| Avenue Q | |
| Avenue Q logo | |
|---|---|
| Music | Robert Lopez Jeff Marx |
| Lyrics | Robert Lopez Jeff Marx |
| Book | Jeff Whitty |
| Productions | 2003 Broadway 2005 Las Vegas 2006 West End 2007 Stockholm 2007 Helsinki 2007 North American Tour 2007 Tel Aviv, Israel 2008 Royal Tunbridge Wells International productions |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book Tony Award for Best Original Score |
Avenue Q is an award-winning musical conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, and directed by Jason Moore. Robert Lopez (born February 23[[ 975]] is an American Composer and Lyricist of Musicals best known for co-writing the Broadway musical Jeff Marx (born September 10, 1970) is a Composer and Lyricist of Musicals. Robert Lopez (born February 23[[ 975]] is an American Composer and Lyricist of Musicals best known for co-writing the Broadway musical Jeff Marx (born September 10, 1970) is a Composer and Lyricist of Musicals. Jeff Whitty is an American Playwright who lives in New York City. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Las Vegas metropolitan area includes the Las Vegas Valley a 600-square-mile (1600 km² basin and surrounding areas that is part of Clark County in southern Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Helsinki (in Finnish;) or Helsingfors (in Swedish;) is the Capital and largest city of Finland. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Tel Aviv-Yafo (תֵּל ־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ تل أبيب Tal ʾAbīb) (usually Tel Aviv) is the second-largest city in Israel For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the Composers and Lyricists of the best original score written for a musical Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Robert Lopez (born February 23[[ 975]] is an American Composer and Lyricist of Musicals best known for co-writing the Broadway musical Jeff Marx (born September 10, 1970) is a Composer and Lyricist of Musicals. Jason Moore is an American director of theater and television The book is by Jeff Whitty. Jeff Whitty is an American Playwright who lives in New York City. The show was produced by and opened at the Off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre in March 2003. Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City. The Vineyard Theatre is a non-profit Off-Broadway Theatre located in New York City. The production transferred to Broadway in July 2003 and won several Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented It is still running on Broadway and holds the position of 27th longest running musical in Broadway history. This list contains the 100 longest-running shows on Broadway. The show has spawned a 2005 Las Vegas production, a 2006 West End production and various international productions. The Las Vegas metropolitan area includes the Las Vegas Valley a 600-square-mile (1600 km² basin and surrounding areas that is part of Clark County in southern West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" A U. S. national tour began in July 2007.
The show is largely inspired by (and is in the style of) Sesame Street: Most of the characters in the show are puppets (operated by actors onstage), the set depicts several tenements on a rundown street in an "outer borough" of New York City, both the live characters and puppet characters sing, and short animated video clips are played as part of the story. Sesame Street is an American educational Children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard combining A puppet is a representational figure manipulated by a Puppeteer. The City of New York Also, several characters are recognizably parodies of classic Sesame Street characters: for example, the roommates Rod and Nicky are versions of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, and Trekkie Monster is based on Cookie Monster. A parody (ˈpɛɹədiː US, [ˈpaɹədiː] UK) in contemporary usage is a work created to mock comment on or poke fun at an original work its subject Rod is a fictional character from the Tony Award winning Broadway musical Avenue Q. Bert and Ernie are two roommates on the long-running PBS Children's television show Sesame Street. Trekkie Monster is a character in the Broadway musical Avenue Q who lives in a second floor apartment in a building on Avenue Q which is a run-down street situated Cookie Monster is a fictional Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. However, the characters are in their twenties and thirties and face adult problems instead of those faced by pre-schoolers. The characters use profanity, and the songs concern adult themes. A recurring theme is the central character's search for a "purpose. " Since the musical soundtrack for it was released, the song "The Internet is For Porn" has become particularly popular on websites such as YouTube and can be downloaded for free from the official website. YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload view and share Video clips YouTube was created in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees
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The show is explicitly an homage to the PBS children's television program Sesame Street. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the Sesame Street is an American educational Children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard combining Both Marx and puppet designer/original cast member, Rick Lyon, have worked for Sesame Street, as have the other puppeteers in the original cast. Rick Lyon is a Puppeteer and Actor originally from Rochester New York, who has worked for the Jim Henson Company as one of the operators Sesame Street is an American educational Children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard combining Unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q openly addresses adult topics such as racism, pornography, and homosexuality; in fact, because of its adult language and content and "full puppet nudity" (including simulated sex between puppets), the show specifically disclaims any connection to either Sesame Workshop (formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop) or The Jim Henson Company. List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of Sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop (or CTW) is a non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's The Jim Henson Company is an American company founded in 1958 by puppeteer Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. In an interview with Britain's The Times, addressing the question of potential conflicts with Henson, Marx claimed, “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. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. For other uses of "Henson" see Henson. James Maury "Jim" Henson (September 24 1936 &ndash May 16 1990 was one of '”[1]
The characters who are not puppets relate to the puppets, rather than to the actors holding them. The puppets also speak directly to each other and never to the actors operating them. During the course of the show, a puppet character may be operated by more than one of the actor-operators, although the same actor creates the voice for a particular puppet even if he or she is not holding the puppet at the time. The puppeteers wear nondescript black/gray clothing while the three human characters are dressed in bright colors, as are the puppets.
