two snuggly, cute teddy-bear types."
Mrs. Thistletwat: "Ancient, Kate's boss."
Humans[edit]
Brian: "A laid-back guy engaged to Christmas Eve."
Christmas Eve: "A therapist who moved here from Japan."
Gary Coleman: "Yes, that Gary Coleman. He lives on the Avenue, too. He's the superintendent."[16]
Casting[edit]
Principal original casts of major productions of Avenue Q:
Character | Original Broadway Cast | Original London Cast |
---|---|---|
Princeton/Rod | John Tartaglia | Jon Robyns |
Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut | Stephanie D'Abruzzo | Julie Atherton |
Nicky/Trekkie/Bad Idea Bear | Rick Lyon | Simon Lipkin |
Gary Coleman | Natalie Venetia Belcon | Giles Terera |
Christmas Eve | Ann Harada | |
Brian | Jordan Gelber | Sion Lloyd |
Mrs. T/Bad Idea Bear | Jennifer Barnhart | Clare Foster |
Musical numbers[edit]
|
|
‡ = "It Sucks to Be Me (Reprise)" was not part of the original show or original cast recording. It was added to the Las Vegas production, and subsequently became part of the current off-Broadway show.
Instrumentation[edit]
The musical is scored for bass (acoustic and electric), drums/percussion (drum kit, bell tree, bongos, china cymbal, cowbell, egg shaker, finger cymbals, ice bell, mark tree, ratchet, siren whistle, slide whistle, tambourine, temple blocks, triangle, vibraslap, and wood block), guitars (acoustic, electric, and banjo), reeds (Bb clarinet, alto sax, flute), and two electronic keyboards.[17]
Other Avenue Q songs[edit]
Eight additional songs were written for Avenue Q or associated promotions, but are not part of the show itself.
"Tear It Up and Throw It Away": Originally performed early in the first act, between "What Do You Do with a BA in English?" and "If You Were Gay"; Kate is called for jury duty, and Nicky advises her to ignore the summons, pretending it was lost in the mail. ("Your civic duty? Who gives a doody?") Kate tears up the summons and is ticketed for littering. The number was cut during Off-Broadway rehearsals because it had no relevance to the plot, and because, according to Stephanie D'Abruzzo, there was no judicious way to dispose of the paper scraps, which remained onstage throughout Act One.[18] The cut came so late that early promotional materials included references to the song, and its main melody can be heard underscoring dialog in "The Money Song" on the original cast recording. It was included on a CD that accompanied the original souvenir program but not on the cast recording. An original audio clip is available on YouTube.[19]- "Time": Originally performed in a sequence where Nicky enjoys his time in the bathroom as Rod begs him to finish up so he can use the bathroom, and becomes increasingly distressed as the song continues. Eventually Rod decides to go use the Starbucks restroom, only for Nicky to hear him and ask to come with him.[20] The song was cut during the development process but was resurrected for a video created for the London production. This video was originally shown on the on-stage video screens during intermission, just prior to the second act curtain; Nicky (Simon Lipkin) sits on the toilet in the theatre's men's room at intermission, singing about all the "chores" he is getting done between acts. Several audience members waiting to use the stall become increasingly annoyed. British comedian Matt Lucas has a cameo role. The song was cut during early previews for unspecified reasons, but remained on the CD that accompanied the souvenir brochure, and was shown at the final West End performance on 30 October 2010. A video can be viewed on YouTube.[21]
- "Rod's Dilemma": Written for Tony Award voters, this song spoofs Avenue Q's competition for the 2004 Tony for Best Musical, and the entire Tony voting process. In the Rotary Club presidential election, Rod cannot decide whether to vote for the guy he has a crush on (symbolizing The Boy from Oz), a wealthy man (Wicked), or an old friend (Caroline, or Change). The neighbors advise him against voting "for your friends, 'cause they say you should vote for the candidate you think is good." The song was a part of the production's successful Tony Award campaign, called "Q '04 Now! Vote Your Heart!".[22][23] An audio cut is available on YouTube.[24]
- "Only in Vegas": This parody of Las Vegas-style show tunes was written to promote the Las Vegas production. It featured Rick Lyon operating a Steve Wynn puppet, who tells the cast of Avenue Q how happy they will be in Las Vegas. The song was performed on the Regis and Kelly syndicated television show and in some press and media events.
