A cast of Muppet-like characters searching for love, purpose and a decent apartment is certainly not typical Broadway fare. But it made Avenue Q into a hit show. Back in 2003, the show’s producers (which included Kevin McCollum, a 1984 musical theater grad of UC’s College-Conservatory of Music) gambled that Avenue Q’s appeal was big enough for Broadway and moved it from an off-Broadway venue to the legendary Golden Theatre, where it’s been playing for six years.
The show’s early fans were young New York professionals who raved about it to their friends and co-workers. Word spread, and before long Avenue Q earned its place on Broadway, not to mention three 2004 Tony Awards, including best musical. (In fact, it beat out Wicked for that honor!)
The show uses live actors and puppets to tell the story of an eager college grad who lands in New York with big dreams and not much else. He finds an apartment on shabby “Avenue Q” and meets more hopefuls: an unemployed comedian, a therapist, a slacker, a conservative investment banker who can’t quite admit that he’s gay, a kindergarten teaching assistant, an Internet porn addict and more.
The show looks cute (and it is), but it’s also definitely adult fare (including “full-puppet nudity”) and a lot of grown-up fun. So don’t bring the kids, but definitely go. $27-$80.
Read Rick Pender's review here.