As stated in the Broadway Playbill, the scene is a fictional street located "in an outer borough of New York City. Playbill is a Monthly US Magazine for Theatregoers Although there is a Subscription issue available for Home delivery " Manhattan, the center of New York City, has Avenues A, B, C, and D, making up the Alphabet City neighborhood (now considered part of the East Village). Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Alternately, Avenue Q could be in the Midwood and Gravesend area of Brooklyn, where there are also Avenues A, B, C, etc. Midwood is a Neighborhood in the south central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York, USA, roughly halfway Gravesend (pronounced "GRAVES end" not "grave SEND" is a neighborhood in the south-central section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn all the way up to Avenue Z, with a few exceptions. One of the exceptions is Avenue Q; the street between Avenue P and Avenue R is known as Quentin Road, named for Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Quentin Roosevelt ( November 19, 1897 &ndash July 14, 1918) was the youngest and favorite son of President Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T The Q subway train, whose symbol used to be a Q in an orange circle resembling the Avenue Q logo, travels through this neighborhood. The Q Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. However, the authors have stated that Avenue Q is fictional and is not related to this or any other particular street.
Princeton, a recent college graduate, is looking for an affordable apartment in New York City ("What Do You Do with a BA in English"). At Avenue Q, he meets a group of neighbors: Kate Monster, a single assistant kindergarten teacher; Nicky and Rod, two long-time roommates; Brian, an unemployed comedian; Christmas Eve, Brian's Japanese fiancée, who is a therapist but has no clients; and Gary Coleman, former child star of the TV show Diff'rent Strokes, now the apartment superintendent. Gary Wayne Coleman (born February 8, 1968) is an American Actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes is a popular American sitcom that aired on the NBC Television network from November 3, 1978 A building superintendent or building supervisor (often known simply as the super) is a manager responsible for repair and maintenance in a residential building They all complain about their lives ("It Sucks to Be Me"), and all agree that Gary's life sucks the most. Princeton takes an apartment, and everyone welcomes him to the block.
Rod is reading a book about "Broadway Musicals of the 1940s" when he is interrupted by Nicky, who wants to share a story about a gay man he met on the subway. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency Rod gets defensive at the mention of homosexuality, and Nicky assures his roommate that he would have no problem accepting Rod ("If You Were Gay").
The job that Princeton had lined up is eliminated and he needs a purpose in life. He finds a penny minted in his birthyear - a lucky omen ("Purpose"). Everyone explains their purpose in life, while Gary is afraid he has already fulfilled his purpose. Kate says that she wants to open a school especially for monsters. When Princeton asks whether she and Trekkie Monster are related, Kate is offended at the implication that all monsters must be related, calling him racist. Princeton notes that her dream of a monster school is also exclusionary. Everyone comes in to join the song and reveal their own prejudices, agreeing that "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist". Princeton is approached by the Bad Idea Bears, two innocent-looking cuddly teddy bears who distract him from finding his purpose and encourage him to spend his money on beer.