- "Rod's Christmas": Found on the CD Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 5: Rod headlines at the "Don't Tell Daddy's Cabaret and Night Club" (a parody of the New York piano bar Don't Tell Mama, which is named for a song from the musical Cabaret). Rod sings that Christmas is the time of year where he can combine his two great loves, "Christmas carols and show tunes."
- "The Holi-daze": Found on the CD Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 8. Written by Michael Patrick Walker and Phoebe Kreutz (who both worked on the Broadway and Off-Broadway productions of Avenue Q), the members of the company sing about how they cope with the stresses and problems of the holiday season. The song does not feature any characters from the show but was recorded by several of the original Avenue Q cast and band members, and was sub-titled "Drinkin' Our Way Through The Holidays."
- "Christmas": "Purpose" with new, festive lyrics. Written by the company of Avenue Q/London for Theatrecares' "West End Christmas" charity event. It is on a special CD, but can also be heard at Jon Robyns's Web site.[25]
- "How Much Do the People in Your Neighborhood Make?": A parody on the classic Sesame Street song, "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood", the song was written very early in the show's history, and dropped when the original television show format was abandoned in favor of a stage production.[2]
Puppet developments[edit]
The Avenue Q puppets, which cost up to $10,000 each, and require up to 120 hours of hand fabrication per character,[26] were designed and built by original cast member Rick Lyon.[27] Lyon's company, Lyon Puppets, continues to build and maintain the puppets used in all North American productions, and several of the international productions, including those from the UK, Australia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, while supervising the construction of those from the Finnish and Swedish productions. Their unusually sturdy construction, with double-stitching, reinforced seams, steel boning, and custom fake fur and feathers, is necessitated by the rigors of an eight-shows-per-week performance schedule.
Two distinct types of puppets are used in the show:
Rod puppets[edit]
Single Rod: Princeton, Kate Monster, Newcomer
Double Rod: Rod, Lucy, The Bad Idea Bears
Rod puppets consist of a head and a torso with two arms, at least one of which is movable for gestures. "Single rod" puppets have one moveable arm controlled by one rod, with the other arm "posed" in a permanent gesture or attached to the puppet's torso; both arms are moveable on "double rod" puppets, each controlled by a separate rod. The puppeteer controls the puppet's head and mouth with his or her dominant hand, and holds one or both rods in the other hand.[28]
Live-hands puppets[edit]
Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Mrs. Thistletwat, Ricky
Live-hands puppets require two puppeteers, each of whom contributes one hand and arm dressed with a long sleeve and glove matching the puppet's costume, which become the arms and hands of the puppet. The speaking puppeteer controls the puppet's left hand, head, and mouth, while the second, silent operator controls the right hand. (Sides are sometimes reversed if the speaking puppeteer is left-handed.) During the show, one puppeteer will sometimes leave to take over another puppet, leaving the live-hands puppet with a single operator and only one functioning hand. In a variation, one or both of the puppet's hands can be attached to its torso to permit operation by a single puppeteer.
Productions[edit]
2003 Off-Broadway[edit]
Avenue Q ran Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre for 72 performances from March 19 through May 4, 2003. The musical won the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical and Outstanding Sound Design (Brett Jarvis). It was nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director (Jason Moore), Outstanding Choreographer (Ken Roberson) and Outstanding Scenic Design (Anna Louizos).[29] It won the 2003–2004 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Puppet Artistry and the 2004 GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway and Off-Broadway[30]
2003 Broadway[edit]
Avenue Q opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on July 31, 2003, following previews from July 10. The production was directed by Jason Moore and choreographed by Ken Roberson, with set design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, musical direction by Gary Adler, and puppet design by Rick Lyon. It was produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller. The show was nominated for six Tony Awards and won three, in the categories of Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Original Book.
