NewsFantasies Come True: Avenue Q Launches National Tour from San Diego June 30The whole country will soon learn why "It Sucks to Be Me" as the national tour of the 2004 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Avenue Q launches June 30 from San Diego.
By
Ernio Hernandez
June 30, 2007
Nicky and Christian Anderson begin performances in the national tour of Avenue Q.
Photo by Nick Reuchel
Presented in association with The Old Globe, the tour will play San Diego's Spreckels Theatre through Aug. 5 before embarking on an 18-month national tour.
Filling the fictional street populated by people and puppets are Robert McClure (as Princeton, Rod), Cole Porter (Brian), Kelli Sawyer (Kate Monster, Lucy The Slut & others), Christian Anderson (Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Bear & others), Angela Ai (Christmas Eve), Carla Renata (Gary Coleman) and Minglie Chen (Mrs. T., Bear & others). Rounding out the ensemble are Jennie Kwan, Maggie Lakis, Seth Rettberg, Erica Robinson, Danielle Thomas and Cullen R. Titmas.
The line-up of cities (subject to change) follows:
San Francisco, CA (Aug. 7-Sept. 2) - Orpheum Theatre
Los Angeles, CA (Sept. 4-Oct. 14) - Ahmanson Theatre
Tucson, AZ (Oct. 16-21) - Music Hall
Houston, TX (Oct. 23-Nov. 4) - Hobby Center
Kansas City, MO (Nov. 6-11) - Music Hall
Des Moines, IA (Nov. 13-18) - Civic Center
Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 20-25) - Benedum Center
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 27- Dec. 9) - National Theatre
Baltimore, MD (Dec. 11-23) - Hippodrome Theatre
Minneapolis, MN (Jan. 1-13, 2008) - State Theatre
Cleveland, OH (Jan. 15-27, 2008) - Palace Theatre
Philadelphia, PA (Jan. 29-Feb. 10, 2008) - Forrest Theatre
St. Louis, MO (Feb. 12-24, 2008) - Fox Theatre
Milwaukee, WI (Feb. 26- March 2, 2008) - Marcus Center
Rochester, NY (March 4-9, 2008) - Auditorium Theatre
Boston, MA (March 11-23, 2008) - Colonial Theatre
Atlanta, GA (March 25-30, 2008) - Fox Theatre
Tampa, FL (April 1-6, 2008) - Tampa Bay PAC
Columbus, OH (April 8-13, 2008) - Ohio Theatre
East Lansing, MI (April 15-20, 2008) - Wharton Center
Louisville, KY (April 22-27, 2008) - Louisville Palace
Buffalo, NY (April 29-May 4, 2008) - Shea PAC
Raleigh, NC (May 6-11, 2008) - Progress Energy Center
Miami, FL (May 13-18, 2008) - Carnival Center
Seattle, WA (June 10-22, 2008) - Paramount Theatre
Portland, OR (June 24-29, 2008) - Keller Auditorium
Ft. Worth, TX (July 8-13, 2008) - Bass Performance Hall
Greenville, SC (July 15-20, 2008) - Peace Center
Charlotte, NC (July 22-27, 2008) - Blumenthal PAC
Toronto, ON (July 29-Aug. 31, 2008) - Elgin Theatre
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 also enjoys a run at London's Noel Coward Theatre.
Avenue Q began 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).
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."