Kate receives a phone call from her boss, the unpleasant, humorless Mrs. Thistletwat, telling her that she has heart replacement surgery the next day and needs Kate to teach the morning class, allowing her to teach on whatever subject she likes. Kate plans on teaching about the Internet, but Trekkie Monster and the other men frustrate her attempts at a lesson plan by telling her that "The Internet is for Porn". The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Princeton comes over to deliver a "Mix Tape", confirming her suspicions that he has a crush on her. Princeton invites Kate to the Around the Clock Café (a well known East Village haunt) that night. The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.
At the café, Brian performs the opening act ("I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today") and introduces Lucy the Slut, who sings "Special" (a parody of "Let Me Entertain You" from the musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable). Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Kate refrains from drinking, as she has the important teaching assignment in the morning, but the Bad Idea Bears suggest that they have some harmless Long Island Iced Teas (Absinthe Daiquiris in the London show) and play drinking games. A Long Island Iced Tea is a Highball made with among other ingredients Vodka, Gin, Tequila, and Rum. While Kate retrieves a round of drinks, Lucy tells Princeton that when he's ready for a real woman, she'll be around. The Bad Idea Bears convince Princeton to take the tipsy Kate home and have sex. The tenants ask Gary Coleman to tell the wild lovers to quiet down, but Coleman says "You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want [When You're Making Love]". A sleepless Rod hears Nicky talking in his sleep about his attraction to Rod, who is jubilant that his secret crush is mutual. Somniloquy or sleep-talking is a Parasomnia that refers to talking aloud in one's sleep However, he wakes to discover that it was he who had been dreaming and is crushed to find out. At the same time, as Kate and Princeton happily lie in bed, Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny to let her know how much she means to him ("Fantasies Come True").
The next day, Mrs. Thistletwat calls: Kate has missed the morning class that she was supposed to teach. Mrs. Thistletwat then fires Kate, dismissing all monsters as lazy. Angry, Kate quits her job. Princeton asks Kate to be his girlfriend and to accompany him to Brian and Christmas Eve's wedding. At the wedding, the neighbors ask Nicky whether Rod is gay. Nicky confirms that Rod is a "closeted homosexual"; Rod overhears him and vehemently denies this – they simply have not met "My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada". Rod throws Nicky out of their apartment. Princeton, scared of commitment after witnessing the wedding, breaks up with Kate, asking her to be friends. Kate is hurt and defiant: "There's a Fine, Fine Line".
Princeton sits alone in his apartment two weeks later. He is in debt, unemployed, alone, and still purposeless. As the Bad Idea Bears suggest that Princeton hang himself, the neighbors take Princeton outside to remind him that "There is Life Outside Your Apartment", and Princeton decides to take Lucy the Slut home with him. Kate is jealous, and Christmas Eve explains that Kate is angry because she actually loves Princeton ("The More You Ruv Someone"), which pays homage to "I Have a Love" from West Side Story. West Side Story is a musical by Arthur Laurents (book Leonard Bernstein (music and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics Kate stops by to give Princeton an invitation to meet her at the top of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco Skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street He is in the shower, so she leaves the letter, which Lucy promptly destroys. Nicky has stayed with neighbors since he was kicked out, but they are all fed up with his sloppiness and throw him out on the street. Nicky begs Gary Coleman for money, but Gary admits that he cannot help feeling a sense of "Schadenfreude" at Nicky's painful situation. Schadenfreude (ˈʃaːdənˌfʁɔʏ̯də) is enjoyment taken from the misfortune of someone else
Princeton looks for Lucy, who has left without saying goodbye. Kate, angry that Princeton seems to have stood her up, throws the penny that he gave her from the top of the Empire State Building. Far below, Lucy, passing by, is hit in the head by the penny and knocked into a coma. At the hospital, Kate and Princeton attempt to work out their problems, but Princeton is still not ready for commitment. Rod, depressed, consults with Christmas Eve, who comforts him. Everyone ponders what it would be like to return to happier times ("I Wish I Could Go Back to College").