After 22 previews and 2,534 regular performances, it closed on September 13, 2009.[4] As of June 21, 2009, the production had grossed over $117 million and had returned profits of $23.5 million to its investors.[4] (All of the money collected from the audience during "The Money Song" is donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.)
2005 Las Vegas[edit]
In September 2005, Avenue Q opened at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas under a production contract that precluded Avenue Q tours in North America during the Las Vegas run. A new 1,200 seat theater was built especially for the show. Variations from the Broadway production included a new reprise of "It Sucks to Be Me" for Princeton at the top of Act Two, some new orchestrations, a trimmed "The Money Song," and a new rock arrangement of "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment," as well as a few jokes written specifically for Las Vegas audiences.
Attendance was well below anticipated levels, due at least in part to the constant turnover of tourists in Las Vegas, which rendered the cultivation of word-of-mouth publicity virtually impossible. In mid-January 2006 the show was cut to 90 minutes and the intermission was removed. Hotel owner Steve Wynn promoted the show heavily, at one point decorating 20 city cabs in orange fuzz and large white "Q" letters. All such efforts were unsuccessful, and the show closed on May 28, 2006 after a nine-month run,[31] terminating the exclusivity agreement and opening the way for national tours.
2006 West End[edit]
A Cameron Mackintosh-produced version of Avenue Q premiered in 2006 in the West End at the Noël Coward Theatre (formerly the Albery Theatre). Several adaptive changes were made for British audiences, including portrayal of the Gary Coleman character by a male actor. The production ran 1,179 performances through March 2009, then reopened in June 2009 at the Gielgud Theatre. After a further 327 performances, the show moved in March 2010 to the Wyndham's Theatre,[32][33] where it closed on October 30, 2010 after a five-year run.[34]
2007 US and Canada tour[edit]
The first national tour began at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego, California on June 30, 2007. Broadway director and choreographer Jason Moore and Ken Roberson returned in those roles, as did most other Broadway creative team members. The tour played a total of 721 performances in 22 cities, and closed at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wisconsin on May 10, 2009.[35]
2009 Off-Broadway[edit]
After the show closed on Broadway, it reopened in New York at the New World Stages complex on October 9, 2009, where it is still running today.[36]
2009 US tour[edit]
A second national tour opened in Clemson, South Carolina in September 2009 under direction of the same creative team, and closed in Huntsville, Alabama on April 23, 2011.
2009 Australian and New Zealand productions[edit]
An Australian production opened in June 2009 at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, directed by Jonathan Biggins and featuring a local cast, including Michala Banas as Kate/Lucy. The production visited Sydney in August, before touring Canberra (Australian Capital Territory), Perth (Western Australia), Adelaide (South Australia), Brisbane (Queensland), and Auckland in New Zealand, and closed in June 2010. The show won a number of Helpmann Awards, including Best Direction, Best Actress and Best Actor.[37]
2011 and 2012 UK and Ireland tours[edit]
The first UK national tour began at the Theatre Royal Bath in February, 2011 and closed at Northampton's Derngate in July.[38]
A second UK tour began in January, 2012 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, with additional performances in Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Bath, Wolverhampton, Rhyl, Stoke, Swindon, Dublin, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, Leicester, Salford, Glasgow, Coventry, Brighton, Liverpool, Southend, Nottingham, Hull, Southampton, Leeds, Newcastle and Dunstable.[39]
In Ireland, Avenue Q ran from 3–7 April 2012 at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (formerly known as the Grand Canal Theatre)[40]
2014–2016 UK and Hong Kong tour[edit]
Sell A Door Theatre Company launched a British revival of the show in April 2014, which ran for 3 weeks at Greenwich Theatre, followed by a 12-week UK tour.[41] The tour differed from the West End production in that Gary Coleman, as in the Broadway production, was portrayed by a female actress.
In November 2014 the tour transferred to Hong Kong.[42]
Sell A Door presents a UK tour in 2015–2016, starting in April 2015 at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.[43] and running for 16 months.
