Avenue Q (2008)
Produced by
Aged in Wood Productions and Vineyard Theatre
Presented by
Developed by
Creator: Robert Lopez
Music: Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Lyrics: Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Book: Jeff Whitty
Director: Jason Moore
Venue
Run
July 29th, 2008 – August 31st, 2008
Synopsis
“What if there were a show like “Sesame Street” for young adults?” That is the conceit behind Avenue Q, the clever, quirky musical that won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2004 now playing in Toronto courtesy of Dancap Productions. Humans interact with puppets in discussing such issues as racism, homosexuality, homelessness and porn all in the tuneful, wide-eyed style of kiddie shows. The constant source of humour is the clash between the innocence of the presentation and the seriousness of the content.
We follow the story of the puppet Princeton (Robert McClure), fresh from university and unemployed, as he moves into Avenue Q, the only run-down neighbourhood in New York where he can afford to live. There he meets the failed human comic Brian (Cole Porter) and his human Asian-American girlfriend Christmas Eve (Angela Ai), puppet kindergarten teacher Kate Monster (Anika Larsen), closeted gay Republican puppet Rod (also McClure) who has a crush on his slacker roommate Nicky (David Benoit), the porn-addicted puppet Trekkie Monster (also Benoit) and their building superintendent, former child star human Gary Coleman (Danielle K. Thomas). Together they sing such catchy, perky songs as “It Sucks to Be Me,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” “The Internet is for Porn” and “Schadenfreude.” With its adult content, expletives and an extended, very funny puppet sex scene, this is not a show for children. (stage-door.com)
Cast
| Robert McClure | Princeton / Rod |
| Cole Porter | Brian |
| Anika Larsen | Kate Monster / Lucy / Others |
| David Benoit | Nicky / Trekkie Monster / Bear / Others |
| Angela Ai | Christmas Eve |
| Danielle K. Thomas | Gary Coleman |
| Maggie Lakis | Mrs. T / Bear / Others / Understudy for Kate Monster/Lucy |
| Lexy Fridell | Ensemble / Understory for Kate Monster/Lucy, Christmas Eve |
| Zonya Love | Ensemble / Understudy for Gary Coleman |
| Jed Resnick | Ensemble (July 29 - August 10) / Understudy for Princeton/Rod, Brian, Nicky/Trekkie/Bear |
| Seth Rettberg | Ensemble (August 10 - August 31) / Understudy for Princeton/Rod, Brian, Nicky/Trekkie/Bear |
| Jennie Kwan | Swing / Understudy for Christmas Eve |
| Cullen Titmas | Swing / Understudy for Princeton/Rod, Brian, Nicky/Trekkie/Bear |
| Erica Robinson | Swing / Understudy for Gary Coleman |
Creative Team
| Robert Lopez | Based On An Original Concept By |
| Jeff Marx | Based On An Original Concept By |
| Robert Lopez | Music |
| Jeff Marx | Music |
| Robert Lopez | Lyrics |
| Jeff Marx | Lyrics |
| Jeff Whitty | Book |
| Jason Moore | Director |
| Rick Lyon | Puppets Conceived and Designed By |
| Anna Louizos | Set Designer |
| Mirena Rada | Costume Designer |
| Howell Binkley | Lighting Designer |
| Tom Clark | Sound Design (Acme Sound Partners) |
| Mark Menard | Sound Design (Acme Sound Partners) |
| Nevin Steinberg | Sound Design (Acme Sound Partners) |
| Robert Lopez | Animation Design |
| Gary Adler | Incidental Music |
| Stephen Oremus | Music Arrangements |
| Stephen Oremus | Orchestrations |
| Evan Ensign | Associate Director |
| Andrew Graham | Musical Director |
| Ken Roberson | Choreographer |
| Amyee Garcia | Puppet Coach |
| Todd Potter | Associate Set Designer |
| Karl A. Ruckdeschel | Associate Costume Designer |
| Sten Severson | Associate Sound Designer |
| Ryan O’Gara | Associate Lighting Designer |
| Seth Rettberg | Dance Captain |
Music
| Andrew Graham | Conductor |
| Andrew Graham | Keyboard |
| Anthony Travaglini | Keyboard 2 |
| Aaron Irwin | Reeds |
| Rich Dart | Drums |
| Tyler Williams | Bass |
| Brien Brannigan | Guitars |
| Flint Hawes | Associate Conductor |
Production
| Joel Rosen | Stage Manager |
| Marian DeWitt | Production Stage Manager |
| Michael Keller | Music Coordinator |
| Rick Lyon | Puppet Builder (The Lyon Puppets) |
| Cindy Tolan | Casting |
| Brian Lynch | Technical Director |
| Brian Lynch | Technical Supervisor |
| Scott A. Moore | Director of Marketing |
| John S. Corker | General Manager |
| Jeff Klein | Company Manager |
| Sonny Everett | Associate Producer |
| Walter Grossman | Associate Producer |
| Mort Swinksy | Associate Producer |
| Katrina Stevens | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Julia R. Baldwin | Assistant Company Manager |
| Adam Caldwell | Casting Associate |
| Stephen Oremus | Musical Supervision |
| Michael Hannah | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Hilary Knox | Automated Light Programmer |
| Justin Garvey | Production Carpenter |
| Keith Buchanan | Production Electrician |
| Ron Groomes | Production Prop Master |
| Jeff Sharratt | Head Carpenter |
| Bill Hopkins | Head Electrician |
| Daniel Scheivert | Head Audio Engineer |
| Christian Young | Prop Master |
| Tyler Smutz | Flyman |
| Jerry Tisdale | Head Spotlight Operator |
| JJ Hillman | Assistant Audio Engineer |
| Fran Curry | Assistant Prop Manager |
| Brett Jarvis | Sound and Video Design Effects |
| Jim Abbott | Synthesizer Programming |
| Randy Cohen | Associate Synthesizer Programming |
| Emily Grishman | Music Copying |
| Emily Grishman | Music Preparation |
| Nick Lugo | General Management Associate |
| Andrew Jones | Management Assistant |
| Ryan Hill | Executive Assistant to Messrs. McCollum and Seller |
| Jessica White | Assistant to Ms. Goodman |
| Kim Marie Vasquez | Assistant to Mr. Corker |
| Tanya Grubich | Tour Marketing & Publicity |
| Laura Matalon | Tour Marketing & Publicity |
| Marya K. Peters | Tour Marketing & Publicity |
| John Gilmour | Tour Marketing & Publicity |
| Sam Rudy | General Press Representation |
| Dale Heller | General Press Representation |
| Bob Lasko | General Press Representation |
| Charlie Siedenburg | General Press Representation |
| Meredith Blair | Tour Direction |
| Kara Gebhart | Tour Direction |