Nicky, begging in the street, tells Princeton that he should be thinking about other people ("The Money Song"). Struck with inspiration, he determines to raise the money to build Kate's monster school. The Montessori method is an educational method for children based on theories of Child development originated by Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870-1952 Nicky likewise realizes that, to get back to his apartment, he needs to help Rod by finding him a boyfriend. The neighbors raise some money ("The Money Song" [Reprise]), but not much (they attempt to resolve this by breaking the fourth wall and asking the audience for money). The fourth wall is the imaginary wall at the front of the stage in a Proscenium Theater, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play Trekkie Monster, finding out what the appeal is for, remembers his hellish school days and donates ten million dollars that he earned by investing in pornography ("School for Monsters").
Kate is delighted with the new school. Brian has a new job and Christmas Eve has a steady client (Kate thinks it's Rod but it's hinted in "School for Monsters" that it may be Trekkie Monster), so they are leaving Avenue Q for the Lower East Side (In some performances, they move to Hell's Kitchen). Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City that includes roughly the area between Rod reveals, to no one's surprise, that he is gay, and invites Nicky back in. Nicky has found a boyfriend for Rod named Ricky, who looks just like Nicky, only more muscular. Meanwhile, the Bad Idea Bears have found Scientology, and Lucy has recovered to become a born-again Christian. Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American Science fiction author L Kate is impressed that Princeton has made her monster school a reality. Princeton asks her for a second chance, and Kate says they'll take it a day at a time ("There's a Fine, Fine Line" [Reprise]).
A new kid, just out of college with a BA in English, comes to look at Brian and Christmas Eve's for-rent apartment ("What Do You Do With A BA in English" [Reprise]), and Princeton has a revelation: he must pass on everything he's learned. His purpose may be to put all his knowledge into a show. Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Everyone shoots the idea down, and the kid gives Princeton the finger. Princeton worries that he may never find his purpose, but the others encourage him to cheer up. Life may be bad at the moment, but everything in life is only ("For Now").
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So far, there are seven known Avenue Q songs that are not in the show itself.
The musical opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March 2003 (where it won that season's Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical). The John Golden Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 252 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in midtown- Manhattan. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City. The Vineyard Theatre is a non-profit Off-Broadway Theatre located in New York City. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre It then moved to Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on July 31, 2003 where it is still running as of May 2008. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The John Golden Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 252 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in midtown- Manhattan. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. International holidays May 1 - Labour Day ( Pakistan) May 1 - Labour Day ( Singapore) Avenue Q won three 2004 Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, despite strong competition from the very successful musical Wicked. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 Wicked is a musical with songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production was directed by Jason Moore and choreographed by Ken Roberson. Jason Moore is an American director of theater and television The puppets were designed and constructed by original cast member Rick Lyon. Rick Lyon is a Puppeteer and Actor originally from Rochester New York, who has worked for the Jim Henson Company as one of the operators The musical supervision, orchestration and arrangements for Avenue Q and its cast album are by Stephen Oremus. The original cast included:
On September 8, 2005, a second production of Avenue Q opened up at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Jennifer Barnhart (born in Hamden Connecticut) is a Puppeteer, American Actress and Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club (often just called " Wynn " is a AAA five diamond/ Mobil four-star and Mobil five-star (for This production had an "exclusive" contract that precluded Avenue Q tours in North America. A new 1,200 seat theater was built specially for the show. There were some differences from the Broadway production, including 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 aimed at Las Vegas audiences. Most of these changes have since been incorporated into the Broadway version.
In mid-January 2006, the show was cut to 90 minutes, removing the intermission and trimming 10-15 minutes of material. Steve Wynn promoted the show heavily, including dressing 20 cabs in orange fuzz to promote the show. Stephen Alan Wynn (born January 27, 1942 in New Haven, Connecticut) is an American Casino Resort developer They had "Q" in white letters etched in front. Though the show was reported to have been profitable, it closed on May 28, 2006, after only a nine-month run. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The closing of the show in Las Vegas released the Avenue Q producers from their exclusivity agreement, opening the way for a U. S. national tour or other U. S. productions.
