AVENUE Q Extended By Popular Demand at Mercury Theater Chicago

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce the extension of AVENUE Q through November 4, 2018 due to popular demand. After an incredible run in 2004, this lovingly revived Broadway musical is wowing audiences yet again with its relatable humor and heartwarming message.

Hedy Weiss of WTTW's Chicago Tonight highly recommends the show saying it's "not only clever and refreshingly frank but wholly charming" and Rachel Weinberg of BroadwayWorld raved that, "AVENUE Q will provide uproarious and NSFW laughs for days, but it also will touch your heart and provide a much-needed dose of theatrical sunshine." Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book in 2004, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart.

Audience members are invited to upgrade their experience at AVENUE Q with an exclusive Post-Show Backstage Experience including a backstage tour, puppetry demonstration and AVENUE Q souvenir or they may join us for one of our upcoming special events:

INDUSTRY NIGHT: Sunday, August 5th and Sunday, August 12th at 7:30pm - Members of the theater community are invited to join us for AVENUE Q for $20 each and may reserve tickets in person at the box office with their resume/headshot.

PUPPETS & PIZZA: Sunday, August 19th and Sunday, August 26th after the 3pm matinee - Hang out and share a pizza with the cast of AVENUE Q (5:30pm to 6:30pm).

POST-SHOW DISCUSSION: Wednesday, September 5th - Join us for the 7:30pm performance of AVENUE Q followed by a lively, post-show discussion hosted by Director L. Walter Stearns.

A racy cross between South Park and Sesame Street, AVENUE Q is a modern musical focusing on a group of unique 20-somethings making their way in the big city, seeking their purpose in life. Although AVENUE Q addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show: a place where puppets are friends, monsters are good and life lessons are learned.

Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, AVENUE Q has become a favorite for audiences everywhere. Mercury Theater Chicago's 2014 production of AVENUE Q won a total of five Broadway World Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction and was nominated for four Joseph Jefferson Awards including "Production - Musical - Midsize". In 2014 Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the show as "delightfully sweet and vulnerable...could not be more fun or charming to watch!" and the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommended the show saying it was "better than the Broadway original!" The production opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March 2003, where it won the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical, as well as a nomination for the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical award. It played on Broadway at the Golden Theatre from 2003 through 2009 and is currently playing Off-Broadway once again at New World Stages.

AVENUE Q features Music and Lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (co-creator of THE BOOK OF MORMON and recent Academy Award winner for FROZEN) and a Book by Jeff Whitty. The production is led by Jeff Award Winners L. Walter Stearns (director), Eugene Dizon (musical director), and Kevin Bellie (choreography) and features custom made puppets by Russ Walko. We were honored to have master puppeteer and original AVENUE Q cast member Rick Lyon on board for puppetry training. AVENUE Q features the return of 2014 cast members including Jackson Evans as Princeton, Leah Morrow as Kate Monster (2014 Jeff Award nomination), Dan Smeriglio as Nicky and Stephanie Herman as Lucy The Slut. We also welcomed talented new faces to the cast including Jonah D. Winston as Trekkie Monster, Christian Siebert as Rod, Audrey Billings as Christmas Eve, Matthew Miles as Brian and David S. Robbins as Gary Coleman. John Gurdian, Jillian Jocson, Molly C. Jones, Andrew Lund, Maxton Smith, and Stephanie Wohar round out the AVENUE Q family. The creative team includes Alan Donahue (scenic design), Rachel Boylan (costume design), Dustin L. Derry (lighting design) and Max Maxin IV (video design). Stage management is by Kristi J. Martens with assistant stage manager Kaitlin Moser.

The beautifully renovated Mercury Theater Chicago is located in the heart of the Southport Corridor; a sophisticated neighborhood of restaurants and boutiques just steps from Wrigley Field. A delightful destination, Mercury Theater Chicago is a live-theater seating 280 people, adjoining Venus Cabaret Theater (seating 80). Guests are taken care of from the moment they arrive with valet service and dining at its adjoining restaurant, Grassroots. Under the Direction of L. Walter Stearns, Mercury Theater Chicago will follow AVENUE Q with a production of PIPPIN in Venus Cabaret Theater.

AVENUE Q is now playing through November 4th, 2018. The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 8pm, Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 5pm and 8:30pm and Sundays at 3pm & 7:30pm.

AVENUE Q may not be appropriate for young children because it addresses issues like sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn. Parents should use their discretion based on the maturity level of their children.

Individual tickets range from $35-$65, and are available online at www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com, over the phone at 773.325.1700, or in person at 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago.

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