We’re not that special after all – a shocking discovery made by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Avenue Q co-creators and members of the generation raised to believe they were special – TV’s Mr. Rogers wanted to be their friend and neighbor; they were told they could grow up to be anything they wanted to be, from a fireman to President of the United States and even in college they readied themselves to set the world on fire. But once out of college, faced with rent bills and entry level jobs with low pay, much to their horror and dismay, they discovered life wasn't nearly as easy or nice as they had expected it was going to be. It wasn’t like "Sesame Street!"

Robert Lopez had wanted to write musicals his entire life. Jeff Marx, an entry level entertainment lawyer, decided to try to become a producer after he realized the clients he represented were having more fun than he was. Both men decided the next step to take was to apply to the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing workshop. The partnership began when Lopez asked Marx to write a song with him after seeing Marx present a funny song in class called, “People Suck.”

Marx and Lopez then decided to write a movie musical that would appeal to everyday people - people who didn't necessarily already like musicals – so, they decided to write a Muppet movie. Their movie musical was based on Hamlet and called Kermit, Prince of Denmark. They sent the songs and a synopsis to Brian Henson, the head of the Jim Henson Company, to see if he would be interested in working on the film with them. He declined.

From that experience they decided to create their own family of characters and the basis for Avenue Q began to materialize. Originally, Avenue Q was intended as a TV show to pitch to Comedy Central, Fox, HBO, or the like. But, because Marx and Lopez didn’t have any TV connections, and because a young director named Seth Goldstein invited them to do a reading at the York Theater, where he was working at the time, they decided to try it as a stage work. They invited puppet designer and puppeteer, Rick Lyon, who they had met on the “Kermit” project, to get a couple puppets together and to bring some of his puppeteer buddies to play the other characters. They also invited everyone they knew, including the general public and faxed every producer's office. They didn't charge any admission. The theatre filled, and due to tremendous buzz, went on for three more sold out performances!

A friend at the Manhattan Theater Club who liked their work, called theatre producer, Robyn Goodman, who in turn invited theatre producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, all of whom happened to be looking for new projects to produce. Jeffrey Seller met Lopez and Marx in the lobby immediately after the very first reading and told them he loved the production and thought it would make a great stage musical. If they wanted to do it on stage instead of on TV, he would be interested in producing it. Lopez and Marx figured since this was a guy who, with his partner, produced Rent, wasted no time in shaking his hand and saying, “Um, ok, let’s do it.”

Since the puppets were originally intended for television, for that first stage reading they were faced with the problem of how to hide the puppeteers, as well as how they would hold their scripts and turn pages. They decided to just let the performers stay in plain view and hold the puppets and not make any effort to hide the fact that they were there. And to everyone’s great surprise, when the performers started breathing life into the puppets, and giving them expressions, movements and voices, they were able to convince the audience that the puppets were real! So, today in Avenue Q, the puppeteers just walk around carrying their puppets the way they did in the first reading.

The show was presented at the 2002 National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut. It was then produced Off Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March, 2003. By July of that year it moved to Broadway where it was nominated for six Tony Awards and won three including Best Musical.

With 2,534 performances, Avenue Q ranks 21st on the list of longest running shows in Broadway history. The show ended its Broadway run on September 13, 2009, and 6 weeks later, reopened in the New World Stages complex on West 50th Street, where it continues to play today as an Off Broadway production. Since 2003 it has been produced in Las Vegas, The West End in London, numerous national tours and throughout the world.

What began with a concept, a couple of songs, and then a staged reading in a borrowed theatre in the basement of a church, with actors paid for by buying them dinner, blossomed into one of the most irreverent and adored shows on Broadway and now right here on our own stage with the original creators work and wonderful puppets in place!

About the Avenue Q Puppets

The Avenue Q puppets, which cost up to $10,000 each, and require up to 120 hours of hand fabrication per character, were designed and built by original cast member Rick Lyon. Lyon's company, Lyon Puppets, continues to build and maintain the puppets used in all North American productions. Their unusually sturdy construction, with double-stitching, reinforced seams, steel boning, and custom fake fur and feathers, is necessitated by the rigors of an eight-shows-per-week performance schedule.