2015 Melbourne Australia[edit]
In 2015, a revival of the musical was staged in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The show ran from March 27 to April 11 at Chapel Off Chapel[44].
2015 Sydney Australia[edit]
Avenue Q ran for 15 shows at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia beginning in July 2015.[45]
2016 Australian tour[edit]
Avenue Q had a limited season at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in August 2016 produced by Prince Moo Productions and directed by Peter J Snee.[46]
In November 2016, the same production also toured to Perth.
2017 Portugal[edit]
The Portuguese production, under the title Avenida Q, opened on February 8, 2017.[47]
2017 Germany[edit]
In early 2017, it was announced that Avenue Q will get a German version. It premiers on September 10, 2017 under its original title "Avenue Q", with localized songs.[48]
2018 South Africa[edit]
The South African production presented by VR Theatrical and Kosie Smit by arrangement with DALRO, opened in May 2018, at Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre in Johannesburg.[49]
Avenue Q: School Edition[edit]
Avenue Q: School Edition, a collaboration of the creators of Avenue Q and Music Theatre International, was created to facilitate production of the musical by high school drama departments. Most of the profanity and sexual themes are removed from the script and score, and two songs ("My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada" and "You Can Be As Loud as the Hell You Want") are removed. "The Internet is For Porn" is replaced with "My Social Life is Online," and Trekkie's obsession with pornography is replaced by an obsession with social networking sites. The characters Mrs. Thistletwat and Lucy the Slut are renamed Mrs. Butz and Lucy, respectively. The scenes involving the Bad Idea Bears are altered to put less emphasis on alcohol. MTI states that these alterations make the musical easier for high schools to perform, while at the same time, maintaining the original intent and integrity of the piece.[50][51]
Avenue Q promotional events[edit]
On September 30, 2004, the day of the first Bush–Kerry presidential debate, on a stage set up in Times Square, the cast of Avenue Q presented their version of the debate, called Avenue Q&A, with portrait puppets of Bush and Kerry created by Rick Lyon. Eighteen television networks covered the event. Lyon operated the Bush puppet, while Jennifer Barnhart operated the Kerry puppet. Each puppet sang responses to questions from Avenue Q's concerned residents, and the whole cast sang "Vote Your Heart" (see Other Songs above) to the rain-drenched crowd.[52]
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa puppets created by Lyon hosted the first few minutes of an episode of Live with Regis and Kelly.[53] In addition, Rod and John Tartaglia did "man on the street"-style interviews on the 2005 NBC broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[citation needed] Rod and John also appeared alongside other Broadway stars in a World AIDS Day benefit concert of Pippin held at the Manhattan Center on November 29, 2004; Rod played "The Head."[citation needed]
In another World AIDS Day benefit in 2005, the original cast of Avenue Q and the cast of the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof presented a 10-minute spoof of both musicals called "Avenue Jew."[54] As a brief prologue, Trekkie Monster poorly plays the Fiddler theme, pauses a moment, shrugs, and then eats the fiddle before running away. Tevye, his wife Golde, his two remaining daughters and the Fiddler, having immigrated to the USA, arrive on Avenue Jew, an area inhabited by Jewish versions of the Avenue Q characters. Kate Monster welcomes them and the family expresses disbelief that a puppet is talking to them. Tevye introduces himself and his family and finally realizes that the Fiddler is with them, so he chases him away. Later in the song "The Puppets/The Humans," the humans are fed-up with the puppets upstaging them; Tevye and his family meet Brian and his wife "Hannukah Eve" when Jewish-American Princeton arrives, asking "What do you do with a B.A. in Yiddish?" One of Tevye's daughter's, Shprintze, falls in love with Princeton, but Tevye forbids their union even though he likes Princeton. Princeton only says "I know, I know. If I were a human...". Rod begs the Matchmaker to find him a mate, and the Matchmaker, played by Mrs. Thistletwat, sets Rod up with Lazar Wolf ("I'm a lonely man, Tevye"). Shprintze tells her father that she and Princeton want to be married, and after a very brief interior monologue ("I'll be brief. On the other hand; on the other hand; tradition; ...sure, go ahead!"), Tevye finally consents to Princeton and Shprintze's marriage; they leave the stage to prepare for their wedding, much to Kate's horror - who insults Shprintze as she leaves. Rod and Lazar Wolf also wish to be wed, and ask permission from the Tsar puppet, who forbids a gay marriage. Ben Brantley interrupts, asking who the real Jewish people in the cast are, and the company concludes that "everyone's a little bit Jewish" and "in theatre you can be whatever you want to be" as they celebrate Princeton and Shprintze's wedding.