A production premiered in June 2006 in London's West End at the Noël Coward Theatre (Avenue Q is its first production since it changed its name from the Albery Theatre), produced by Cameron Mackintosh. The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born) is a British Theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals The show previewed on June 1, 2006 and opened on 28 June 2006. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Avenue Q is currently booking in London until April 25, 2009. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. The production uses a different logo for the show as well as the original logo. [2] The original logo is styled after the New York City Subway system graphics, and so it would have little resonance with a London audience. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency The 1 Broadway–Seventh Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway.
The most noticeable initial change was that Gary Coleman was assumed not to be well known enough for a UK audience, and the character was changed to "Gary - that famous kid from TV" and cast as a male actor instead of a female. This also caused a rewrite of the orchestration's nod to Diff'rent Strokes in "It Sucks To Be Me" and a slightly revised lyric for Gary in "It Sucks To Be Me". After audience polling, the character's name was changed back to Gary Coleman, the "Diff'rent Strokes" theme quote was re-included in the score, and the original dialogue of his catchphrase: "Whatchoo talkin' about Willis?" was reinstated. The lyrics remained in their altered version. The original London cast was:
Replacements in the London Cast have included Rebecca Lock as Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut; Daniel Boys as Princeton/Rod; Mark Goldthorp as Trekkie Monster, Nicky, Bear, etc. Daniel Boys (born 26 March 1979 in Greenwich, London) is a British musical theatre actor best known for his popular appearance in the BBC series ; Delroy Atkinson as Gary Coleman; Christopher Fry as Brian; Jennifer Tanarez, Yanle Zhong, and Naoko Mori as Christmas Eve; and Mary Doherty as Mrs. (born 1975 is a Japanese actress well-known for roles as Sarah Saffron's friend in Absolutely Fabulous, Mie Nishikawa in Casualty Thistletwat, Bear, etc.
The 1st North American tour began at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego, California on June 30, 2007. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [3] The principal cast includes Robert McClure as Princeton/Rod; Kelli Sawyer as Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. [4]
Per the Chicago Playbill the cast is as follows (The Chicago engagement runs until June 8, 2008):
The first translated version of the musical opened on February 16, 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden, at Maxim teatern, starring Jakob Stadell as Princeton/Rod, and Cecilia Wrangel as Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Avenue Q played at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki, Finland, from February 23, 2007 to May 19, 2007. Helsinki (in Finnish;) or Helsingfors (in Swedish;) is the Capital and largest city of Finland. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A Filipino production ran in Manila in September and December 2007, and is scheduled to return in June 2008 at the Carlos P. The City of Manila Romulo Auditorium, directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga. The original Manila cast included Felix Rivera as Princeton and Rod;[5] and Rachel Alejandro as Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut. Rachel Alejandro is a Filipino singer and actress Biography Rachel Alejandro first entered the world of showbiz at the age of 12 when she was a host on the popular TV [6] Other cast members in the Philippine production included former child-star Aiza Seguerra as Gary Coleman, Joel Trinidad as Trekkie Monster and Frenchie Dy as Christmas Eve. An Israeli production opened on October 23, 2007 at the Beth Lessin Theatre, directed by Moshe Kepten and translated into Hebrew by Eli Bijaoui. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [7] Quite heavily rewritten in order to make the show more accessible to the local public and language with the major change being the entire replacement of the Gary Coleman character by Michal Yannai, Former "Queen of Children". Michal Yannai (מיכל ינאי born June 18, 1972) is an Israeli actress. The Israeli cast includes Roy Bar-Natan as Princeton and Rod, Idan Alterman as Nicky and Bear and Tali Oren as Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. Michal Yannai appears as "herself".