For our Ogunquit Playhouse production there are 62 puppets performing 10 characters – hairdo changes, costume changes or no costumes as the case may be…

Three distinct types of puppets are used in the show:

• Single-Rod Puppets: Princeton, Kate Monster

Single-rod puppets consist of a head and a torso with two arms, one movable for gestures and one decorative. The puppeteer controls the puppet's head and mouth with his or her dominant hand, and holds a rod in the other hand that is attached to the puppet's movable arm. The nonfunctional arm is either "posed" in a permanent gesture or attached to the puppet's torso.

• Double-Rod Puppets: Rod, Lucy, The Bears

Double-rod puppets are identical to single-rod puppets except that both arms are movable, each controlled by a separate rod. The head and mouth are controlled in the same way, with the dominant hand, and the two rods are held in the other hand. The puppeteer drops one rod temporarily when only one arm requires animation.

• Live-Hands Puppets: Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Mrs. T, Ricky

Live-hands puppets require two puppeteers, each of whom contributes one hand and arm dressed with a long sleeve and glove matching the puppet's costume, which become the arms and hands of the puppet. The speaking puppeteer controls the puppet's left hand and head/mouth, while the second, silent operator controls the right hand. (Roles are sometimes reversed if the speaking puppeteer is left-handed.) During Avenue Q, one puppeteer will sometimes leave to take over another puppet, leaving the live-hands puppet with a single operator and only one functioning hand. In a variation, one or both of the puppet's hands can be attached to its torso to permit operation by a single puppeteer.

HOWIE MICHAEL SMITH (Princeton / Rod) is thrilled to be on Avenue Q again! Howie played Princeton/Rod over 1000 times in the Broadway production. Regional: A Christmas Carol (Ford’s Theatre), 1776, Carousel (Marriott Theatre), As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), The Tempest (Dallas Shakespeare), Tribute to Sondheim with George Hearn (Pittsburgh Pops), Bill Nelson‘s All Male Revue(Barrington), Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Tour), Singin’ in the Rain, Brigadoon, Oliver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. TV: "Puppet Planet" for the Travel Channel. Howie holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. ILYJSR

ASHLEY EILEEN BUCKNAM (Kate Monster / Lucy the Slut) is thrilled to be working on Avenue Q again! National/International Tour: Avenue Q. Favorite Regional: Little Shop of Horrors, Peter Pan, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. BFA Shenandoah Conservatory. Endless love and thanks to my family and friends!!

CHRIS COOKE (Nicky / Trekkie Monster / Bear / Others) is excited to return to Avenue Q. Chris recently worked with Stephen Colbert in the musical Company at Lincoln Center. Credits include: Spamalot (Sir Bedevere), Company (Harry B-Cast), (Nicky/Trekkie), Happy Days (Ralph Malph), Henry & Mudge (Dad), Little Shop of Horrors;(Dentist), Joseph... Dreamcoat (Simeon). He is also a Pace University graduate with a BFA in Musical Theater. Thanks to Keith and much love to my wife Kelsey.

JAYSON ELLIOTT (Brian) is happy to be making his Ogunquit debut! Favorite credits include: Dave in The Full Monty, William Barfee in ...Spelling Bee, Jud Fry in Oklahoma, The Big Bopper in The Buddy Holly Story, Jim in Pump Boys and Dinettes, and Stanley Sanders in Smoke on the Mountain. Many thanks to everyone at OGP, Stage 9, family and friends, and YOU for supporting live theatre!

LEXY FRIDELL (Mrs. T / Bear) is thrilled to be playing with puppets again! Broadway: Chairry (and more) in The Pee-wee Herman Show. 1st National Tour: Avenue Q. Off-Broadway: Gone Missing(Barrow Street Theatre/The Civilians) London: (I am) Nobody’s Lunch. TV: The Pee-wee Herman Show (HBO) and an SNL digital short. Lexy created the role of “Dory” in Finding Nemo, The Musical for Disney. Training: BFA, Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University, Adeline Roth Memorial Award for Acting.