In November 2005, the Avenue Q website held a "One Night Stand" contest for amateur puppeteers and their puppets. Andrew MacDonald Smith and his puppet Maurice Tipo won, and on March 10, 2006, appeared in the evening performance in the opening song, the café scene, and the curtain call.
In July 2006, several members of Avenue Q performed for the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games in Chicago.
In October 2006, Jonathan Root and Princeton presented the award for Best Young Adult Novel at the Quill Awards.
In November 2006, the London cast appeared on the BBC program Children in Need and performed "It Sucks To Be Me."[55]
In December 2006, the London cast performed on the Royal Variety Performance and performed "It Sucks To Be Me," "For Now," and "Special," in which Lucy The Slut suggested through lyrics and dialogue she was making a pass at Charles, Prince of Wales.
The cast and puppets appeared briefly in the 2007 "This Is New York" tourist ad campaign.
The cast and puppets took to the stage at Trafalgar Square on 4 July 2009 as part of the "London Pride 2009" celebration, performing "If You Were Gay", "Special" and "For Now" with 'Lucy The Slut' assuring all the ladies in the audience that she is bisexual.
Cast members appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on August 13, 2009 to promote the last month of shows, performing "The Internet is for Porn" for the first time on national television.
As a response to the Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody video, Avenue Q created a video called We Will Rock Q. Released on YouTube on May 4, 2010, it features the Off-Broadway cast performing covers of the Queen songs "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions".[56]
The cast appeared on the Today Show in 2018 to promote the show's 15th year.
Original Broadway cast recording[edit]
The original cast recording was made on August 10, 2003, at Right Track Studio A in New York City, produced by Grammy Award winner Jay David Saks for RCA Victor. The album contains almost all of the music from the show, with the original Broadway cast and orchestra. Released on October 6, 2003, it has been in the top ten of the Billboard Top Cast Album Chart since the chart's launch on January 12, 2006.[57] It was nominated for the Musical Show Album category in the 2004 Grammy Awards.[58] According to Playbill, it was likely the first cast recording to use a Parental Advisory label.[59]
An Original Madrid Cast Album was recorded live at Teatro Nuevo Apolo on October 9, 2010 and released on November, 2010.
A German cast album was released on April 21, 2013.
Critical reception[edit]
Avenue Q received near unanimous favorable reviews, both nationally and internationally.
New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley called it a "...savvy, sassy and eminently likable...breakthrough musical", and compared its potential long-term influence to West Side Story and The King and I.[60]The New Yorker described it as "...an ingenious combination of 'The Real World' and Sesame Street".[61]The Times described it as "...how Friends might be if it had Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy arguing about their one-night stand, but with more angst, expletives and full-on puppet sex."[62]
Avenue Q made Entertainment Weekly's 2010 end-of-the-decade "best-of" list: "This 2003 smash musical is Sesame Street for grown-ups, with filthy-minded puppets who teach useful lessons like 'The Internet Is for Porn.' Somewhere, Big Bird is molting."[63]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Original Broadway production[edit]
Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | [64] | |
Outstanding Book of a Musical | Jeff Whitty | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Stephanie D'Abruzzo | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Lyrics | Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Music | Nominated | ||||
2004 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Won | [65] | |
Best Book of a Musical | Jeff Whitty | Won | |||
Best Original Score | Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx | Won | |||
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | John Tartaglia | Nominated | |||
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Stephanie D'Abruzzo | Nominated | |||
Best Direction of a Musical | Jason Moore | Nominated | |||
Theatre World Award | Stephanie D'Abruzzo | Won | |||
John Tartaglia | Won | ||||
2005 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Show Album | Nominated | [66] |
Original London production[edit]
Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Nominated | [67] | |
2007 | Whatsonstage.com Awards | Best New Musical | Nominated | [68] | |
Best Ensemble Performance | Won |
References[edit]
^ abc Dobbs, Aaron (December 17, 2004). "Jeff Marx & Robert Lopez, Creators Avenue Q". Gothamist. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
^ ab Spencer, David. AISLE SAY New York Retrieved 2010-07-04.
