avenue q

original Off-Broadway production

Vineyard Theatre

February 19 - May 4, 2003

original Broadway production

John Golden Theatre

my run: July 10, 2003 - December 24, 2005

music and lyrics by Bobby Lopez and Jeff Marx

book by Jeff Whitty

directed by Jason Moore

original cast recording available on CD, Amazon and iTunes

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, 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.