ZONYA LOVE (Gary Coleman) is thrilled to revisit the role of Gary Coleman in The Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of Avenue Q. Broadway: The Color Purple (Celie). National Tour: Avenue Q (Gary Coleman u/s). Regional and some other credits: Avenue Q at Weston Playhouse (Gary Coleman), This One Girl’s Story (Dessa), The Mufti Series’ The Roar of the Greasepaint…. at The York Theatre (Urchin), Kiss Me Kate (Hattie), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy Van Pelt), Intimate Apparel (Mayme), Wit (Susie), Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ), Twelfth Night (Maria), Children of Eden (Eve/Mama Noah) and Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Ermina). She received her BFA from North Carolina A&T State University and MFA from The University of Nevada Las Vegas. Romans 8!!!

REBECCA LARKIN (Christmas Eve) is thrilled to be back on Avenue Q with so many old friends! Broadway: South Pacific. First National Tours: Avenue Q, Barbie LIVE! . Regional: ...Spelling Bee (St. Michael's, Actors' Playhouse), Rent (WBT), Jewtopia (Florida Company), Miss Saigon (Gateway, WBT), The Wedding Singer (Gateway). Cast Recordings: Twice Charmed (Disney), Barbie LIVE! (Mattel). She is immensely grateful for her loving family, adorable hubby, fabulous friends, and everyone who supports live theater!

ZACH TRIMMER (Ensemble / Dance Captain/ Puppet Captain) - Zach is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut in Avenue Q! National tours: Hairspray, Avenue Q. Regional: Gateway Playhouse, John W. Engeman Theatre, VMT, and soon to be Theatre by the Sea as Link in Hairspray. Favorite roles include: Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. Thanks go out to Mom, Dad, Steph, Nat, Nana, Molly, and LOUstubbs. Enjoy the show!

PAUL BREWSTER (Ensemble / Performing Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to return for this season at the beach! Previously at Ogunquit Playhouse: Chicago, The Sound of Music, All Shook Up. Off-Broadway: La Barbería, The Orphans' Home Cycle, The Punishing Blow, Forgotten World, The Living Newspaper. After directing last season's Jr. Player's production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Paul will serve as this season's Education Director (first up is Snow White on July 2nd & 3rd). Proud member of Actor's Equity.

KEITH ANDREWS (Director / Choregrapher) is very excited to take another stroll down Avenue Q and to be back at Ogunquit after previously directing and choreographing the Playhouse’s production of The Full Monty (starring Sally Struthers). Keith directed Avenue Q last summer at Gateway Playhouse as well as having directedthe National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. Other recent directing/choreography credits include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (starring Joe Piscopo), The Wedding Singer, My Way (the Sinatra Tribute), Cold as Ice, Urinetown, Happy Days, the Musical,The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Always... Patsy Cline, Dames at Sea, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Barnum, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pirates of Penzance, Big River, Forever Plaid and Suds, to name just a few. As a choreographer, Keith has recently worked on the world premiere of Love, Incorporated and has received an New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Production of a Musical and nomination for Best Choreography for his work on the new show- Like You Like It. On ice, Keith has directed and choreographed Home for the Holidays - a Celebration on Ice, starring 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist- Evan Lysacek, and Silver Medalists - Charlie White and Meryl Davis, as well as two productions of Stars, Stripes and Skates, the yearly benefit to help survivors and families of the9/11 tragedy. As a performer, Keith has toured all over the world with shows such as: West Side Story, Mame, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In educational theater, Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Keith thanks Brad Kenney for welcoming him back to this wonderful theatre and community and Rick Lyon for imparting his invaluable puppet wisdom.

KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse after the paramount successes of Sunset Blvd. and Chicago. Previous Ogunquit credits include All Shook Up, Guys & Dolls, Les Misérables, The Producers, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, The King and I, La Cage aux Folles. Hello, Dolly!, and Menopause, the Musical. He recently transplanted to Florida where he is now the resident music director for the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Ken is a musical director, vocal coach, and composer/lyricist. He’s conducted musicals up and down the East Coast. Disney uses his writing in Orlando and Tokyo. His project appearing on the Disney Cruise Line was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. He has written two full length musicals, Midnight Clear and A Christmas Carol, both produced in Florida. Ken wrote the music and lyrics to the opening production number of 2007’s Rose Bowl Parade. He has played on “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee” and CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Ken had the great pleasure of coaching Oscar® Award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson on her final call-back for “Dreamgirls.” He has also coached at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music. And last but certainly not least Ken has even played for the Bush's at their home in Kennebunkport, ME.