An Israeli tour played in Jerusalem and Haifa in January and February, 2008, but returned to Tel Aviv in March, 2008. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Haifa (חֵיפָה; حَيْفَا) is the largest City in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country with A Mexican version opened on the April, 29 2008 at Centro Cultural Telmex in Mexico City. OCESA Teatro is a division of Grupo CIE. It is dedicated to produce and promote theater especially in Mexico City being the largest producer in Mexico and Latin America Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico [8]. This production has undergone, several changes including a completely redesigned set, costume changes that include puppeteers wearing bold colors instead of the customary black/grey combination, and the substitution of Gary Coleman for a character that references a local actor without explicitly mentioning his name. [9]The cast includes teen-band star Christian Chávez and several popular singers of reality show background. Christian Chávez (born José Christian Chávez Garza on August 7, 1983 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico) is a Singer A highlight of this production are the puppets, made by Rick Lyon's company. Rick Lyon is a Puppeteer and Actor originally from Rochester New York, who has worked for the Jim Henson Company as one of the operators
A Singaporean production will play in Singapore from October 30 to December 30, 2008 at the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Singapore Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT is the first Singapore -based professional Theatre group which was founded in 1993. [2]. A Russian version of the musical is planned for Moscow in late 2008. A French version of the musical is planned for Paris in late 2008. A Swedish tour will start in October, 2008, with dates booked for Umeå, Linköping, Gävle, Örebro, Halmstad, Lund, Kungsbacka, and Skövde. Umeå (ʉːmеоː, Uumaja Ubmi is a University city in Västerbotten, Sweden. Linköping is a city in southern Sweden, with a population of 97885 (2006 Gävle is a city in east central Sweden with 68700 inhabitants ( 2005) Örebro is a city in Närke in central Sweden. Örebro is the seat of Örebro Municipality and the capital of Örebro County. Halmstad is a port university industrial and recreational city at the mouth of the Nissan River in the province of Halland on the (lɵnd is a city in the province of Scania, southern Sweden. The town has 76188 inhabitants out of a muncipal total of 105000 Kungsbacka is a town in the province of Halland in southwestern Sweden. Skövde is a city in Västergötland, Sweden. It has around 50000 inhabitants and is the seat of Skövde Municipality. [3]
In late 2007, special permission was given by the Authors and Producers of Avenue Q London for amateur theatre company The Very Clever Group to produce an amateur version of Avenue Q at the Trinity Theatre in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England in 2008. This is only particularly notable because this is the first time official permission has ever been given for an amateur performance of the show to be produced outside of an officially licensed production. The Royal Tunbridge Wells production of Avenue Q is to be completely in benefit of popular charity BBC Children in Need and is to be produced by Very Clever Theatre, one of the sub companies of The Very Clever Group. BBC Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC.
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. Broadway on Broadway is a free annual outdoor concert kicking off the Broadway season each September Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 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 then the whole cast sang to the rain-drenched crowds to "Vote your heart!"
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa puppets created by Lyon hosted the first few minutes of an episode of Live! with Regis and Kelly. Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (born August 25, 1931) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television personality and occasional Actor Kelly Maria Ripa (born October 2, 1970) an American Daytime Emmy Award -winning actress, Television personality and Live with Regis and Kelly is a syndicated American television Talk show, hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. In addition, Rod and John Tartaglia did "man-on-the-street"-style interviews on the 2005 CBS broadcast of the Macy's Day Parade. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual Parade presented by Macy's Department store. 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. World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of Pippin is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O The Manhattan Center building built in 1906 and located at 311 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, houses Manhattan Center Studios (home to two Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Rod played "The Head. "
In another World AIDS Day benefit, the original cast of Avenue Q and the cast of the recent Broadway revival of Fiddler On The Roof presented a 10-minute performance that was essentially a spoof of "Fiddler" called "Avenue Jew,"[4] in which Trekkie Monster played the Fiddler Theme and, at its conclusion, ate the fiddle. World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set In a sort of epilogue to Tevye's story, Tevye, his wife Golde, and his two remaining unwed daughters arrive on Avenue Jew, an area inhabited by Jewish puppets (the Q cast played Jewish versions of their usual characters). Avenue Jew is also home to some human Jews such as Brian and Hannukah Eve. Hanukkah (חנוכה alt Chanukah) also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the The human Jews are fed up with the puppet Jews upstaging them constantly. 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. The Matchmaker sets Rod up with Lazar Wolf ("I'm a lonely man, Tevye. "). After a brief interior monologue, Tevye finally consents to Princeton and Shprintze's marriage. Rod and Lazar Wolf also wish to be wed, so they decide to ask permission from the Tsar, who happens to be a puppet Bush, who forbids gay marriage. Ben Brantley interrupts, asking who the real Jewish people in the cast are, and the company finish with a rousing finale, telling us that "everyone's a little bit Jewish" and "in theatre you can be whatever you want to be. Ben Brantley (born October 30, 1954) is the chief Theater Critic of the New York Times. "