^
Brown, Jennifer; Playbill Staff (June 1, 2012). "Long Runs on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
^ abc Gans, Andrew. "Avenue Q to Close in September", Playbill.com, June 29, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
^ . "Avenue Is Now at New World Stages", avenueq.com, June 29, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-09-13.
^ . "AVENUE Q Headed Back Off Broadway – Show to Open October 9 at New World Stages!", Broadwayworld.com, September 13, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-09-14.
^ . "Review: The Avenue Q 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below", Frequent Business Traveler magazine, July 31, 2018. Retrieved on 2018-07-31.
^ "The On-Air Cast." SesameStreet.org Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
^ Johns, Ian (2006-05-29). "These toys are really us-Arts & Entertainment-TimesOnline". Entertainment news and arts news from The Times and Sunday Times -TimesOnline. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-04-15.During early previews in the States we invited Jim Henson's widow and children and they could see that what we were doing was an homage and love letter to Sesame Street.
Johns, Ian (2006-05-29). "These toys are really us". The Times. London: Telegraph Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
^ "Gary Coleman settles his long dispute with parents." Jet Magazine, Nov 15, 1993. Archived 2010-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
^ "Gary Coleman – New York Comic Con 2007 – TheActionRoom.com". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
^ Propst, Andy (May 28, 2010). "Gary Coleman, Star of Diff'rent Strokes and Character in Avenue Q, Dies at 42". Theater Mania. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
^ Silverman, Stephen M. (2010-05-28). "Diff'rent Strokes Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42". People.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ Itzkoff, Dave (May 29, 2010). "'Avenue Q' Deals With Death of Gary Coleman". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
^ Jones, Vanessa E. (2003-10-04). "Talk to the hand". The Boston Globe.
^ 1975-, Lopez, Robert, (2010). Avenue Q, the musical : the complete book and lyrics of the Broadway musical. Marx, Jeff., Whitty, Jeff. Milwaukee, WI: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN 9781423489047. OCLC 648098745.
^ Avenue Q: Materials. Music Theatre International Retrieved December 10, 2011
^ DIVA TALK: A Chat with Avenue Q's Stephanie D'Abruzzo (September 26, 2003). Playbill.com Archived October 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-07-07
^ Original audio of Tear It Up and Throw It Away Retrieved 2011-01-25.
^ Jeff Marx performs Time at 54 Below with John Tartaglia
^ Original video of Time
^ "Avenue Q Urges Community to "Vote Your Heart" at Invited Party in New York". Playbill.com. 2004-05-13. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ "MARQUEE VALUE: Avenue Q Goes on the Campaign Trail at the Golden". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ Audio cut of Rod's Dilemma Retrieved 2011-01-25.
^ Jon Robyns's official website
^ "Puppet Regime: Rick Lyon." Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
^ Soltes, John (August 14, 2008). "Meeting up with Rick Lyon on Avenue Q". The Leader. Leader Newspapers.