Hilarious Multi-Tony Award Winning Avenue Q to Open Season at Ogunquit Playhouse!

For Immediate Release:

May 10, 2011

The season opens when “Sesame Street meets South Park” in the Tony Award Best Musical of the Year, smash-hit, Avenue Q. This delightful parody that dares to ask the question, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?” is on stage May 25 to June 18. Avenue Q garnered three Tony Awards in 2004 for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book of a Musical. This funny and irreverent show conveys life’s tough lessons through the trials and tribulations of Princeton, a bright eyed college graduate, who is anxious to discover his purpose in life; but first, he must find an apartment and a job, with no work experience -- just like the other characters living on Avenue Q! Join Princeton along with the Broadway puppets for this toe-tapping, hilarious and often moving musical that the New York Times declared to be “a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe…savvy, sassy and delicious!" BUT, BE FOREWARNED,due to adult situations, like full-puppet nudity, Avenue Q may be inappropriate for children under 17.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production of Avenue Q features Broadway’s Howie Michael Smith, who will head the cast as Princeton (and Rod) reprising his Broadway role; Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut will be played by Ashely Eileen Bucknam, who is coming to Ogunquit fresh from the Avenue Q National tour and Rebecca Larkin will play Christmas Eve, reprising her role from the national tour as well.

Director/Choreographer for the Ogunquit production of Avenue Q is Keith Andrews, who was last seen in Ogunquit as director and choreographer for The Full Monty starring Sally Struthers and Hunter Foster. Keith recently directed Avenue Q for the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY. His many stage credits include the National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, as well as productions for regional theatres across the U.S. As a performer, Keith has toured all over the world with shows such as: West Side Story, Mame, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In educational theater, Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

Avenue Q has long been the darling of both Broadway and off-Broadway theatres, selling out to delighted audiences consistently since its inception. The irreverent take on the joys and travails of making it on your own strike a chord with audiences young and old alike. Don’t miss this hilarious show!

The season continues the east coast premier of Summer of Love, a groovy new show featuring the powerful music of the late 1960s, on stage June 22 through July 16; the critically acclaimed Broadway classic, The Music Man marches into town July 20 to August 20; the all singing, all dancing, feel-good musical comedy Legally Blonde the Musical, is on stage August 24 through September 17 with our heroine Elle, her Chihuahua, Bruiser and the bull-dog-toting-hairdresser Paulette, played by none other than Emmy-Award-winning, Playhouse favorite Sally Struthers; then the fall ushers in one of the most stunning Broadway blockbusters of all time, Miss Saigon, an epic love story that will touch your heart and haunt your memory, on stage September 21 through October 23.

Avenue Q is about real life. It's about finding a job, losing a job, learning about racism, getting an apartment, getting kicked out of your apartment, being different, falling in love, promiscuity, avoiding commitment, hangovers, Internet porn and discovering the world. A prologue on a television screen introduces us to this little corner of the world (THE AVENUE Q THEME).

Princeton is a bright-eyed college grad, who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account (WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A B.A. IN ENGLISH? / IT SUCKS TO BE ME). He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There's Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fiancee Christmas Eve; Nicky, the good-hearted slacker, and his roommate Rod - a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate Monster. Princeton decides to move in and gets the keys to his apartment from the building's superintendent, Gary Coleman.

Later, Rod is reading his favourite book, Broadway Musicals of the 1940s, and is interrupted by Nicky, who tells him a story of a gay guy he met on the subway that morning. Rod gets extremely irritated, but Nicky assures him that if Rod were gay, he would still be by his side (IF YOU WERE GAY). Meanwhile, Princeton is pondering his life after getting fired before his first job (PURPOSE). He finds a lucky penny and hopes things will get better. He asks Kate about her goals, and she tells him about her dream - to open a special school for monsters. His curiosity peaked, Princeton asks Kate if she is related to Trekkie Monster, since since they're both monsters. Kate is infuriated and calls Princeton a racist (EVERYONE'S A LITTLE BIT RACIST).

