Photo Flash: AVENUE Q's Jennifer Barnhart Sparkles In Cabaret Debut At The Laurie Beechman

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.

Alan Muraoka was at the helm of last night's evening of stories, silliness and song as the statuesque and gifted comedienne shared the journey that led her to two of the most famous streets in the world: Broadway and Sesame Street.

Ms. Barnhart was accompanied by music director Gary Adler, bassist Jim Donica and percussionist Michael Croiter, all of whom were in the original Avenue Q orchestra. She was joined by puppeteer Rick Lyon.

Her entertaining set list included: "It's Today," "I Had Someone Else," "Moonlight Savings Time," "I Love Rock & Roll, "Just in Time," "Natural Woman" sung with Cleo the Lion, "Black Coffee," "Not Perfect," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Barcelona" with Rick Lyon and the Bad Idea Bears, "Drinking for Two," "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" with Mrs. T. Roz, "Brave," "Crazy World," "Save Your Sorrow for Tomorrow". She sang followed "Let the Rest of the Wo! rld Go By," as her encore.

Catch Ms. Barnhart in her second performance on Sunday, April 7th at 7:00 pm. Click here for tickets.

Jennifer Barnhart (Performer) was an Original Broadway Company member (Outer Critics Circle Award) of the smash Tony Award-winning hit Avenue Q,and she remained with the show in the role she created for its entire six-year run on Broadway. As a puppeteer, Jennifer has performed on numerous children's television shows, most notably "Between the Lions," "Bear in the Big Blue House," "Johnny & the Sprites," "Julie's Greenroom" (with Julie Andrews, for Netflix), and "Sesame Street," where she plays Zo! e. Some favorite 'human' roles include: Lady Macbeth, Goneril and Veronica in God of Carnage (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), and Officer Randy in Superior Donuts (The Arden Theatre). She has also appeared on "Law & Order: SVU" (once as a puppeteer) and was the Speaker of the House on Season 5 of "House of Cards". Jennifer's voice can be heard on various educational apps, and as a narrator for the YA novel The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle (Penguin/Random House). Website: www.jenniferbarnhart.com Follow on Instagram: #iamjenbarnhart

Alan Muraoka (Director) NY directing credits: Avenue Q (Off-Broadway Resident Director), Telly Leung: Telly on a Sunday (Birdland-November 2018), The Report (! NY Fringe), Kung Fu (Signature Theatre-AD), Ann Harada: American Songbook (Lincoln Center), Awesomer & Awesomer!!! (Triad Theatre), The King and I (Harbor Lights Theatre), Telly Leung: Playlist and What Makes a Man? (54 Below), Ali Ewoldt: From Phantom to Phantom (54 Below) Grand Hotel (NYU/Cap 21), Falsettoland (NAATCO), John Tartaglia AD-LIBerty (Joe's Pub) & Christmas Eve With Christmas Eve (BC/EFA Benefits). Regionally: South Pacific & Once On This Island (Olney Theatre),The King and I, Xanadu, Disney's High School Musical and Disney's High School Musical 2 (all at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), Disney's High School Musical (MUNY, Casa Manana), Urinetown (Trinity University), and Up In The Air (Kennedy Center-AD). Television: "S! esame Street," Macy'sThanksgiving Day Parade. As an actor, Alan is most recognizable for his role in the Emmy Award winning series, "Sesame Street," where he plays "Alan," the proprietor of Hooper's Store. He has appeared in 7 Broadway shows; Aladdin, Pacific Overtures, Mail, Shogun, the Musical, My Favorite Year, The King and I (with Lou Diamond Phillips and Donna Murphy), and most notably Miss Saigon, where he played the lead role of the Engineer. Member SSDC & DGA. Website: www.alanmuraoka.net Follow on Instagram: #alanathoopers

Photo credit: Lia Chang

Jennifer Barnhart

Jennifer Barnhart

Jennifer Barnhart and Jim Donica

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart, Jim Donica

Gary Adler and Jim Donica

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart, Rick Lyon, Jim Donica, Alan Muraoka and Michael Croiter

Jennifer Barnhart and Mrs. T. Roz

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart and Mrs. T. Roz

Music Director Gary Adler

Jennifer Barnhart

Jennifer Barnhart and Cleo the Lion

Jennifer Barnhart and Cleo the Lion

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart, Jim Donica

Jennifer Barnhart and Jim Donica

Jennifer Barnhart, the Bad Idea Bears and Rick Lyon

Jennifer Barnhart, the Bad Idea Bears and Rick Lyon

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart, Jim Donica

Gary Adler, Jennifer Barnhart, Jim Donica

Jim Donica, Jennifer Barnhart and director Alan Muraoka