^ "The Art of Puppetry: PUPPETS: ART AND AMUSEMENT" puppetsbostonguild.org. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
^ Jones, Kenneth. "2003 Lucille Lortel Awards Announced; 'Take Me Out', 'Avenue Q' Big Winners" playbill.com, May 6, 2003
^ Avenue Q lortel.org, accessed June 6, 2016
^ Richard Abowitz, Avenue Q Gets Spam-ed by Steve Wynn Archived 2009-02-13 at the Wayback Machine., LATimes.com, February 15, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
^ "AVENUE Q Finds A New Home In The West End 2010/01/21". Westend.broadwayworld.com. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ "Gielgud Theatre Announces HAIR, Opens April 14, 2010 2009/11/16". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ Playbill.com
^ Playbill.com news article Archived 2009-05-12 at the Wayback Machine. playbill.com, May 10, 2009
^ Gans, Andrew. "Avenue Q to Reopen Off Broadway in October; Casting Announced" Archived 2009-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, September 24, 2009
^ "Avenue Q Australia". Avenueqthemusical.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ Avenue Q 2011 UK Tour Schedule
^ "Avenue Q 2012 UK Tour Schedule". Retrieved 2010-11-25.
^ "Avenue Q 2012 Irish Tour Schedule".
^ Avenue Q the stage.co.uk
^ "Sell-A-Doors 'Avenue Q' and 'Seussical' to Transfer to Hong Kong" broadwayworld.com, 2014
^ [britishtheatre.com/avenue-q-announces-201516-tour " 'Avenue Q' Tour"] britishtheatre.com
^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/avenue-q-begins-comedy-festival-run-this-friday/news-story/bf322d1e559abb3697595bfdc946ce1b
^ Cotter, Richard. " 'Avenue Q' At the Enmore Theatre" sydneyartsguide.com.au, July 4, 2015
^ Edwards, Matt. "Avenue Q cast announced for Melbourne run". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^ Lda, ETNAGA - Consultores Sistemas de Informação,. "Bilhetes Avenida Q - Teatro da Trindade INATEL". BOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2017-03-13.
^ "Avenue Q - Theater Bielefeld" (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-14.
^ https://www.pietertoerien.co.za/avenue-q/
^ AVENUE Q SCHOOL EDITION – Sign Up for Fast Track Notification Archived 2012-01-04 at the Wayback Machine.. mtishows.com, May 24, 2011.
^ http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000325
^ Fernando Guimarães (ed.). Puppetry.
^ Regis and Kelly Puppets. LyonPuppets.com Retrieved 2010-07-04.
^ "DIVA TALK: Avenue Q and Fiddler Spread Joy at Easter Bonnet, Divas on Disc Plus News of Wicked Stars". Playbill.com. 2004-04-23. Archived from the original on 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ "Avenue Q on Children in need". YouTube. 2006-11-20. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ "Avenue Q – We Will Rock Q". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
^ Information from Billboard, November 2006
^ Information from Variety, December 7, 2004
^ Hernandez, Ernio (October 7, 2003). "Fantasies Come True: Broadway's Avenue Q Cast Recording Released Oct. 7". Playbill. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
^ Brantley, Ben (August 1, 2003): "A Feeling You're Not On Sesame Street." nytimes.com Retrieved 2010-07-08.
^ Als, Hilton (August 11, 2003): "Mayhem and Madness." New Yorker Archive Retrieved 2010-07-08.
^ Johns, Ian (May 29, 2006): "These Toys are Really Us." Times of London Archive Retrieved 2010-07-08.
^ Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS". Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
^ Portantiere, Michael. "Drama Desk Award Nominations TheaterMania, May 1, 2003
^ Broadwayworld.com
^ Avenue Q News Archive
^ "Olivier Winners 2007". OlivierAwards.com. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^ Whatsonstage.com Awards Archive
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avenue Q. |
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Avenue Q |
Avenue Q at the Internet Broadway Database- Official website
Official website of Rick Lyon, "Avenue Q" Puppet Designer/builder and original cast member- Avenue Q at BroadwayWorld.com
Categories:
- 2003 musicals
- Broadway musicals
- Fictional streets and roads
- LGBT-related musicals
- Muppet parodies
- Off-Broadway musicals
- Cultural depictions of actors
- Original musicals
- Plays set in New York City
- Puppetry
- West End musicals
- Tony Award for Best Musical
- Plays set in the United States
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