Kate gets a call from the teacher she assists to let her know that the teacher will be having her heart replaced the next day, leaving Kate in charge of the class. Kate considers what she wants to teach her students (THE INTERNET IS FOR PORN). Later, as she contemplates her relationship with Princeton, he arrives with a gift for her (MIX TAPE) and an invitation to go out to the Around the Clock Club.

At the club, Brian displays his comic skills, to the dismay of Christmas Eve (I'M NOT WEARING UNDERWEAR TODAY). The next big act is Lucy the Slut (SPECIAL). Lucy tries to flirt with Princeton, much to the dislike of Kate, but eventually leaves in a huff after Princeton doesn't leave Kate for her. The Bad Idea Bears arrive with a suggestion to liven things up: a drinking game! The drinks flow, things get merry and soon Princeton and Kate, as well as Christmas Eve and Brian, are having sex (YOU CAN BE AS LOUD AS THE HELL YOU WANT (WHEN YOU'RE MAKING LOVE)). Although Gary gets phone calls to tell the couples to keep it down, he refuses to butt in.Elsewhere, Rod is asleep in bed. He dreams that Nicky is in love with him. Later, the night comes to a romantic conclusion when Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny (FANTASIES COME TRUE).

The next morning, Kate does not make it to school and is fired on the spot. Christmas Eve and Brian decide to get married. The friends discuss Rod's sexuality and Nicky confesses that he thinks that Rod is gay. Rod overhears and is furious, immediately informing all and sundry that he is in a long-distance, heterosexual relationship (MY GIRLFRIEND, WHO LIVES IN CANADA). He also kicks Nicky out of the apartment. Meanwhile, Princeton realizes that he is spending so much time with Kate, that he has lost track of his dreams. He breaks up with her, and she wonders whether the relationship was merely a big waste of time (THERE'S A FINE, FINE LINE).

When Act II begins, Princeton still has not found his purpose in life and he is more miserable than ever. Brian chats with him and the group takes him out for some fun (THERE IS LIFE OUTSIDE YOUR APARTMENT). They run into Lucy and Princeton brings her home. Kate sees this, and tells Christmas Eve her feelings. Christmas Eve, in therapist mode, tells Kate that she's seen it all before (THE MORE YOU RUV SOMEONE). Kate writes a note for Princeton, telling him to meet her at the Empire State Building. But Lucy finds the letter and, in a fit of anger, tears it into pieces before Princeton has a chance to read it.

Meanwhile, Nicky is trying to live on the street. He confides his problems to Gary, who surprisingly is made happy by Nicky's pain (SCHADENFREUDE). Kate is waiting for Princeton on top of the Empire State Building. When he doesn't arrive, Kate is angrily throws the lucky penny that Princeton gave her over the building. It turns out to be a very lucky penny indeed, and lands on Lucy's head. She is sent to the hospital. Princeton, Nicky, and Kate remember college and how easy life was back then (I WISH I COULD GO BACK TO COLLEGE).

Princeton meets Nicky on the street and their conversation makes his realise what he has to do. He decides to raise money towards Kate's monster school (THE MONEY SONG). They decide to ask Trekkie Monster for his help and, since Trekkie was teased as a child at regular school, and he gives the pair 10 million dollars to build a SCHOOL FOR MONSTERS. Kate gets her school and is incredibly excited and happy.

Rod eventually decides to come out of the closet. and Nicky finds a Nicky also has a brilliant idea for helping Rod. Nicky surprises Rod with a new boyfriend - Ricky - and exact replica of Nicky. Rod is ecstatic. Christmas Eve tells Kate that Princeton raised the money, and Kate is touched. Princeton offers to help her with the school, and they decide to try again (THERE'S A FINE, FINE LINE - REPRISE). Christmas Eve and Brian inform the group that they are moving out. Princeton decides that helping people is his purpose in life, but when the new tenant in Avenue Q rudely refuses his help, Princeton laments that he may not have found his purpose after all (WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A BA IN ENGLISH? REPRISE). Still, his friends reassure him that things will be brighter tomorrow if you make things count today (FOR NOW).