In November 2005 , the Avenue Q website held a "One Night Stand" contest, calling for people to register their puppets and see whose was most worthy to be put next to Rick Lyon's. Eventually, the contest narrowed to 10 entrants, and later to three, at which point the worthiest puppet and puppeteer were voted on. Andrew MacDonald Smith and his puppet Maurice Tipo won. On March 10, 2006, Smith and his puppet appeared onstage during a show performance, appearing in the café scene, singing the opening song and curtain call. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A curtain call (walkdown bow occurs at the end of a performance when individuals return to the stage to be recognized by the audience for their performance
In July 2006, several members of Avenue Q appeared for the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games in Chicago. The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes artists musicians and others Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. In October 2006, Jonathan Root and Princeton presented the award for Best Young Adult Novel at the Quill Awards. The Quill Awards were " Consumer -driven awards created to inspire reading while promoting Literacy. In November 2006, the London cast appeared on the BBC Children in Need show and performed "It Sucks To Be Me. BBC Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. " [5] 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 Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, normally
The cast of Avenue Q and puppets appeared briefly in the 2007 "This Is New York" ad for tourists.
Although the puppets are substantially similar, there are three main types of puppets used in Avenue Q.
Princeton, Kate Monster
In a single-rod puppet, if the puppeteer is right-handed, the right hand goes inside the puppet and controls the mouth. If he/she is left-handed, it is vice versa. S T U V Tragedy of the commons --> The puppeteer's left hand holds the rod attached to the puppet's left hand, and the puppet's right hand is pinned to its side. Should the puppet need to manipulate a prop, the puppeteer holds the puppet's hand and the prop, creating the illusion that the puppet is holding the object. One puppet features velcro to allow the fingers to perform a more intricate maneuver, e. g. , "flipping the bird". In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known Obscene Hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of [10]
Rod, Lucy, the Bad Idea Bears, the Newcomer
Double-rod puppets are similar to single-rod puppets but feature two rods instead of one. Instead of the puppet's right hand being stitched to its side, both hands are able to be moved. The puppeteer holds both rods in his left hand, while the right hand manipulates the mouth. Occasionally, the puppeteer will use only one of the puppet's hand in a motion and will need to drop the other rod but will pick up the rod after the action. [10]
Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Mrs. T. , Ricky
Free-hands puppets are more intricately maneuvered, requiring two puppeteers. The puppeteers' hands and arms fit into long sleeves and gloves and become the arms and hands of the puppet. The speaking actor controls the puppet's left hand and mouth while the second controls the puppet's right hand. On occasion, either puppeteer will leave to command another puppet, and the remaining puppeteer will control the whole puppet. In a variation on this puppet, one or both of the puppet's hands can be stitched to its body. [10]
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. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The album contains almost all of the music from the show, with the original Broadway cast and band. 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. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [11] It was nominated for the Musical Show Album category in the 2004 Grammy Awards. [12]
The cast album presents the music in the order in which it appears in the show, omitting short and primarily instrumental sections. Though not included on the cast album, the cut song “Tear It Up And Throw It Away” was recorded by Stephanie D’Abruzzo and Rick Lyon and issued for a time inside copies of the souvenir program book. Other recorded songs by members of the Broadway cast include three which are not part of the show: "Rod's Dilemma" (which can be heard on avenueq. com), "Only In Vegas", and two Christmas songs: "Rod's Christmas" (on Carols For A Cure, Vol. 5) and "Holi-Daze" (on Carols For A Cure, Vol. 8). See "Other Avenue Q Songs," above, for more information.
The soundtrack received a Grammy Award nomination
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hairspray by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman |
Tony Award for Best Original Score 2004 by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx |
Succeeded by The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel |
| Preceded by Hairspray by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan |
Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 2004 by Jeff Whitty |
Succeeded by The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Rachel Sheinkin |