Avenue Q is a 2003 Broadway musical that mixes the likes of puppeteering and acting together on stage. It bases itself on a street where puppets and humans alike live together. It included in its original cast several veteran Muppeteers, including John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick Lyon and Jennifer Barnhart. It is a post-modern and Generation X-themed takeoff on Sesame Street.
It won three Tony Awards in 2004 including the Tony Award for "Best Musical", and received a Grammy award nomination for Best Musical Show Album.
Ed Christie, the manager at The Muppet Workshop in New York at the time, commented:[2]
Muppet Mentions
- One of the musical's songs is called "Mix Tape". In this song, Princeton (originally played by John Tartaglia) gives Kate Monster (originally played by Stephanie D'Abruzzo) a mix tape, on which one of the songs is "Movin' Right Along".
- An early song developed when the show was planned as a television series was a blatant parody of "The People in Your Neighborhood" titled "How Much Do the People in Your Neighborhood Make?"[3]
- On May 4, 2010, the then-current cast created a video performing Queen's "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" in a response to the hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" viral video, and includes a brief audio snippet from the Muppets' version. (YouTube)
References
- In the book Before You Leap, Kermit talks about his early days with the Muppets in New York City, describing their first place together as "RENT meets Friends meets Seinfeld with a dash of Avenue Q."
- A poster in the waiting queue for Oscar's Wacky Taxi at Sesame Place features Oscar the Grouch spoofing the show as "Avenue P.U."
Connections
- Jennifer Barnhart played Mrs. Thistletwat/Bear and understudied Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in the original Broadway cast to the show's closure (and occasionally returned to the Off-Broadway cast)
- Michael Croiter played drums in the original Broadway orchestra.
- Leo Daignault was a replacement as ensemble puppeteer and understudy for Nicky/Trekkie/Bear and Brian during the Broadway run.
- Ben Durocher played Princeton/Rod in the off-Broadway production (2015-2018).
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo played Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in the original Broadway cast.
- Jodi Eichelberger was an ensemble puppeteer and understudy for Princeton/Rod and Nicky/Trekkie/Bear in the original Broadway cast.
- Aymee Garcia understudied Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut and Mrs. Thistletwat/Bear in the original Broadway cast and was later a swing and understudy for Christmas Eve.
- Deborah Glassberg was a puppet builder and repairer for the original Broadway production and subsequent tours through 2012.
- Rick Lyon played Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bear in the original Broadway cast. He also built the original Avenue Q puppets and continues to build the puppets for almost every Avenue Q production.
- Peter Linz was an ensemble puppeteer and an understudy for Princeton/Rod, Nicky/Trekkie/Bear, and Brian in the original Broadway cast.
- Alan Muraoka directed the 2009 off-Broadway production at New World Stages.
- Peter Nørgaard played Nicky in the Danish adaptation.
- Anders Öjebo played Brian in the Swedish adaptation.
- Hazel Anne Raymundo served as an understudy and swing for Christmas Eve.
- Christy Carlson Romano was a replacement for Kate Monster/Lucy in 2008.
- John Tartaglia played Princeton/Rod in the original Broadway cast.
- Linus Wahlgren played Nicky in the 2008 tour in Sweden.
Sources
- ↑ facebook.com/ricklyonpuppets April 18, 2016
- ↑ added by Christie in January 2006
- ↑ Aisle Say NY