Avenue Q to close on 13 Sep

After 6 years on Broadway the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q will play its final performance on 13 Sep 2009. It will have played 2,534 performances and 22 previews, surpassing 'The Producers' (on 17 Aug 2009), 'Annie,' 'Oklahoma!' and 'Pippin,' among many others to become the 20th longest running show in Broadway history.

Avenue Q will mark its 6th anniversary on Broadway on 31 Jul 2009. The musical began previews on Broadway on 11 Jul 2003, opened on 31 Jul 2003, and went on to win three 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book of a Musical.

The musical is about a rundown outer-borough neighbourhood, where the residents - both puppets and humans - deal with everyday New York challenges like getting a job, falling in love and discovering their purpose in life.

The show opened to mostly excellent reviews from the popular press: �Eminently likable.� (New York Times);�Has so much to recommend it.� (New Yorker ); �Good dirty fun.� (New York Post); �Warmth and wit that will disarm the most jaded grown-ups.� (USA Today); �Hip new musical comedy.� (Time Magazine).

Avenue Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, and is directed by Jason Moore. Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon, Avenue Q has musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

The musical is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, The Vineyard Theatre and The New Group.

"We will miss our furry friends on 45th street but are very proud of their longevity," stated Avenue Q producer Robyn Goodman. Of Rod, the Avenue Q puppet who is a lifelong member of the Republican party, Ms. Goodman adds "a disappointed Rod was hoping for an Obama bail out and swore he would turn Democrat if it happened."

As previously announced, beginning on 6 Jul 2009 Avenue Q will welcome back original cast member Ann Harada in the role of "Christmas Eve." Also joining the Broadway cast on6 Jul, direct from the Avenue Q U.S. national tour are Robert McClure in the roles of 'Princeton/Rod,' Anika Larsen in the roles of 'Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut,' and Danielle K. Thomas in the role of 'Gary Coleman.' They will join Christian Anderson, Nicholas Kohn and Jennifer Barnhart to comprise the final Broadway cast of Avenue Q.

In addition to its long run on Broadway, Avenue Q spawned a 2005 Las Vegas production; a 2006 West End production - which concluded its run at the Noel Coward Theatre in March 2009 only to re-open at the Gielgud Theatre in June 2009; and a U.S. national tour - which recently concluded a successful two year run in May 2009.

The Broadway production of Avenue Q - which recouped its $3.5 million capitalization, in just 10 months - has gone on to gross $117,009,852 (as of week ending 21 Jun 2009), and has returned $23,500,000 to its investors to date.

Avenue Q currently stars Christian Anderson (Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Bear and Others), Jennifer Barnhart (Mrs. T, Bear & Others), Nicholas Kohn (Brian), Ann Sanders (Christmas Eve) and Carla Renata (Gary Coleman).