The actress made her Broadway debut in the show, originating her dual role (among others) in the musical since earlier incarnations and its Off-Broadway debut. D'Abruzzo, who had been the only 2004 Tony Award nominee still in her nominated role at the time of the 2005 ceremony, will have played in 960 performances on Broadway by the end of her run.

D'Abruzzo told Playbill.com (November 2005) that she would leave the production to prepare for her upcoming turn in the Off-Broadway musical I Love You Because. She has also been seen on stage in such special events as the Actors’ Fund Chess benefit concertm the City Center Encores! production of Carnival and the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Children and Art.

Mary Faber, who also makes her Broadway debut, will replace her Dec. 26. Faber has performed Off-Broadway in Slut, Junie B. Jones and The Tutor. She joins the current Avenue Q cast of Barrett Foa, Christian Anderson with original members Jennifer Barnhart, Natalie Venetia, Jordan Gelber and Ann Harada.

Jason Moore (Steel Magnolias) directed the puppet and people-populated musical which reached its 1,000th performance Dec. 22 at the John Golden Theatre.

Creators Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx earned a Tony for their score as did bookwriter Jeff Whitty and the musical itself garnered the top prize as Best Musical at the 2004 Tony Awards.

A second production of the musical opened Sept. 8 at the custom-built Broadway Theatre in the Wynn Las Vegas casino resort. The Nevada run began with original Broadway cast members John Tartaglia and Rick Lyon — who also designed and provided the show's puppets.

For more information on Avenue Q in New York and Las Vegas, visit www.avenueq.com.