A casting notice reveals the puppet and people musical is seeking players for its first national tour, which is slated to begin in August for an "ongoing tour currently [booked] through July of 2008." Q Tour Limited Partnership, Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman and Jeffrey Seller will produce. Production spokespersons could not be reached at press time.

Currently in its fourth year on Broadway, the show has already played a run in Las Vegas at the Wynn Las Vegas casino resort — an exclusive deal that originally kept the show from touring — and currently enjoys a run at London's Noel Coward Theatre. The musical will next play Old Globe's summer season at the historic Spreckels Theatre in San Diego, CA, starting June 30.

Avenue Q began Broadway previews July 11, 2003, and opened July 31 at the John Golden to positive critical and audience response following an Off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre. The show's creators, Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, earned a Tony for their score as did book writer Jeff Whitty, and the musical itself garnered the top Best Musical prize at the 2004 Tony Awards. Jason Moore (Steel Magnolias) directed with musical direction by Gary Adler (Altar Boyz).

Set on the fictitious New York street, Avenue Q sends up popular children's television shows such as "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company," while serving up a bounty of pop-culture references and solving the mystery of the whereabouts of former "Diff'rent Strokes" child star Gary Coleman. The production bears the warning: "Full puppet nudity, not suitable for children."

Avenue Q can be found on the web at www.avenueq.com.