PHOTO BY NICK RUECHEL
original Off-Broadway production
Vineyard Theatre
February 19 - May 4, 2003
2003 drama desk nomination
original Broadway production
John Golden Theatre
my run: July 10, 2003 - December 24, 2005
2004 tony nomination
2004 theatre world award
2004 outer critics circle special award: outstanding ensemble
music and lyrics by Bobby Lopez and Jeff Marx
book by Jeff Whitty
directed by Jason Moore
original cast recording available on CD and LP, Amazon and iTunes
PHOTO BY NICK RUECHEL
L-R: Jordan Gelber, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Nicky, Rick Lyon (hidden), Princeton,
John Tartaglia, Jennifer Barnhart, Kate Monster, me, Rod, Ann Harada
The very first public reading of AVENUE Q was at the York Theatre in May of 2000. It was the first time I appeared on a New York stage.
The Vineyard Theatre production was the first time I was seen in an Off-Broadway show.
(I had been in the City Center Encores! production of CARNIVAL in 2002, which got me my Equity card, but I was an unseen puppeteer.)
The Broadway production at the John Golden Theatre production was my Broadway debut.
To say that this was a show of many firsts for me is an understatement. It was unique, special, and surprising in every way. It was supremely educational and transformative for me on a personal level. It was also exhausting, revealing, and unlike any other project I had ever been involved with before or have done since.
I was very, very lucky.
I miss it madly. I miss the people, I miss the band, I miss being allowed to do what I love eight times a week, I miss climbing the mountain every night, I miss the between-show dinners, and I miss being part of the Broadway Community.
I don't miss it one whit. I don't miss singing while sick, I don't miss the pressure of trying to stay healthy and vital eight times a week, I don't miss trying to navigate Times Square on my way home, and I most certainly do not miss certain toxic elements of The Biz.
But I do wish I had taken more pictures.
PHOTO BY CAROL ROSEGG
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS SHOW:
Here is a performance of "There's a Fine, Fine Line," out of character and out of context.
It was recorded for the virtual Theatre World Awards in July, 2021.
A 3-SONG SAMPLE OF MY WORK IN "AVENUE Q"
avenue q
Here's a performance of "There's a Fine, Fine Line" (with Kate Monster)
from the AVENUE Q 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert at Feinstein's/54 Below
July 30, 2018