Photo Coverage: 'More To Ruv', AVENUE Q Opens Off-Broadway at New World Stages!

The producers of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q, transferring from its 6-year run on Broadway to New World Stages (340 West 50 Street) in New York, celebrated Opening Night on October 21, 2009. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there to capture all the "furry" fun!

The cast for AVENUE Q at New World Stages is comprised of "Q alumni" representing the musical's Broadway, Las Vegas and 1st National Tour companies: Anika Larsen (from the final Broadway cast and previously from the National Tour) as Kate Monster/Lucy; Seth Rettberg (Broadway and National Tour) as Princeton/Rod; Cullen Titmus (National Tour) as Nicky/Trekkie Monster; Danielle K. Thomas (final Broadway cast and National Tour) as Gary Coleman; Sala Iwamatsu (Broadway) as Christmas Eve; Nicholas Kohn (final Broadway company and Las Vegas) as Brian; and Maggie Lakis (National Tour) as Mrs. T/Bad Idea Bear.

At New World Stages, AVENUE Q has a Rush Ticket: $26.50 for the front row of the orchestra seats on the day of the performance. Rush Tickets are available for all performances and can be purchased (subject to availability) during New World Stages Box Office hours. Tickets are limited 2 per person.

With a cast comprised of people and puppets, AVENUE Q is musical about 20-somethings who move to the city with big dreams and tiny bank accounts. AVENUE Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, and is directed by Jason Moore. Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon, AVENUE Q has musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

The musical is produced at New World Stages by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, The Vineyard Theatre and The New Group.

Winner of three 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score (Messrs. Lopez and Marx) and Best Book of a Musical (Mr. Whitty), AVENUE Q became an overnight sensation on Broadway in July 2003, having transferred to the John Golden Theatre from a wildly successful, extended and sold-out engagement Off-Broadway at The Vineyard Theatre in Union Square.

During its six-plus years on Broadway, AVENUE Q played a total of 2,534 performances, surpassing such musicals as THE PRODUCERS, OKLAHOMA! and ANNIE to become, at present, the 20th longest-running show in Broadway history.

At the 499-seat theatre at New World Stages, AVENUE Q will perform Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm and 7:30pm. Tickets - which are currently on-sale - will range in price from $86.50 to $66.50 and are available by calling Tele Charge 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com. Rush tickets for $26.50 are available at the box office. Visit the Avenue Q website at www.avenueq.com.

Photos by Peter James Zielinski

Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Danielle K. Thomas, Seth Rettberg, Anika Larsen, Cullen R. Titmas and Maggie Lakis

Nicholas Kohn

Sala Iwamatsu and Danielle K. Thomas

Sala Iwamatsu

Maggie Lakis and Danielle K. Thomas

Cullen R. Titmas

Anika Larsen

Anika Larsen, Cullen R. Titmas and Maggie Lakis

Seth Rettberg, Cullen R. Titmas, Maggie Lakis and Danielle K. Thomas

Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Danielle K. Thomas, Seth Rettberg, Anika Larsen, Cullen R. Titmas and Maggie Lakis

Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Danielle K. Thomas, Seth Rettberg, Anika Larsen, Cullen R. Titmas and Maggie Lakis

Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Anika Larsen, Seth Rettberg, Cullen R. Titmas, Maggie Lakis and Danielle K. Thomas

Anika Larsen, Seth Rettberg and Cullen R. Titmas

Sala Iwamatsu, Anika Larsen, Seth Rettberg, Cullen R. Titmas and Danielle K. Thomas

Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Danielle K. Thomas, Seth Rettberg, Anika Larsen, Cullen R. Titmas and Maggie Lakis

Robert Lopez

Robert Lopez and Jeff Whitty

Jennifer Barnhart and Rick Lyon

Rob McClure

Kevin McCollum, Sutton Foster and Jeffrey Seller

Lynnette Perry-McCollum and Kevin McCollum

Jason Moore

Anika Larsen and April Nickell

Anika Larsen and April Nickell

Lucy the Slut and Anika Larsen

Sala Iwamatsu

Sala Iwamatsu

Nicholas Kohn and Sala Iwamatsu

Princeton and Seth Rettberg

Maggie Lakis, Nicky and Cullen R. Titmas

Seth Rettberg and Anika Larsen

Jeff Marx

Danielle K. Thomas

Autumn Hurlburt

Seth Rettberg and Rob McClure

Seth Rettberg and Rob McClure

Hunter Bell and and Kevin McCollum

Hunter Bell, Lynnette Perry-McCollum and Kevin McCollum

Jeff Marx and and Kevin McCollum

Kevin McCollum and Stephen Oremus

Jeff Whitty, Rob McClure, Maggie Lakis, Jennifer Barnhart, Rick Lyon and Cullen R. Titmas

Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Anika Larsen and Anika Larsen and April Nickell