character actor-puppeteer-singer-voiceover artist-so much more
PHOTO CREDIT: NICK RUECHEL
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
PHOTO CREDIT: NICK RUECHEL
ORIGINAL CAST:
PRINCETON/ ROD: John Tartaglia
KATE MONSTER/LUCY THE SLUT: lil' ol' me
NICKY/TREKKIE MONSTER/BAD IDEA BEAR: Rick Lyon
MRS. THISTLETWAT/BAD IDEA BEAR: Jennifer Barnhart
CHRISTMAS EVE: Ann Harada
BRIAN: Jordan Gelber
GARY COLEMAN: Natalie Venetia Belcon
ORIGINAL BROADWAY ENSEMBLE:
Peter Linz
Jody Eichelberger
Aymee Garcia
Carmen Ruby Floyd
Erin Quill
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, 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 CREDIT: CAROL ROSEGG
PHOTO CREDIT: JOSEPH MARZULLO / THEATREMANIA
PHOTO CREDIT: SARAH KRULWICH / NEW YORK TIMES
FROM AVENUE Q's 2004 TONY PERFORMANCE
PHOTO CREDITS: CAROL ROSEGG / VINEYARD PRODUCTION
PHOTO CREDITS: CAROL ROSEGG / BROADWAY PRODUCTION
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS SHOW:
PHOTO CREDIT:
CAROL ROSEGG / BROADWAY PRODUCTION
with John Tartaglia
with John Tartaglia
with John Tartaglia and Jennifer Barnhart
L-R: Jordan Gelber, Kate Monster, me, Rod,
John Tartaglia, Jennifer Barnhart, Nicky, Rick Lyon
I chatted with Dan Pardo about "There's a Fine, Fine Line" on his web series PARDO'S TURN in January of 2019.
I perform the song as myself, not as Kate Monster, around the 14:30 mark.
It's not a flawless rendition, but it's me.
A 3-SONG SAMPLE OF MY WORK IN "AVENUE Q"