The show, which sings about the expiration of things in "Only for Now," had changed the final shouted lyric (usually "George Bush") to "This show!/Is only for now..." So, when the smiling producer Kevin McCollum took the stage among a teary crowd of former cast members — who glided across the stage in the closing number (minus notables like John Tartaglia and Natalie Venetia Belcon, represented by headshots) — the audience did not expect what was to come.

Following such parting words as "Sometimes it doesn't take a whole village, it only takes an Avenue" and a joke about re-negotiations with The Shuberts, McCollum handed over the mic to co-creators Marx (who noted "Firstly, don't I look great?") and Lopez (who took his moment back from his cut-off speech at the Tony Awards to say "I love you, Kristen [his wife.]") The producer then took back the microphone and surprisingly announced that the show was in fact NOT ending, only moving blocks away to the "Broadway-adjacent" New World Stages to start back Off-Broadway in three and a half weeks (Performances begin Oct. 9. Tickets are now on sale through telecharge.com and AvenueQ.com).

[caption id="attachment_1292" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="Producer Kevin McCollum (center) at the curtain call for Broadway\'s Avenue Q"][/caption]