AvenueQ Reviews & Ratings

Avenue Q is a musical conceived by both Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. The play was directed by Jason Moore and the book is written by Jeff Whitty. The show is largely inspired by the Sesame Street. The characters are both puppets and live characters. Instead of live characters handling the puppets, the two interact throughout the whole musical. The musical is suited for adults and mature teenagers. The puppets are not children but are in their twenties and thirties. The central theme of the musical is finding purpose in life.

The play consists of two acts. The first act begins with Princeton, fresh out of college, looking for an affordable apartment in New York City and trying to find his purpose in life. At Avenue Q, he meets a group of neighbors living on the street including Kate Monster, Nicky and Rod, Brian, Christmas Eve, and Gary Coleman. All of them try to argue which life is worse when Princeton arrives, takes an apartment, and is welcomed by the group. Each of the characters deal with different issues in the play, Rod is hiding his homosexuality which can be blatantly seen by everyone. Kate Monster wants to become a great teacher and open up her own school for monsters while Princeton is still jobless and penniless. The Bad Idea Bears influence the group into buying beers and drinking and influences Princeton to take tipsy Kate home and bed her. The act ends with Rod and Nicky arguing about his sexuality, and Princeton breaking up with Kate because of commitment issues. The second act centers on finding a fresh start amongst a bad ending for the group. Rod and Nicky reconcile, Katie and Princeton get back together and a new character enters the scene. Princeton is faced with a new kid fresh out of college who is also looking for purpose in life and is inspired to pass on everything he has learned by putting it on a show. The idea is shot down by everybody who discourages Princeton but the group cheers him up in the end.

Avenue Q was opened at the Off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre in March 2003. It is still running and is currently the 21st longest running show on Broadway. The musical has won several Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical. After a run lasting more than six years, Avenue Q will be closed on September 13, 2009.