Irreverently witty and outright uproarious, Avenue Q is the musical story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who arrives in New York City looking for love, a job, and his purpose in life. The only neighbourhood he can afford is the multicultural Avenue Q, where Sesame Street-esque puppets rub shoulders with humans.
Winner of the Tony Award “Triple Crown” in 2004 (Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score), Avenue Q is part felt, part flesh, and packed with songs that are surprisingly poignant and definitely not the ones you grew up with!
“The music is playful, the lyrics are outrageous, the script is hilarious, and the characters are delightful. Underneath its colourful fur, a big, boisterous heart beats,” says Avenue Q director Peter Jorgensen. “Avenue Q is the perfect musical comedy…unless you are under 14 years of age!”
[Rod]
Full puppet nudity warning: This is not your kids’ puppet show as it sneaks a peek at raucous sexual congress, failed childhood stardom, excessive drinking, moving in and out of a slummy neighbourhood, investing, mix-tapes, cute creatures doing bad things, singing boxes, getting laid off, finding your purpose, getting fired, getting re-hired, loving someone but wanting to kill them, exotic dancing, erotic dancing, exotic erotic dancing, homosexuality, racism, pornography, masturbation, interracial marriage, interspecies relationships (monsters and humans), roommates, coming out of the closet, coming out of your apartment, getting ahead in life, going to college, pan-handling, wishing you were back in college, coming out of your shell, and recycling.
Avenue Q stars Scott Bellis, Jeny Cassady, Shannon Chan-Kent, Kayla Dunbar, Evangelia Kambites, Andrew MacDonald-Smith, and Andy Toth, based on the book by Jeff Whitty. It is both directed and choreographed by Peter Jorgensen.
Avenue Q: The Broadway Musical for Adults
Dates: June 20 to August 3; Mondays and Tuesdays, 7:30 pm; Wednesday to Saturday, 8 pm; Wednesday and Saturday, 2 pm matinees
Venue: Granville Island Stage, 1585 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $29 to $54, including tax and fees; via online or by phoning the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644.
All photos by Emily Cooper.
