Rick Lyon News

Today's top stories: Freestyle Love Supreme and Girl From The North Country are heading to Broadway, and more!

Broadway Sessions bid farewell to Avenue Q recently. Current cast members as well as Q alumni joined together to celebrate the Tony winning musicals 16 year run in NYC. And yes, there was plenty of puppet action! Enjoy these highlights featuring Rick Lyon, Jennifer Barnhart, Ben Durocher, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Maggie Lakis, Erin Quill, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Sharon Wheatley, Joshua Holden, Imari Hardon, Jed Resnick as well as our Rising Star Cassandra Giovinne.

The Group Rep's production of AVENUE Q played to sold out houses opening weekend at the Lonny Chapman Theatre. The Tony Award-winning musical, with music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Lopez and Marx, Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, directed by Patrick Burke, produced by Drina Durazo and Kevin Hoffman, Jr., Music Direction by Paul Cady, and Choreography by Michele Bernath has quickly become a Critics Pick.

The Group Rep presents AVENUE Q, Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, directed by Patrick Burke, produced by Drina Durazo and Kevin Hoffman, Jr., Music Direction by Paul Cady, and Choreography by Michele Bernath.

Avenue Q officially ends its 15+ year run tonight, May 26.

Last night, Broadway Sessions will held the ultimate AVENUE Q Farewell/Reunion Show. The show's current cast will joined Q alumni for a night of story and song that was uniquely Q.

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway cast twice monthly. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida, Footloose, Dance Captain Dance Attack web series) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano. This Thursday night, May 23rd Broadway Sessions will hold the ultimate AVE Q Farewell/Reunion Show. Current cast will join Q alumni for a night of story and song that is uniquely Q.

AVENUE Q - winner of three 2004 Tony Awards including Best Musical - will close May 26 Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 W. 50 Street). The musical which has been a part of the New York theatrical landscape for 15+ years, both on Broadway and Off Broadway is produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theatre and The New Group, will have played a total of 6569 performances upon closing: from its first Broadway preview on July 14, 2003 to its final performance May 26, 2019.

Just last night, Vineyard Theatre presented its 2019 Gala fundraiser, celebrating Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, and Drama League Award nominated artist and Vineyard Board Member, Colman Domingo. 

Just last night, Vineyard Theatre presented its 2019 Gala fundraiser, celebrating Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, and Drama League Award nominated artist and Vineyard Board Member, Colman Domingo. Check out photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

Theater fans and collectors can have their very own bit of Broadway when set pieces and props from the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q will be made available for an online auction on the Broadway Design Exchange website from May 6 to 16. The auction coincides with the May 26 closing of AVENUE Q, which has played 16 years on Broadway and Off-Broadway, as well as in theaters around the world. 

Three of the puppet stars of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q - Kate Monster, Nicky and Rod - have been chosen to be part of the permanent Popular Entertainment collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, it has been announced by Rick Lyon, who conceived and designed the long-running show's furry cast of characters.

The Off Broadway Alliance, an organization of Off-Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing professionals, has announced the nominees for the 9th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, honoring commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off Broadway during the 2018-2019 season.

Theatre Wesleyan's production of the Tony Award-winning musical will be performed for one weekend only, April 25-28. Tickets are now available at www.txwes.edu/theatretickets.

Jennifer Barnhart was such a hit in her first solo cabaret show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre this month that due to popular demand, she's been invited back for an encore performance of "It's About Time!" on Sunday, May 19th. Showtime is at 7pm. Click here for tickets.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

After years of playing well with others - whether singing backup for friends' shows, or crooning alongside a cast of puppet characters - Jennifer Barnhart stepped into the spotlight and slayed in her debut solo cabaret, fittingly titled, 'It's About Time!' at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs at the Westbank Cafe on 42nd Street.

Avenue Q recently held some special events in honor of World Puppetry Day on March 21.

Avenue Q - the Tony Award winning Best Musical set to end its 15+ year run in NYC this spring - will celebrate WORLD PUPPETRY DAY on Thursday, March 21, 2019 with a one-night-only roster of special events, including a special ticket price for any patron who brings a puppet to the show AND a Puppet Dance Party after the 8 p.m. performance at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), it has been announced by AVENUE Q producers Kevin McCollum and Robyn Goodman.

It's always a joy to take a stroll down 'Avenue Q,' Broadway's Tony Award winning musical soon to be ending a fifteen year run in New York City and currently being presented at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset. Audiences are still flocking to the numerous productions of this crowd-pleasing sensation popping up all over the globe. The Cultural Arts Playhouse admirably delivers the hysterical 'Sesame Street for adults' musical, faithfully sticking to the original concept and adding it's own special touches here and there keeping it fresh and exciting.